Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-15
GHICAGO's SECOND GREAT FIRE
Particulars by Telegraph Last Might.

At hslf-past four O'Clock yesterday afternoon
fire started in Chicago in some small frame
houses near 4th avenue aud Polk street. IL was
first blown southwark by - stiff breeze, but the
wind coon shifted, and by sunset IL blew a gale
from the south, sending the fire towards the
central part of the city. At $50 O'Clock the
flames had made almost clean sweep up 10
the corner OF 81 avenue and Park street, burn
ing up the homes of thousands OF people. At
the above corner the fire department com
menced the process OF blowing up buildings
with gunpowder, but the buildings expert
mented with we're email wooden affairs, and
the process only had the effect of making a
quicker blaze of them. The wind blew very
fresh from about south southwest. The west
side of Wabash avenue, with its state y build
ings. which offered q haven of refuge in the fire
of 1871 was swept clean. The principal lines
ming east through State street, were all burnt
some forty wIres-but the lines on Canal
street were out of all possible danger there Was
no interruption Of teegraphic cOmmunica alton.
BURNING OF THE POST OFFICE, ETC.
A second dispatch dated at 10 p. N. gives the
following additional particulars: 90 The fire
swept into and over the elegant First Baptist
church, on Wabash avenue, and what was this
evening before shutdown one of the most ele-
CANT and costly chuch edifces in our city Is cow
remembering heap OF ruins. As it was very
evident from about $50 p. m. that the post Of
flee building was doomed, General Macarthur
the postmaster, made arrangements at once to
remove the mails TO place of safety, and all
needed teams were at once pressed into service
by him, and by O'Clock the last loaded wagon
left the building, and the building that had
been the depository OF the United States mails
centering here was destroyed forever, for at
$40 O'Clock the building caught fire, and by $50
il was mass of flames.
FIGHTING THE PIRR.
The wind by O'Clock had almost died AWAY
which assisted the IRE department greatly in
becoming masters or the situation. At the cor
ner where the post office was situated, at Wa
bash avenue and Harrison street.-the very point
where the previous great fire was stopped-the
fremen seemed to be inspired with superhuman
efforts to prevent the fire spreading into the re-
built district, and here it was that all their en-
ersy Was concentrated TO bar its further pro-
gress. The building on the southeast corner
was large brick dwelling-h house, and by
making bulwark OF this against the sdvanc,ng
sheets On flame, the prosI ects of holding this
building and saving it, thereby preventing the
progress OF the ire through to Michigan sv-
enue, was quite promising At $50 O'Clock,
whereas the northeast corner of these streets
occupied by the post Office, was then a mass OF
flames. As very heavy and high building adj
joined the post office on the north, there i TO
doubt that the spread of the fire north of Wa
bash avenue from this point has been checked
OF Wabash avenue was the church building
formerly occupied by the congre CATION of Root
Lscid Collyer. 1t seems somewhat singular
that the confls grafton should be checked. and
the very building spared by the previous fire
should now be one Of the last TO succumb. The
mails were all removed to a sub-station on the
corner of West Washington and Halstean SITS
Between Eldridge court and Harrison street.
on the east side OF Wabash avenue, some dozen
handsome buildings were DESTROYED. On the
whole west side CT the avenue, between these
limits, every building was leYeled with the
ground, and looking west the same bad level OF
ruins is presented as wildly as those engraved
on the memories of our Inhabitants in 1S7l. The
Losses by this fire in the destruction aud removal
of goods and furniture, in all probability, il a
great as the actual loss Oh the buildings de-
stroyed up to $50 p. m, for it takes but a mod
crate sized fire TO induce Chicago peopls to
clear out their goods and chattels. About
every store along Wabash avenue and State
street, as far north as Monroe street, was re-
moving goods, or the most yalusble part OF
them, TO places of safety, and dwelling house.
in this apparent line OF the fire, were not slow
in following the same instinct of self preser7a-
from cellar to garnet. The destruction entailei
by this speedy and hurried exodus will never
bgure among the losses sustained by the iu-
surance companies. IL is very probable, should
the fire be stayed where il now is, considering
the area burnt over, the losses TO INSURANCE
companies are very light, although hundreds
ard hundreds OF families lost all, and have beer
rendered homeless. The bad have suffered
with tie good, and probably that section OF tie
city would not have been purified OF its siums
30 thoroughly il the next fifty years as il WA
last evening in the space of three hours.
HELP FROM ABROAD.
Att =. m. a dispatch announced that the FIRE
fTcm Bloomington, Milwaukee, Aurora, Joliet.
Elgin. Racine, Dixon and Amboy, TO assis'.
AT 1880 =. m: the southern bounds of the Gre
were at 40 wabash avenue, just south OF FL
bride court; 5IS State street, near Harmon
court. and 255 Sd avenue, between Peck court
ard 18th street.
The fire originated in paint manufacturing
shop corner of 18th and Clark streets. Some
workmen were mixing paint, and an explos. On
occurred, which ignited the building.
The fire at u O'Clock was principally confined
to the Michigan avenue hotel.
THE PRE- UNDER CONTROL.
AT O'Clock a. m. the fire was under complete
control. Three men were killed in Van Arden
street by falling walls. Three Chicago steam
ers were burned, the dte driving the men from
their positions. Much hose was DESTROYED bN
the fire. A strong patrol OF pslice was protect
ing property in the vicinity OF the ire, knock
iBg thieves right and left