The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-22
SEVENTY-FTVE ACRES
OF Ashes s.ud Cinders Where Hon 4e
and Factories Or.is4 Stood
Is the Result Of the Great Confla.ra-
ZION af Carthage, New xoyk.
aud the Loss Foots ~,
100000.

WATERFOWL, N V, Oct ~ Tho tire at
C.r'LHgn Monday was the most disastrous
thAt vcn visi;e this part of the state 1t
b. gan iHa r'w OF manufacturing buildings
ON tie west side OF Black river. A heavy
wind hie@ the sparks half a mile
across tn river to two islands
tiiei wi,h misunderstanding institutions.
1t Turn d every thing ON the islands aul
struck INTO the residence part Of the town,
and swept the buildings from about seventy
five acre; This was tire oldest part of the
town and contained beautiful shaded streets
with fine dwellings. To-day this territory
is a mass of smoldcring ruins.
The fire spread so rapidly that very little
household goods could he saved The fire de
partments of Watertown, Lowville, Boon
vile, and Utica responded to n call for help
but as the fire would appear in a dozen diff
ferent places at the same time, the streams
from the engines were of little avail The
yards we're filled with dry leaves,
which, ignited by the flying cindeIs
and famed by the stiff breeze, were soon in
blaze. There were 100 dwelling-houses on
fire at the same time. The people worked
hard for several hours TO save the property,
and then became panic-stricken, and Mon
day night hundreds of them were roaming
the streets or lying in spots where the fire
had not touched, every place
of shelter in the village being
filed with women and children. A large
number of people were brought TO this city,
where they had friends to rane for them.
1t is impossible to correctly picture the scenes
| of Monday afternoon and night. Strong
men were weeping, and women and children
! crying as they realized that everything
| they possessed was being swept away
| The people thrown out of employment
with everything they had destroyed, will
have to suffer, unless assistance is rendered.
| Money can be sent to Allen f. Kelby and c.
P. Ryther, Carthage, who can he safely
trusted to look after the wants of the
sufferers
| There was no one hnrned to death, but g
| score OF people were badly burned, including
| filemen
| CARTHAGE, N. V, Oct 22-A trip through
the burhe1 district reveals such u sight rs i,
seldom witnessed. With but very few eX
ceptiOns there are no walls standing Tho
winters supply of coal is all on fire Tht
| burned territory is one mik in length
and a third of a mile in width. The norti
| side Of Mechanic street is burned, and the
south side escaped the fire, which was'stopped
at the Presbyterian church, that being tn,
last house on Mechanic street t.
go. Every building on Church street
below State is burnsd The fire stopped
at the corner of Church and Stat,
streets, and the Catholic church standing
| there is unharnai. The church, which i
quite large, is filed with furniture Of al
sorts, a' are the streets that surround tht
burned district. Elegant pianos arc standing
| i'll the mud and water.
Among the buildings burned were tn
graded school, Presbyterian church, Peck
hotel, town hall, engine house and opers
house, The walls Of the Baptist church arr
still standing The Methodist church caught
fire several times but was saved. Many peo
PIE saved nothing, and could only stand hely
less and witness the destruction Of thci
| homes.
In oil there are 100 buildings destroyed
and 100 families are homeless. Every bous
In the place is filed with the sufferers and
large number are compelled to camp out
Over 500 people are thrown ont of employ
ment The loss is e5tiIaated at 500, 900, AM
t8e insurance at $3.50, 900.