Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-01
KEPT ON THE MOVE.
\ Wild Night in Chlcago-Fire Upon Fire
Calls for Action.

Nbil> loT fctious
CHICAGO. November 29.-Every piece OF
apparatus in the Chicago Fire Department
was moved last night.
From sun down until break Of day this
morning men, animals and machinery were
active From the time that John Wendt
dropped his lantern into tank of naptha
an Shufeldt's distillery. until the residents
az Ogden flats fled in terror from their
beds AZ the cry of Fire" blazeS constant
ly demanded the attention of the depart
lneut.
Eleven alarms. three of which were
.Two-elevens, -" neceSsitated an almost con-
slant change of stations by the different
companies, and at 6 o'clock this morning
every engine truck and tower were quart
cred at houses long distances from their
permanent posts. The long runs made nee
essarv ty the continual change of quarters
told severely on men, horses and apparatus.
In o-c instance two of the companies re
spending Travelled distance of -four miles,
this long run being necessary owing TO Il
change of stations when the second alarm
from a stock yards fire was turnedin. This
run caused several horses TO almost drop
from exhaustion, and the aXles of one of
the engines became SO warm that halt
was necessary before reaching the blaze in
order that water might bc poured on the
axle 20 cool IL and permit the wheels 10 re-
volvc.
Added to this the fire alarm wires be-
came crossed and tangled with those OF the
telegraph and telephone companies cut by
the iircmen. The result OF this was 10
render useless the gongs and bells IN the
police stations and newspaper offices. The
great gong in the City Hall got out OF
order Mt midnight and refused 20 record an
alarm. In the newspaper Offices the bells.
the connecting wires Of which were crossed
with telephone lines, rang almost inces-
sanity. Hardly was one fire out than an
other struck Firemen unhitched their
horses and hitched them mp again IN the
same moment Reporters returned 10 their
respective offices. wrote an account OF one
blaze and hurried away 10 another. Cable
ears. unable 10 move owing TO the lines OF
hose that crossed the tracks in every direc-
ton, blocked the downtown streets all
night long. and the first day cars had de
hvercd their passengers IN the business
center long before the ones which should
have been housed in the car barns at md
night began the trip homeward
The first fire was in Sufeldts diStillery
early IN the evening. John Weudt, an en-
piOyc. let down his lantern into tank OF
naptha. and Immediately there was an eX-
plosiOn which shook the buildings IN the
vicinity. The man himself was terribly
mangled. and lies dying NJ hospital.
Two hours later fire az Canal and Mad
ison streets. in a very infiammahle district,
DESTROYED $4,000 worth Of property, and 4
man and woman were mangled by fire en-
CINE on its way TO the fire.
An incendiary fire in Scme barns in the
stock Yards district near the packing
houses. was then reported, the loss how
ever. proving light Next fire in kenzie
street. near Clark, did 10000 damage.
Then there came wild cry from the vi
cinitv Of State and Ontario Streets. \
woman ran screaming down the street.
clad only in her night clothes. The house
n 81 Ontl rio street was burning. and =
dozen lives were in peril. The engines
were slow in responding, being widely
scattered. but the police rushed into the
barning building and reused the sleeping
Inmates or dragged out those who were
overcome with smoke.