Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-24
THE SECOND GREAT FIRE.

Iess--Loss Estimated All the Way
from 81, 900, 900 10 s7,OOO,OOO--A
Memorab Day in the History of
"Much-Burned" city.
THE 14th was a memorable day In the his
tory Of Chicago About half-past four o'clock
in the afternoon Of that day, during the prev
alcnce of o high southwestern wind, alike in
intensity to that which swept over the city on
the memorable 9th Of October, 1871, an alarm
Of fire was sounded, the stroke indicating
the corner OF South Clark and Twelfth
streets as its locality. This region is, or was,
closely built over with wooden shanties and
dilapidatcd pine structures, inhabited by the
scum of the city, filthy and dirty, and as dry
as Undertook. II is not to be wondered that
an alarm in such locality and under such
circumstances occasioned much apprehen-
sion. The fire broke out in the residence Of
rag picker, No. 527 South Clark street, and
had probable inccndiary origin. II was first
discovered by neighboring woman, who
kicked open the closed door and then ran to
the lire-box and sounded the alarm. Dur
ing her absence, through the open
door the incipient fire caught the
breath of the strong southwest wind
and thenceforth ragged a very fend.
Shanty after shanty, building after building
quickly ignited, and when, scarce five min
utes after the alarm was sounded, an engine
came laundering along the thoroughfare, at
least half hundred Of the miserable struct-
ures were wrapped in flames. The wind was
so violent that the fremen were unable to
work directly in front Of the fire and were
forced to confine their efforts, at first to ex-
;-b; ;nor thn
this futile endeavor the fire acquired added
fervor, and the air was full of burning brands
and cmbers, which fell upon the wood
en- roofs a block away, and these
were set on fire, and the fremen
forced to surrender the intervening space and
allow the flames to rage without pretense Of
control while they attempted to attack again
their old enemy in the front. Convinced ut
last that a front attack would be useless, they
abandoned that also, and worked theneefor-
ward upon the flanks. Here they were mod
erately successful, and toward midnight the
fire was under control.
The fire swept diagonally across the block
where it originated to the corner of Taylor
street and Fourth avenue, and in little over
an hour reached the corner Of Third avenue
and Polk street. Here brave attempt was
made to stop its progress, and several build
ings were blown up, but powder was scarce
and the fire soon reached State street, despite
all efforts to prevent it.
Having reached State street the fire was in
its glory. The flames leaped gayly from build
ing to building now and then skipping a
structure or two to facilitate progress, but
never neglecting to bring up the rear and
make clean work Of it. The most that could
be done was to prevent it spreading south
ward and this was accomplished. a steamer
was stationed at Harmon court and the boys
connected Herewith fought the fire into its
very teeth, and to enable them to do so they
reared a barrcade out Of a theatrical sign
board, which was held in front of the pipe
men. and thug the fire was approached 60
closely that the sign-board TOOK hre.
The wind increasing in fury, it broke
| through the alley dividing State street from
Wabash avenue Now, for the first time
about six o'clock-the fire began to feed upon
the aristocracy 1t struck up high
to bring down fancy cupolas and
observatories. Thousands OF dollars
were consumed every minute. The danger
Of utter destruction became more Imminent
every moment. More help was wanted, anc
accordingly kilograms were sped over th'
wires to Milwaukee, Racine Joliet, and othel
places. They read: A great fire is raging
| Chicago is threatened with destruction. Senc
Ms your fire department" In the course of thu
night came responses in the shape Of stalwar
men with apparatus, and they did valiant ser
vice in fighting the flames TO smaller AM
| smaller limit.
Having reached Wabash avenue, with
wind blowing from the southwest, Michigan
avenue seemed doomed to destruction. Il
fact the thought of saving any portion of i
from Eldridge court to a point at least as Ia
north as Harrison street, was abandoned, an
yet, contrary to all expectations, every hous
in that limit stood intact. Every house o
Wabash avenue parallel to this was destroyed
but the narrow alley between the two avenue
stood barrier as if it had been an interyer
ing mountain.
Having reached its eastern limits, the fame
fed their way rapidly northward, three BLOCK
abreast There was little use trying to fgl
it in the face Every moment the wind ros
more fiercely, and in the vicinity of the col
fagration a regular gale was blowing. ii
heat was intense. Firemen could not stan
within a hundred feet Of it in the direction
was speeding. Hence it had to be fought
: the flank There being little hope of sayin
Michigan avenue-though it was sayed-tl
policy seemed to be to fight it into the lax
by closing on its sides. This policy WI
adopted, though efforts were not abated
save Michigan avenue. At six o'clock Q
danger was passed that it would make its WI
} further southwark. In that direction !
, limit was reached, and the force there
ployed was soon dispatched to more threate
ing points, though 1t was not safe to leave u
!: whole line exposed. At eight o'clock the ii
| was checked on Clark street, and then the
was no danger that it would pass westwar
: After that two engines covered the entire t1e
: from Polk street south on Clark around
! Twelfth street to Wabash avenue, where I
! engagement was growing hotter and hott
! every moment When the southern and we
|. en ends of the fire had been made secure, I
n northern and eastern lines of attack were
d nlorced, and the enemy confined into nj
o rover and narrower quarters.
G On Harrison street the fire was forced
IL leave Third and Fourth avenues and at V
= Buren street 1t was forced out of State sire
u . the st. James Hotel being the last building
!, that thoroughfare to yield. When the
. reached that point the interest in its progr
i became intense. 1t was moving along b'
sides of State between Harrison and
Buren, On the west side stood massive
ii of four or five story marble fronts, ON the c
ii side the st. James. Beyond the st. Jan
r. northward, was an open space several n
III dred feet square. There was good hope
y, stand was made at this hotel the flames wo
:" be prevented from crossing this open sp'
~ On the west side there was no such barr
II was certain that the whole row would
n and then, crossing Van Buren street, make
re way to the Palmer House. Oppo
st the st. James stood row Of four-story n
as bic fronts, covering about four numb
he These were divided from the building so
en- by single lot, twenty-five feet wide A n
bagatelle, said everybody, and nobody an
pated that that little open space would ch
ny Tho flames. But il did Fortunately a sp