The Helena independent., 1893-08-25
FIRE IN SOUTH CHICAGO.
Two Hundred Residences Occupied
by Workingmen Go Up
in Smoke.
Big Goal Bins and Vast Lumber
Yards Disappear Before the
Flames.
Starts at the Corner of Ninety First Street
and Superior Avenue--The Loss
More Than IA Million.

CHICAGO Aug. PA fire which, In e1-
sent OF territory covered, is the largest
known in this city for many years. began
In that portion known as fouth Chicago
about five o'clock this afternoon, and be-
fore brought under control had destroyed
over two hundred buildings, mostly fame
residence structures occupied by working
men, and rendered many hundreds OF peo-
pie homeless. The fire started in the three
story brick building corner of Ninety first
street and SUPERIOR avenue. occupied as .
residence by William Gilles II was caused
by his daughter, who accidentally upset a
lamp while heating a hair curling iron.
From there II grow 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 IL reached
the lake.
Within two hours after tho Gre started il
had consumed at least 6ve blocks III tho
great industrial section OF the city. The
residents Of that portion Of the oity were in
a panic second only to the ono that charao-
terized the great FIRE. As the pine strus-
lures In which lived the workingmen en-
ploysd in the various mills were levelsd BY
roaring flames those whose homes had mot
yet fallen fled with their goods and port
able chattels. Before the few engines in
tho district could make the slightest i'm
preston upon tho flames they bounded
eastward between Ninetieth and Ninety
first streets in the direction of the lake,
House after house went down and soon the
first Methodist and the German Lutheran
churches succnmbed. Hardly had these
st. uotures gone than fire was seen 70 be
blazing In dozen places further east.
brands being carried long distances by .
fu ious wind.
The assistant marshal in charge of that
district, seeing that the utmost efforts Of
the department were necessary, II the
greater part OF the town was to be saved,
notified Chief Marshal Bwenis Of the CON-
dition Of affairs and twenty-five engines
were started down from the main portion
OF the city az soon ss possible. The larg-
est freboat, Yosemite. was also hu ody
started out on a thirteen mile trip 20 the
burning section. Before IL reached the
harbor at South Chicago the fire had eaten
away hve blocks between Superior avenue
and the lake and the Yosemite turned its
attention to the immense lumber yards on
the river ont.
BY the time additional engines began to
pull in from the Oity new danger was en-
countered in the veering of tho wind, which
started the fire toward new district. Be
tween the river and the district In which
the flames originated extend the immense
lumb Der yards and lumber dosks along the
Calumet river and the baHbor.
The fears of the fremen were we'll
founded and before dozens Of engine had
made much headway the immense docks Of
the Sunday Creek Coal company were
burning. Over 100000 tons Of GOAL were
stored In these immense bins and the fire.
boat Yosemite brought TO bear all it's DOW
erfui streams in an epdeavor TO head of
49, g. 1~
the A. II. Book lumber yards were seen to
be burning and now the real great battle
of the fremen with the flames began for
they had only by this time sucossded In
concentrating a sufficient number of en-
aines 10 begin TO make an Impression on
the terrific fire.
BY eight O'Clock the work Of nearly forty
engines, besides the fireboat had told and
the coal in the Sunday Greek GOAL docks
and Peck's lumber yards were the only
places whore the fire was still uppermoss,
and in short time II was practically under
began to return to vhere their homes had
stood. but In very few instances We're ther
able to find any signs OF them. Most (
tho buildings destroyed were light fraus
affairs, and were occupied almost exolu-
sively by worknen OF NE Illinois Steel
instances was OF large amount. but con-
servative estimates put the aggregate ioss
In the residence district al $4OO. .OCo.
Tho sunday Creek Coal oompany's
loss will be $3.50. 900 and Peck Lumber
com,any 100000. The latter concern
recentlv made an assignment and had just
resumed business after making an arrange
| ,uent with creditors. The number of peo-
ple homeless is variously estimated At from
4 900 to s. 600. but it 10 thought these figures
are u little exngRsrat
| Despite the rapidity with which TIE
| flames ead and the confusion which prs-
vailed no lives were lost so far as known
| tonight, and only few people were in
| iured. those not fatally. Other citizens of
South Chicago rallied to the relief OF the
| homeless at once aud houses were thrown
open in all directions to the sufferers from
fire, so that none of them had to camp i'll
| the streets to night.
South Chicago is almost entirely n manu-
featuring district. the Illinois Steel COM
pnny's mill being one of tho principal in
dustries of the place, employing about
t, 900 men. The river front and lake shore
are occupied for long distances by immense
lumber and coal yards and shipping docks.
Merced. Falls, Cal. Destroyed by Fire.
MERcEp. CAL. Aug. 2i.-Ths town of
Msrced Falls, twenty miles no th OF here,
-. .,.pkvovaH hv Gya vaatevIav rnorpipr