New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-15

Tli| LOSS MOI OVER FIVE MILLIpNS-sMALL LoSN or
LIrE-rHE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SHELL
TER LARGE.
CHICAGO July 1.-THE loss by the fire is believed
TO be more than covered by estimate of S5OOOOOO
at this moment lll:ij p. m. The news Is brought
that the fire is confined to the block between ' an
Bnren and Jackson-sts.
It's center Is between those streets aud Wabash
ave. and Safest. The fremen are concentrated
there and have the tlrmes well IN hand. II they
escape them again they viii be let loose on the re-
built district. On the northern borders OF the ire
stand the Exposition building on the lake front,
the Gardner House on Jackson-st. and Mlchl-
gan-ave., and the Matteson House on
Wabashave. and Jackson-st The Grand
Pacific Hotel and the Rock Island Depot lie
northwest of the fire, and in least danger at
present 1t is singular that the Pass Office, which
was almost the only building north of Harrison-st
that escaped the former fire. has now persisted.
The blocks of stores that Mr. Scammon rebuilt
north of Converse-st. Wabash-ave.. have disap-
peared Aiken's theatcr, where Slr Grover has just
concluded his brilliant varieties entertainment, is
also in ashes.
Mr. Scammon bet all ne was worth after the fire Of
1871 thar the business quarter OF Chicago would re-
adjust itself at the corner Of Harrison and Wabash
ever since they were erected They were sold under
a mortgage A few weeks ago, and the dam ; have
now furnished the solution OF Nh. Scamlnon >
themes.
The loss of life has been small. Several iremen
were killed. small number of persons were
burned 70 death-mostly children The conduct OF
the popuace has been admirable The streets are
damned. but no disorder or i'll humor appears.
The Lake Front Park between Twelfth-st and The
Exposition building. again presents the pillul
spectacle seen in October, 1871. of the encampment
If families with what furniture they could save. In
some sad cases mothers mourning the loss OF
children whom they could not rescue
The Relief and Aid Society have fortunately
large amount of funds on hand-about SloOOOO
Their organization is still in existence and IN work
ing order. Their resources will be ample for the
succor of all The number Of the destitute is very
large The quarter in which the fire originated, and
10 which its ravages have been mainly confined,
was very thickly populated.
The center of the negro population has been swept
ont of existence the streets in the new burned dis
trct are very narrow, very closely built, and very
thiclNy settled. The number Of the unhoused Is
much less. however than in the previous fire.
TIE VERY LArEsT.-The business portion Of the
city Is almost untouched most Of the people burned
out are OF a kind that do not insure.
july ID, 1870 u. NAT 1910, the wind being west
erly the ire was confined to very near Van Buren,
H.. on the north.
Gilbert q SIMPSONS furniture warehouse on Wa
bash-ave. is on fire. but with fair prospect Of the
flames being subdued.
The Gardner House. before mentioned as being
burned should have been the Michigan Avenue
House which is situated on the corner OF Congress
Il The Gardner House Is safe are also some half
dozen large stores the east side OF Wabash-ave,
south of Van Buren-st.
The building occupied by tie Marble Company.
corner of Michigan-ave. and Van Buren-sts., the
spper stories of which occupied by the Art Gal
lerv is intact although buildings 10 the north aud
south Of il have succumbed to the flames
Van Buren-st. seems TO be about the northerly
line of the fire. Some buildings were destroyed
north of that There being only the lake to the east
Of the hottest fire, with the wind standing rather
toward IT, has done a large share toward making the
losses lighter than would otherwise have been the
case.
The fire appears now principally confined TO the
Mlchigan-ave. Hotel and when that is finally BUM
ed down there will be little else but ruins To marx
,he course of tO-days fire.