Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-07-23
ANOTHER GREATFiREIN CHIC AGO.
sixty Acres Burned Over ana LOW
uousea Consul III ed-Loss S1,O0U,Ooo.

burned over an area CT SlAly acIcS, Coh-
sumcd over / 600 houses, and rendered
from 5000 to 10000 persons homeless
The 7l7bUae of the 10Th gives the follow
ing account Of its origin and progress:
The fire commenced in that portion OF
the city known as Cheyenne, between
Taylor and Twelfth and Clark streets,
and Fourth avenue This part of the
city consists of the worst rookeries
imaginable, most of which are occupied
as houses Of ill.famc. The alarm was
struck from the corner of Twelfth and
Clark streets at hali-past four o'clock, and
few minutes aiterWard, when the hrst
engine arrived, the whole area from No,
SOB 60 523 Clark street, through to Third
avenue, was in flames. The wind blew
gale from the southwest, and in spite OF
the efforts of the tircmen the
fire crossed Third avenue, communi-
eating TO Quinn's Chapel (coIorcd), on
the east side of that street. The spread
of the flames southwark on Clark was
checked at No 527, although the build
ings from 527 to 537 are badly damaged
The grocery, corner of Taylor and Clark
streets, and the adjoining four houses
Nos 4g1, 490 50l and SOB were saved,
and arc now standing solitary and alone
in The midst of a vast wilderness of
blackcncd ruins The building on the
northeast corner of Clark and Taylor
caught fire at about five O'Clock and
slowly burned northward until itreachcd
ACT, where it was checked
The southern limit on the west side of
Third avenue is the large wooden dis
tillcry of q G. Russell u Co., No. 27S.
This rookcry was saved through the eX-
ertioDs of the workmcn OF the place,
who turned out, twenty strong, and put
all their steam pumps into operation,
thus preventing the spread of the con
migration southwark on that street.
From this point the fire spread with fear.
full rapidly in a northeastcrly direction,
and at about 80 o'clock it had burned
through to the corner of Taylor and
State streets The strange phenomenon,
namely, the jumping of the tames and
communicating to buildings whole
squares distant, was again witnessed on
this occasion.
While the fire had not crossed to the
north of Taylor, Mrs, PryOr's millinery,
on the northeast corner of Polk street
and Third avenue, commenced TO burn,
and, in spite of the eXertions of an en-
Einc and numberlcSs citizens was soon
burning from top to bottom. Shortly
aiterward, at about six O'clock, the Ger
man Methodist Church, corner of Third
avenue and Polk street, caught fire in
the stceplc, and at the moment it com
menCcd to burn the bell in the tower
gave one loud stroke, although there was
nobody in the church at the time.
At about 6 o'clock it had burned
through to State street. Nothing
could he done to step the fury of the
flames TO the north, therefore the atten-
ton of the tremen was mainly directed
to the south, and they checked the spread
of the fire in that direction at No. 5lS.
The southern limits OF the fire on Fourth
avenue are No. 26i on the west side and
No 253 on the east side, about ten houses
north of Twelfth street,
At about halfpast six O'Clock the fire
crossed State, communicating to the
building No, 800, opposite Taylor, and
thence burned north on both sides of
State. On the corner of Wabash avenue
and Peek court, at seven o'clock, Whea
the fire was going ut rapid rate toward
Wabash avenue, the reporter met Aid
Campbell and Police Superintendent
Rchm. Mr.. Campbell wanted to blow
up some of the buildings, but Rehm de
clined toaid as he had not the power to
do SO. Mr. Campbell said he had spoken
TO the Mayor about the same thing,
but the Mayor peremptorily de-
clncd to do any such thing The
reporter passed on TO Wabash
avenue, and there met Mayor Colvin,
who seemed TO have lost all energy
and power lie said he could do moth
ing.
AT twenty minutes to seven o'clock
the First Baptist Church, an immense
stone structure ON Wabash avenue, be
tween Peck aud Eldridge courts, caught
fire, from Whence the flames spread rap
idly south, and, at seventeen minutes
past seven, Woods Hotel corner OF State
and Hubbard Court, was burning
From here the flames extended north
and south along both sides of Wabash
avenue, lcyeling the fine business struct.
urcs which line that throughfarc, until
the fire was finally got under control
about midnight, having broken through
to Michigan avenue only ut Congress
street The alley between Wabash
and Michigan avenues prevented the
further spread OF the FIRE toward the
lake.
The flames at $3.50 o'clock had reached
the south end of the st. James Hotel
and twas evident THAI in less than ten
minutes the interior would be All udamc.
At this moment just as the cuuice
ct the hotel caught Ere. MaNur Col
win appeared at this point and gave
orders To- blow up tine hotel ON being
asked what buildings he intended To-
blow MY, the Mayor said he would jturr.
v>>aJN blow up all the buildings uu gh,