Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-09-02

Flames Sweep Gear to the Lake,
Loss Aggregates $4,000,
( Chicago, Aug PA fire, which in
/ extent Of territory covered, is the larg-
est known in this city for many years
began in that portion known as South
Chicago about O'Clock this afternoon
and before brought under control had
destroyed over 200 buildings mostly
frame residences, occupied by working
men, and rendered many hundreds Of
people homeless.
The fire started in the three story
brick building at the corner Of Ninety
first street and Superior avenue, oc-
cupied as a residence by William GILES.
1t was caused by his daughter, who ac-
cidentally upset a lamp while heating
a hair curling iron.
From there 1t grew rapidly in volume
famed by a gale from the west, and
the flames ate their way over block
after block Of small frame residences
until it reached the lake
Within two hours after the fire
started it had consumed at least five
Blocks Of the great Industrial section
Of the city.
The residents Of that portion of the
city were in a panic second only to
the one which characterized the great
fire. As the pine structures in which
lived workiugmen employed in various
mills We're levelled by the roaring
flares those whose homes had not yet
fallen fled with their goods and portable
chatels
The streets were blockaded with wag-
ons containing the effects Of the fright
ened people and men, women and
children fed in all directions,
Before the few engines i'm the district
could make the slightest impression
upon The flames they bounded eastward
between Ninedeth and Ninety
streets in the direction Of the lake.
/ House after house went down and
soon the First Methodist and German
/ Lutheran churches succumbed. Hardly
had these structures gone than the fire
was seen to be blazing in a dozen
/ places farther east. Twenty-Five en-
gints were started down from the main
( portion Of the city as soon as possible.
The largest fire boat Yosemite was
also hurriedly started out on a thirteen
mile trip to the burning section.
Before il reached the harbor at South
/ Chicago the fire had eaten away five
blocks between Superior avenue and
! the lake. and the Yosemite turned its
Iattention to the immense lumber yard
on the river front.
( The fire sprang from the ruins of
GILES house to the cottage adjoining
ON the west The brands were carried
+ to the building az the corner Of Buffalo
avenue and Niacty-hrst street one
square further west, which soon started
4 to blaze, spreading north and south on
/ Buffalo avenue, while the original fire
ragged along NineD-frst street and
( Superior avenue, soon becoming q per
feet tornado of flame,
one dwelling after another went with
/ fearful mpidity, ana after the
churches named above had been de
stroyed It was seen that the fire must
spread 10 the docks from which 1t was
|auxiously desired to keep It,
/ The fears of the trcmen were well
/ founded and before dozens of the en-
/ gines had made much Roadway the
Immense docks Of the Sundy Greek Coal
company were burning Over 10000
/ tons OF coal were stored i'm these i'm
|mense bins and the fire boat brought
/ 10 bear all it's powerful streams in
an cndeavor to head or the flames.
4 few minutes later. however, A. r
Beck's lumber yards were seen to be
burning and now the real great battle
Of the drcmen with the flames began
for they had only by this time sue
ceede,l IN concentrating sufficient
number Of engines TO leEin 20 make
impression.
shortly after o'clock the fire was
under control. Most Of the buildings
DESTROYED were light frame affairs and
occupied almost exclusively by work
men Of the Illinois steel company.
A conservative estimate puts the az
grcgate loss in the residence district
lat 100000 The sunday Creek Coal
compauy's loss viii be S25oooo and
the Peck Lumber company's 100000
The number Of people who are home
less is varlouSlr estimated az from
four to five thousand No lives We're
lost. Other citizens of South Chicago
rallied 10 relieve the homeless IT once
and houses were thrown open IN an
directions to the sufferers.