Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-22
The .Chll.ii.caco !. Tire
sarrfa --' % - ------ ,ii
I 8 Squares Burned.
LOSS OVER 100000.
5000 People Homeless.

|
CHICAGO, July l4.-At4 80 O'Clock
this P. Nc. a fire started in the rear O.
No. 527 South Clark street. which il
four hours time had leveIled the Post
Office, First Baptist Church, African
Church, German Church, Adelph
| Theatre, Continental Hotel, Bers
House, Metropolitan Hotel, Woods
Hotel, St. James Hotel the Offices Of
the FUestde Friend and New Cove.
mant, weekly papers, several large
blocks, O'Neil's building, Finches &
Cos Oil works, besides about 15O
other buildings, consisting of smsll
stores, dwellings, factories, etc.
No possible estimate in detail can
as yet be formed of the losses, which
will reach s4.000,0OO. The wind,
commencing with a breeze from the
south, ended in gale, with the same
sound and fury as in the great fire OF
1871. The utmost CONSERVATION
everywhere prevailed. Telegrams
were dispatched to Joliet, Racine and
milwaukee, for engines and aid, and
they were expected here tonight.
The city is thronged with people.
Thousands will be homeless, as the
burnt district is composed chiefly of
tenement houses. Many thrilling
scenes are recorded. A woman was
rescued by fireman from a burning
building on Clark street. An un-
known man was killed by falling
wall.
CHICAGO, July 15.- The excite
ment concerning the fire has somewhat
abated, though it is still so intense as
to forbid accurate statements. The
conflagration began in a low frame
rag shop on the east side of Clark street
between Taylor and 18th streets, and
spread north and east under stiff
wind from the southwest. At Taylor
street it left Clark ard passed east,
changing its western boundary to
Fourth and Wabash avenues, and ter
minatiHg OK the cerner Of Michigan
avenue and Van Buran street. On
the east side it reached Wabash ave-
nue. as far north as Harrison street,
and then passed east to the lake.
In all some 90 acres were wrapt in
flames, and 100000 of property
destroyed. The burnt district was oc-
capied largely by squatters demi- monde
and negroes in low wooden houses.
Some 5000 people are rendered home
less. .
Timely aid was furnished by Milwau-
kee and other neighboring cities.
There were five or six lives lost
A meeting was held to-day to con-
slider measures for relief. Thirty five
insurance companies interviewed this
morning report losses Of 81, 100000,
which is doubtless below the correct
figure. No companies have yet ac-
knowedsed inability to pay.
Twenty important business houses
suffered five churches Aiken's Theatre
and three hotels are in ruins. The
Academy Of Sciences and Chicago Art
Gallery were saved.
The area burned is in the neiehbor-
hood of twenty squares, beginning it
the corner Of Twelfth and Clark, and
ending at Jackson street and Wabash
avenue, which includes three squares
Of what is known as the rebuilt district
which was covered with buildings OF
magnificent architecture and proper
tions.
As the fire occurred at time when
all were in the best condition to es-
cape, it is not probable many lives
have been directly lost, though the
extreme heat in its vicinity overcome
some, and the alarm and exertion will
doubtless have injurious consequences
to many. One fireman fell through
roof, and was killed by the fall. Others
were injured.
CHICAGO, July 15.-Our citizens
reviewing the situation this forenoon,
congratulate themselves that they have
escaped the destruction of the most
important business portion again, which
appeared at one time imminent
This time the fire originated in
frame building. used for storing rags,
and adjoined an oil factory, that stood
between Fourth and Clark streets on
Taylor street. The great fire oflS7l
originated in a stable. In both cases
the fire commenced in the center of
neighborhood occupied by wooden
buildings. There was also stiff south
west breeze, so that by the time the
flames had consumed the small dwell
ings, stables, carpenter shops, and
buildings filed with oil, paper and
rags, and reached State street, where
there were substantial business houses,
they were like a furnace and all-con-
suming in their power. Thus the
conditions for great fire were not
wanting. Fortunately, after burning
mn near tuantv hlooLo ond Joctropinr