The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-16
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
By the Western Union Line.
once Northwest cor. Of Main and Monroe ats
THE GREAT FIRE.
Not so Big as it Might have
Been, but, like MercutiO's
Wound, it VIII Do.
Graphic Account of its Pro.
gresS and the Herculean
Efforts that were made
tOStOp the Roaring
Tide Of Flame.
Stopped at Last at the Very
Doors of the Business
Wg Blocks.

CHICAGO, July 15.-Our citizens, re-
viewing the situation this morning, con-
gratulate themselves that they have es
capped the destruction Of the most impor-
tant business portion Of the city, which
appeared OF one time imminent Thil
time the fire originated in a low frame
building used for storing rags, and ad-
Joined an oil factory that stood between
4th avenue and Clarke street on Taylor
street. The great fire OF 1871 originated
in stable. In both cases the fire COM
menced in the centre Of a neighborhood
occupied by wooden buildingS. At the
time there was also q stiff southwest
breeze, 80 that BY the time the flames had
consumed the small dwellings, stables
carpenter shops and buildings filled with
oil, paper and rangs and reached State
street, where there were substantial bust.
ness houses, they were like the heat oil
furnace and oil consuming in their
power. Thus the conditions for great
conaagration were not wanting. F5-
tunately after burning near 20 blocks and
destroying the First Baptist Church and
two other churches and buildings, the
postofflce on Michigan avenue and St.
James Hotel, the Inter. oceanic and other
elegant blocks, erected after the fire of II
and number Of fine residences, the
flames were stayed right at the very doorl
Of the heaviest business blocks and three
or four OF the best hotels.
COMMENTS OF THE EEwsPAPRRs.
The Tribune says editorially: EVERY
cool headed observer OF the fire mus
have felt that we have paid a light pen
atty for allowing our magnificent bushes!
center to be surrounded with wooder
rookeries. We have come off cheap. Tht
great gilded martyr around which tht
Isggots have been so profusely piled hal
not yet been burned to death. Perhaps
this small calamity will show US how L
save 1t, and perhaps not. There are now
some sixty acres Of burned territory be
tween the taggols and the victim. Thil
gap may be the means Of saving what Il
lett. II 80, let US thank God that the pre-
destined fate Of every wooden building Il
large city is 10 be burned some time
We have now offered up sixty acres O
our combustibles as a sacrifice 10 tn
genius Of free institutions, meaning there
by the freedom oil every man to keep
tinder box aud an oil factory where
suits him best. Would that we coull
say this is the last Of such Jolly, but 1t
not. Chicago has thousands upon thou
sands Of wooden shanties TO feed iutur
fires, and go2down they will, all in goo
time"
The Times and Inter OxGn also speaI
in strong terms of the folly Of allowin
wooden buildings In the city limits.
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE FIRE.
The following arc the exact limits {
the fire, as viewed this morning: Th
; fire burned a small portion Of ClarI
street, near 18th, where 1t originated
thence took Sd and 4Lh avenues betwee
Peck Court and 18th street, and burne
them as far ss Harrison street. Stat
street was burned from Harmon Court I
Van Buren street, Wabash avenue fror
459, near the corner Of Peck Court, to 26i
near the corner Of Van Buren stree
, Michigan avenue was burned from Hal
, rison street to Van Buren, short dis
) tance. The business buildings burne
out on the east side Of State street nun
Der 50, on the west side 96, on the eas
! side Of Wabash avenue 90, on the wet
side "a, on Michigan avenue 12, on th
east side Of Clark street IA, on the mort
side OF Van Buren, street 6, on the sout
3 side 6, on the north side OF Polk street
!, on the south side 4, on the north side {
Harrison street 10, on the south side Il
! Oh the south side of 18th street 13, on Ii
north side %.
PoMnSENT BUSINESS LossRs.
a The most prominent among the bus
= ness Losses arc the St. James Hotel, Wr
Bodemann, Druggist; Remington, Empil
i Sewing Machine Company; E. Reming
ton 6 Sons, gun and pistol msnufactor
y P. L. Smith & Co., carriage mar
o uiactory; Rupemnuseen Bros, boo
8 and shoes; y. 9. Charles, lamps ar
It relectors; H. slade, carriages; A.
70 Wheeler, hardware; Q. McHenry, sa
:. stables; J, Pressing, vinegar work
Is schwsrer & Hubber, stoves, &ci B. J
"a Givandan & Frested, rings, &c; P.
" Plat, clothing; P, H. Mayer, L. G. Cha
s. Co., saddles and harness; A.
L Chrelerstein & Bro, furniture manuial
turers; NJ. W,&F. Lester, furnaces, range
y &c.; Frost & Co., wholesale LIQUORS; Jot
:, D. MscLean s. Co., stoves and ranges;
s. NJ. Neuberger, furniture; Vanbrame
Flood, hardware ana stoves; seug & Bee
d billiards; PeterS, Munech & Co, blacl
y smiths; Mendel s. Bros, dry goods; Be
House. Horace BackmInSter restaursr