The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-11-27
The Great Chicago Fire Of 1871.

Block after block had been leveled to
the ground and the grandest edlilces in
Chicago served but few moments as
fuel for the awful demon whose fiery
tongue would dart out from opposite
walls, across open spaces and squares,
and in an instant opposite buildings
were in flames and amidst all the ex-
oitement, the yelling of cartmen, the
screams of the flying citizens, the
whistling of the engines and the roar of
the flames, could be heard the groans of
the insurance agents who calculated
with lightning rapidity the losses of
their respective companies. 1t now be-
gan to be whispered about that the
wind had changed and that the remain
der of the city was doomed, and there
was little doubt that many lives would
be sacrificed. A crowd of excited mer-
chants were Offering immense sums TO
cartmen, who seemed to believe that the
demand generally regulates the value Of
an article. Loud calls for help were
heard from above, and looking up the
people saw a sight that froze
their very blood with horror.
Upon the cornice OF the roof
standing on its very edge were five hui
man beings, afterwards ascertained to
be a family, consisting OF father and
mother, and three beautiful daughters.
just think. reader, fire on all sides,
every retreat completely cut-of-no time
to loose. My God, what position; only
a choice between two frightful deaths,
standing there in the awful presence of
eternity, gazing upon the faces of his
wife and little ones, how must the father
have felt and the loving mother. All!
those who have never been 80 situated,
can never know how many thoughts can
be crowded into moments space. The
crowd below were eager to save them,
but were entirely powerless to act.
Finally some one hurrledly brought
feather bed and laid II upon the side
walk and the anguished father tried to
drop screaming child upon IL, Alas n
dull, sickening thud, and another, and
another, and all were lying dead in the
street below. The man whose figure
was now surrounded by fire, slowly
lowered himself over the edge of the
cornice and swung to and fro in vain
endeavor TO reach the top Of the next
window cornioe, but no he lacked over
two feet. But hold! Stop! He has
dropped, and has successfully held on to
the shutter. Yes. See! Four stories
from the ground and the ground,
and the windows in this build
ing have no projections. Hear the
tin on the roof crack and the fire roar
within. His feet are burning, he screams
and lowers himself again over the cor
nice, his body swings TO and fro like a
pendulum, he throws back his head, he
screams for help as he can hold on no
longer. The throng Of people grow sick
as they see his fingers slipping from the
edge, and his expression Will be stamped
on their memories for years. Many
turned away unable to look upon such n
spectacle. Those that did saw white
| figure drop like meteor to the stone
pavement beneath, and then the terrible
family tragedy was ended. Many unfor.
tunate people were, no doubt, surprised
In like manner, but as they lived on back
streets no one In the hurrying multitude
noticed them and they were lost with nc
one to record the horror would say
to the public that II have entertained
them | am thankful, and If any one
should call on me at No. IL Soledad
street, through friendship or business,
they will find j. n. Emerson equally al
their service.