The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-25
MANY PEOPLE HOMELESS.
Fire Devastates the Residence
Portion of South Chicago.
TWO HUNDRED HOMES BURN.
The Great Lumber Docks on the Lake
Front Take Fire.
After Several Hours of Hard Work by
Forty Engines and Fire Boat the
Flames Are Brought Under Con-
troi-Loss, 100000

Flames Are Brought Under Con-
troi-Loss, 100000.
CHICAGO, Aug. PA fire, which in
extent for the territory covered, is the
largest known in this city for many years,
began in that portion known as South
Chicago about 5 O'Clock this afternoon,
and before it was brought under control,
had destroyed over two hundred build
ings, mostly frame residence structures
occupied by workingmen and rendered
many hundreds homeless. The fire
started in three-story brick building
corner Ninety first and Superior avenue,
occupied as a residence by William GILES.
1t was caused by his daughter, who acct
dentally upset q lamp while heating a
hair curling iron. From there it grew
rapidly in volume, famed by gale from
the west and the flames atetheir way over
block after block of small frame resi-
dences 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.
Residents of that portion Of the city were
in panic second only to the one which
characterized the great fire as the pine
structures in which lived workingmen
employed in the various mills were leveled
by the roaring flames. Those whose
homes had not yet fallen fed with their
goods and portable chattels, the streets
were blockaded with wagons containing
the effects of The frightened people and
men, women and children fed in all direc-
tions.
Before the few engines in the district
Id init
the flames they had bounded eastward
between Ninetieth and Ninety first streets
in the direction of the lake. House after
house went down, and soon the First
Methodist church and German Lutheran
succumbed. Hardly had these structures
gone than the fire was seen to be blazing
in dozen places further east, brands be-
ing carried long distances by furious
wind. The assistant marshal in charge
of that district. seeing that the utmost
efforts of the department were necessary
If the greater part OF the town was to be
saved, notified Chief Marshal Swenie of
the condition of affairs, and twenty five
engines were started down from the main
portion of the city as soon as posi- BILE.
The largest fire boat Yosemite, was also
hurriedly started out on a thirteen mile
trip to the burning section. Before it
reached the harbor at South Chicago, the
fire had eaten away five blocks between
Superior avenue and the lake, and the
Yosemite turned its attention to the inn
mense lumber yards on the river front.
By the time additional engines began to
pull in from the city, new danger was
encountered in the veering of the wind
which started the fire toward a new dis
trict. Between the river and the district
in which the flames originated extends
immense lumber yards and lumber docks
along the Calumet river and harbor.
The burned territory is just north OF
the business centre of South Chicago and
was given up almost exclusively to
residences. The fire sprang from the
ruins of the Giles house to the cottage
adjoining or the west. Brands carried to
the building at the corner of Buffalo
avenue and Nlnety-frst street, one
square further west, soon started q blaze
which spread north and south on Buffalo
avenue while the original fire ragged along
Ninety-frst street and Superior avenue,
soon becoming perfect tornado of flame.
One dwelling after another went with
incredible rapidity, and after the
churches named above had been DESTROYED
it was seen that the fire must spread to
the docks, from which it was anxiously
desired to keep it..
The fears of the fremen were well
| founded and before the dozens OF engines
had made much Roadway the immense
docks of the Sandy Creek Coal company
were burning. Over 100, 600 tons of Goa
were stored in these immense bins and
the fire boat Yosemite brought to bear al
its powerful streams in an endeavor to
head off the flame.
A few minutes later, however, the A.
r. Beck lumber yards were seen to be
burning and now the real great battle of
the firemen with the flames began, fol
they had only by this time succeeded in
concentrating q sufficient number of en-
gines to begin to make an impression on
the terrific fire.
From this time on the forces of the fire.
men gradually increased and the flames
We're gradually brought under control
and by eight O'Clock the work of nearly
forty engines, besides the fireboat, had
told, and the coal in the Sunday creek
docks and Peck's lumber yard were the
only places where the fire was
sJill uppermost and in short time
it was practically under control there.
Then the panic stricken people began to
return to where their homes had stood,
but in very few instances were they able
toifind any signs OF them.
Most of the buildings destroyed were
| light frame affairs and occupied almost
exclusively by workmen of the Illinois
Steel company. Damage in none of these
| instances was of large amount but con-
sentative estimates put the aggregate loss
in the residence district at 100000. The
Sunday Creek Coal company's loss will be
$3.50, 900 and the Peck Lumber company
| 5000, 900. The latter concern recently
made an assignment and had just re-
sumed business after making arrange.
ments with its creditors. The number o.
people homeless is variously estimated al
from 4 1000 to 5000, but it is thought
these figures are little exaggerated.
Despite the rapidity with which the
flames spread and the confusion which
prevailed, no lives were lost so far as
known tonight and only few people were
injured, and those not fatally. Other
citizens from South Chicago rallied to the
relief of the homeless at once and house.
were thrown open in all directions to the
sufferers from the fire, SO that none o
them had to camp in the streets tonight
South Chicago is almost entirely
manufacturing district, the Illinois Stee
company's mill being one of the principa
industries OF the place, employing abou
6 900 men. The river front and lake shore
are occupied for long distances by i'm
mense lumber and coal yards and ship
ping docks.