Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-07-15
EDITION!
CHICAGO AGAIN IN FLAMES,
- +&s NtH /.
Terrible Destruction Of Property.
HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES HOMELESS
I Terrible Destruction Of Properly.
Thrilling Details Of the Fire.

bIoho Ia 1WtHtn btTett, at O.DU the nTe
started about halfpast four r. NJ, in some small
frame houses near Fourth avenue and Polk
| street. 1t was first blown southwark by stiff
| breeze, aud the wind shifted, and by sunset ii
blew gale from the south sending the fire tow
ard the central part of the city, Polk street. de.
stro yng the houses of thousands of people. AT
the above corner the fire department commenced
tue process OF b'OWing up buildings with gun
Po wder. but the buildings experimental on were
| small wooden affairs aud the process would only
case greater blaze Of them. The wind is blow
| ing fresh from about y. s. W. The fire is now
| on the verge of the fire line OF our big fire at
| Harrison street. The West side OF Wabash
avenue is now in full blaze, which takes many a
stately building in its which offered place
| OF refuge in the winter OF 1871.
The roar OF the advancing furnace has the
| sound OF an old calamity, and nothing short of a
final plunge into Lake Michigan will quench it.
| 1t. Our streets within q mile of the conhagra-
| ton crowded with teams Of every description
loaded to tnelr utmost capacity with household
goods, although storekeepers who are FORUM
| ate as to secure teams eudeav oring to save
their most valueablc stock.
Wherever vacant space north of the fire can
be found, 1t 10 at once filed with goods of all
descriptions and varieties. Men, women and
children are doing all they can, to save their
little all, and bring 1t to some place OF safety.
The principal lines Of the Western Union tele-
graph company running east through State street
have oil been burned, seme forty wires; but as the
lines on Canal street out OF all possible dan
ger, there will be no interruption of teleeraphic
communication. The fire has burned over so far
| about half mile in length aud some four blocks
| IN width, and although the explosion Of gnn-
powder is still heard every little while there is
but little hope of staying the fire short of the lin
| its given above.
CHICAGO. July HOP. M.-The fire has swept
into and over the elegant First Baptst church, on
Wabash avenue, and what was this evening before
sundown one of the most elegant and costly
| churches in this city is now heap of ruins. AS
| IL was very evident from about 20 p. NJ. that
our post office building was doomed, General Nc
| Arthur, the postmaster, made arrangements to
| remove the mails TO place of safety, and all
needed teams we're at once pressed into service by
| him.and by P. M. the last loaded wsgon lett
the building, and The place that had been the de
posiory OF the United States mails centering here
was destroyed forever, for at ten minutes past s
o'clock the building took fire, and by $50 was
| mass Of flames.
The wind by s P. NJ, had almost died away
which assisted the tiremen greatly in bee oming
masters Of the situation. AT the corner where
the post Office was situated. Wabash avenue and
| Harrison street, and where The great fire was
stopped, our 6remen seemed } be inspired with
superhuman efforts TO prevent the fire from
spreading into the rebuilt district, and here 1t
was that all their energies were c1ncentrsted to
bar its further progress. The budino on the
southeast corner was a large brick dwelling and
O. u
coming sheets Of flame, the prospect of holding
this building and saving it, greatly preventing
the progress of the fire through to Michigan ay-
enIe, was quite promising at 8. 80 Z. NJ where
az the northeast corner of these streets occupied
BY our post office, was then mass of flame
As very heavy and high brick building sd-
Joined the post Office on the north, there is no
doubt that the spread of the fire north Of Wa
bash avenue has been checked.
Among the buildings burned on the east
side of Wabash avenue was the church
building formerly Occu pied by the congre.
CATION OF Robert Laird Colyer. 1t seems
somewhat singular that the conf1agration
should be checked and the very building
spared by the previous fire should now be
one OF the last la succumb this time. The
malls were all removed TO the subs alton
at the corner OF W est Washington and Hal
stead streets. Between EldrldEe court AMI
Harrison street, on the east side OF Wabash
avenue, some dezen handsome buildings
were destroyed. On the whole west side oi
the avenue, between these limits, every
building was lovelled TO the ground, and
look ing west the same dead level of ruins is
} presented as is viVidly engraved in the
memories of the Inhabitants OF 1871. The
loss entsiled by this tire In the destruction
and removal OF goods, is In all probability
asKreat as the aciuil loss in buildings dc
stroyed.
Il CHICAGO, July AL +. NJ. -Contrary TO
the hopeful expectations expressed at S. 80
T. NJ, the fire has been gaining on the fire
departments, and In spite OF all efforts, at
TO- 30 had progressed northward and TAX Ell
in block on the east side of State street,
which consisted OF two wooden buildings,
and on Wabash avenue, north from Harri
son street. one block and half, taking in
both sides Of the street and working over
along Michigan avenue toward the exposi-
tiOn building. The hte Ia at present between
Van Buren, and Jackson streets, in the
northern limit. and Is burning with great
fury. At present 1t is beyond the control
OF the firemen, and engines are coming from
Bloomington, Milwaukee, Aurora, Joliet.
Ifthe wind does not increase or change
there II hope that the fro may be crowded
into the lake.
Among the notable: buildings destroyed is
the Gardner house. st. James hotel. Cont
mental hotel and Adelphia theatre. The fire
there Is great CONSERVATION among the guests.
The roof OF that hotel Is being protected by
men with water appliances Of their own, and
every effort will be made to save it.
CHICAGO. July A-u3o. P. M.-Present
appearances Indicate that the fire will be-
checked in the vicinity Of Jackson street and
the lake. The post ofice, First Baptist church,
St James, Continental and Woods hotels are
burned, but we think the Palmer, Matteson,
Burdick and everything north of these will be
| SaVeu. AIter passing naIrlSon stfeet the ives
boundary seemed to be at State street. AS
sistance Is arriving by special trains from ali
directions.
1t Is very probable that should the fire be
4 stayed where it is now, considering the area
burned oyer. the losses TO insurance conf
panies will be light, although hundreds and
hundreds of. families have lost their all and
been rendered homeless. The bad have suf-
fered with the good and probably that section
Of the city could not have been purified of IL:
sluas so thoroughly IN the next fifty years a:
it has boen Tonight in three hours.