New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-15

see the flames, and the excitement among
the residents of Chicago, who were on
the train, was intense The cars brought
past the fire. the parks which extend along the
fl ont separating the fire from the railroad track
Just beyond these parks for four five blocks the
buildings either in flames or smoking ruins.
Tall stately buildings seemed to he caught in a
whrlwind of fire, from which great burning flakes
rose high on air and fOated away to the northeast
end, endangering buildings squares away or falling
haTnlessly into the Lake.
The parks along the lake front presented a curious
spectacle. They were covered with piles of flrn-
ture, little and great by the side of each of which
stood the owner his representative. Strangely
enough there seemed TO be little excitement among
those who were thus turned out of their houses.
saw eegantly-dressed ladies standing calmly
BY their household goods and watching the fire
with as little apparent emotion as though II
had not rendered them homeless Immediately on
leaving the cars l went up Safest, along the
windward edge of the fire. The street was crowded
with vehicles and furniture and goods of every de-
scription. while the sidewalks opposite where the
fire had been were thrOnged with people Here too,
/ noticed that absence of apparent excitement that
I had remarked among those who guarded their
goods along the lake front. The crowd surged back
aud forth. but there shouting, no exclama-
tons of surprise of that uproar and confusion
80 common at smaller fires.
found the place where the fire apparently began,
on the east side of Safest, about five hundred
feet above Twelfth-st. Near the same spot stood
the shell of a brick house. the interior of which
was burned out. Whether this was the house
in which the cOntiagation originated or not,
/ could not ascertain. No buildings south OF
IT, on State-st., had been destroyed. lmme-
diately north of the building, for more than
l II Hiurf xNUa ord ha
lake as far as could see. one bed of live Goals.
with the exception OF here and there a chimney
which still stood There was nothing, as | looked
upon it. to indicate that a few hours before 1t had
been covered with buildings. l suppose that the
minority of the houses were of wood or they would
nave left some vestige behind Them III the shape of
partly standing walls.
then came down about two squares, and at
tempted to reach the immediate scene of the nre
then raging | succeeded IN getting within less
than square of some very large buildings, which
were rapidly melting before the flames. The wind
was still from the southwest and blowing with
considerable force. which was augmented of course
by the influence of the fire; and as
stood watching, a gust of wind. apparently coming
from the lake, caused great tongue of flame to
leap to the and envelope the buildings in that
direction that were before untouched. The fire at
this time, between ana ~ O'CLOCK, seemed 10 De
making its way rapidly down Wabash-ave., and all
the efforts of the hremen seemed unavalling.
dozen streams of water a building thas was
once fairly on fire had no more effect than one
As the tire made Its way north the crowds in the
streets increased in density and the professions Of
truck. express, and market wagons, loaded with
household goods and merchandise from burned
stores became more compact.
BY 1880 all the new part of the city on the south
side. even 10 the river was thronged 1t then
evident that little danger 10 be apprehended :;
that the fire would 90 further west
than Safest, and every large building
was converted into temporary stOrehouse,
INTO which goods of every kind were being I'M
loaded Even as far down Madison-st., some Of
the shop keepers who had not forgotten their Ill
founded sense of security three years ago, put their
stores in order for a move at short notice.
The loss by tfe present fire cannot be compared
with that which resulted from the fire of 1871, and
probably is not nearly great rs that of the Boston
fire. Much of the ground burned over was occupied
by a mean class Of buildings, which escaped the
fire. OF by temporary buildings, which were OF a
very intammable kind and of little value
HE area burned over is estimated at about 90
acres The estimated loss IS less than S5.0p0o00
This however. is nothing more than rough CHESS
as there are 40 data from which arrive at the loss