The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-18

FEE CITY or TEE PLAINS.
The columns of TIE GLOBE have con-
tanned complete and graphic account Of
the Chicago fire from its commencement at
two o'clock on the afternoon of Tuesday
until the progress of the flames had been
stopped and readers were at liberty to
comprehend the extent of the disaster
The burned district is about n half Il
mile in length and width. stretch
ing northwerd and westward from
the centre of the southeastern section
of the city. OF the more than two
hundred buildings that were burned the
majority were wooden structures, among
which the connagration ragged with uncon-
trolable force, but there were also num-
Der of fine business houses, elegant resi-
dences, several hotels, and theatre that
were swallowed up in the flames. The
entire loss is placed at four millions, and
the insurance at some two millions. lhis
gives conception of the magni-
tude of the catastrophe. The story OF the
fight against the progress OF the fire, the
efforts to keep it within bounds, the ire
mendous work Of that twelve hours coll
flict with the raging demon, and the final
success of those who were standing the
heaviest of the battle possesses general
interest beyond the details by names and
figures of the calamity. From point to
point of resistance the onward march of
oi,a e et,,li
driven from one the heroic firemen rallied
upon another, only to again retreat before
the advancing wall of fire. At midnight,
when it had almost reached the heart of
the city and was threatening the new Chi
cago that had been built upon the ruins OF
1871. where the vast warehouses and costly
hotels that have risen in the last three
years, were in the utmost peril, the flames
were turned back as if by Providence, halt
ing before one fire proof wall, from which
they were separated only by the narrow
width of a small alley. From that moment
the dispatches tell us that it was
known the worst feaIs were moi
to be realized, and that the ap-
parently doomed city of the pain-Chicagc
had escaped the depths of disaster by al
almost marvellous intervention. BY this
visitation Chicago has to some extent beer
purified, as it cleared out a section of tn
city occupied by the very dregs of its pop
ulation, whom it is hardly probable will b.
permitted to occupy the quarter from
which the flames have driven them. Ii
this, rs in the fire of 1871, the worst sid
of human nature under such circumstance
was manifested IN the actions of som
scoundrels who endeavored to aid tn
spreading of the flames in the northwestern
section of the city.
When three years ago the cntcrprlsin
young city Of Chicago with flame OF fir
and ruin that left one third Of its whole e>
tent heap of tottering walls and smou
dcrng ashes, recovery from such dsasiC
would hardly have been possible excel
for the energy and hopefulness Of its fl
ture that characterized its citizens. Viii
the sympathy Of the whole land. went OF
to them, spontaneously and freely, It vi
accompanied with Il special dread Of fire
connection with Chicago, and when,
thus time, the news came to us that it b.
been threatened with another terrib
calamity of the kind, the first feeling W
one of dismay that the danger had been
very rear, and the second that the city HI
escaped the worst misfortune posslb
But it is serious enough as it is, partcnlf
ly in community that has just succeed
IN repairing the damage of that fatal Ocl
Der day and night Of 1871. Fortunalel
the flames spared the district ravaged thr
wears ago, and hut very few of the cost
and splendid structures erected since ha
now fallen victims to the devourlng e
ment. The flames were perilously close
them, and it seemed at one moment as
all the labor and perseverance and ent
prise, and lavish use of money that had
built Chicago from the ashes were to
swent away in an hour. 1t is not stran
if the hearts of her people grew faint a
their spirits desparing with the prosp
before them. But, if as by miracle,
march of the flames was stopped on
verge of ITS realization by fortune and
the courage of those who were fighting
every onward step. The calamity is gr
but it is not irreparable, although 1t stril
heavily upon the gallant city of the 10
at this time in its destruction of splen'