Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-30
How the Flames Swept Over the
City, Licking Up its Resi-
denceS and Business
Houses.
Hundreds of Families Homeless
and Wandering About the
Streets in Search
of Shelter.
Gangs of DesperadOes in Search
of Plumber.
A Reign Of Terror which the
Police Were POWerless
to Allay.

CHICAGO, April 29.-The following ad-
ditiOnal facts in regard to the fire at Osh-
kosh yesterday afternoon, are cleaned from
the specials to the morning papers:
The building in which the fire originated
was the saw mill of Morgan & Bros, on
the north side of the river. II was as dry
as tinder and filed with combustible mate
rial. The heat was so intense that the
firemen were unable to approach sufficiently
near to render any service. The neighbOr-
ing lumber piles fell an easy prey, and mill
lions Of feet of seasoned lumber were i'm
mediately enveloped. A dozen other saw
and shingle mills and lumber piles
yielded to the fury Of the flames.
A brisk wind famed the flames, which
were whetted by the small frame houses Of
the mill employees. But few Of the fami-
lies saved any Of their effects. The fire
men for the time fought bravely in the face
of the terrible odds, to stay the progress of
the fire, but were driven back step by step.
One after another Of the business buildings
on Main street were licked up by the insa-
tiate fire, and crumbled into masses Of
shapeless ruins. From AlgOna to Calpe
street were located all Of the principal dry
goods stores, banks, hotels and newspaper
UlHLEos al Vi LAlCl4 hNll AOhl DGAOlG NllC
resistless hurricane. Merchants had time
to save but little, for their facilI-
ties for the transportation Of goods
to place of safety we're limited. A few
succeeded in carrying few loads Of their
most valuable wares from the track of the
fire, but by far the greater number lost
their all The Beckwith House and the
Adams, two hotels of large capacity, finely
furnished with all the modern improve
ments, were destroyed in almost the twink
ling OF an eye. Nothing worth mentioning
was saved. The loss ON the former will
be $4,000, and on the latter So, ,000 Over
two hundred residences, large and
small, were burned, and over one
hundred hotels, stores and banks.
The loss il vsriOusly estimated. The most
moderate estimate is S7j0,000, and the
highest s., 100000. The city is in the ut
most confusion. Hundreds Of families are
homeless. Women and children are lying
about the streets, or roaming around in
search of places of shelter. The heavens
were lit with the lurid glare Of fire, which,
up to late hour last night, was burning !
fercely. Gangs Of desperadOes were prowl- !
ing about, seeking plunder. They succeed |
ed in inspiring the greatest terror, and the |
CITIZENS organized Tor mutual protection. |
The police were pOwerless to suppress them
or quiet the fears Of outrage.
Leases BY Insurance Companies.
1t is anticipated that the insurance COM
panies will withdraw their patronage from
toe city, they having threatened this step /
last summer. The following are some Of
-he losses sustained al Oshkosh by Chicago |
insurance agencies. Globe, st, 500; MeI-
CATTLE, $4,000; Northwestern National, |
Of Milwaukee, $4,000; Pennsylvania, Of /
Philadelphia, $4,000, Traders, Of Chiea-
90, 81, 200; Fire Association of Philadel-
Dhia, and American Fire of the same city,
$4,000 to S25, 900; Phoenix, Of /
Hartford, loses $4,000, and PhGnix, Of
Brooklyn, $25,0O0; the heaviest loss sus-
aimed was by the Hartford Company, OF
Hartford, $4,000.