Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-25
A MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
South Chicago Terribly soourEed-seven
Thousand People homsless-sunday
Greek Coal Yards Gone.

south Chicago Terribly soourEed-seven
Thousand People Homsless-sunday
Greek Coal Yards Gone.
CHICAGO, August PA fire, which
in the extent Of the territory il covered,
almost rivals ChIcago's historic confla-
grafton, began in the part Of the city
known as South Chicago about
o'clock this afternoon. From
three story brick building
81 the corner OF Nlnety-hrst street and
Superior avenue, flames, which rapidly
grew in volume under gale Of wind
from the west, ate their way over block
after block OF small frame residences
until they reached the lake. Within
two hours the fire had consumed AZ least
thirty buildings and five blocks OF the
greatest industrial suburb of Chicago.
The 5000 residents OF the town were
precipitated into a panic. Those whose
homes had not yet fallen fed with their
goods and household chattels TO other
parts OF the city. Streets were block
AIDED with wagons containing the effects
OF The frightened and fleeing residents,
and men and women appalled, by the
calamity fed in every direction.
The central fire alarm office sent
every engine that could be spared In
the south side OF the city. The Yeso-
mite, the giant fire boat, lying at the
foot of LaSalle street, was hurried from
its dock, and with the call for extra
help, was soon ploughlng its way
through the waters OF the lake In its
thirteen mile race 10 the far southern
ection where the fire was raging. Be-
fore IL had reached the harbor at South
Chicago the terrific force Of the fire had
eaten away the five blocks between Su-
perior avenue and the lake, and the Go-
semitic turned It's attention to the i'm
mense lumber yards on the river front.
BY 6 o'clock 3 new danger had arisen
in the veering OF the wind and all the
work OF the department seemed TO have
gone for nothing.
The fire has burned ESQ houses, 1000
people are homeless, and the damage Is
about 81, 900, 900. The fire is now under
contra.
The fears OF the department and citi-
zcns were well founded, and before the
scores OF engines had made the least
appreciable effect upon the pro-
gress Of the flames the i'm
mense docks OF the Sunday
Creek Coal Company were In ruins.
Over a 100, 600 tons OF Goals are stored
In the bins which extend for 500 feet
along the river. The earlIset estimated
venture was that the loss at this place
would easily reach 100000. When the
fire began In the coal yards every en-
ha nd
eriul steamer Yosemite as soon as
IT reached the harbOr were brought TO
fRht the conflagratlon. At the same
moment the Arbeck lumber yards, wit h
dock frontages almost as great as those
OF the Sunday Creek Company, were
found to be burning, and here the first
great battle OF the fireman with the
flames began. The fire department had
only by this time succeeded In getting
together sufficient Dumcer OF engines
to give II any chance at all against the
roaring mass of flames.
BY eight o'clock the coal In the YARDS
of the Sunday Creek Company and
Beck's lumber yard were the only
places where the fire was still upper
most, and In o short time IL was Drae-
tically under control and NIL Danger OF
its spreading further was aver. There
appears 10 be no doubt but that the
terrible confagratlon originated 10 the
destroyed dwelling OF Master Mechanic
William Giles, an employe OF the roll
ing mills.
To his daughters youthful feminine
vanity must be attributed the begin
ming OF the fire. Miss GILES, according
To those who had lived in the vicinity,
was engaged about 4:30 o'clock In pre-
pairing her evening toilet. In this sne
was using 8 lamp for the purpose oil
heating her curling iron and while ar
ranging her bangs the lamp was over
turned and sn explosion followed which
in the end wrecked the homes OF several
thousand people.
Most OF the buildings destroyed were
IIsht frame affairs and were occupied
almost exclusively by the workmeD OF
the Illinois Steel Company. The dam
age in none OF these instances was
large in amount but the conserYa-
tive estimates put the aggregate
loss in the residence district
AT s4OO. 900. The Sunday Creek
Coal 20. mas lOet lully rSyvs"ePf e%~ et.@'
Of the Beck Lumber Co. S2O0,O The
latter concern recently made an assign
ment and had just resumed business
after making 40 Arrangement with its
creditors. It's large stock Of lumber Is
completely destroyed and business Is
once more at a standstill.
Des pite the rapidiiy with which the
flames spread and the crash and panic
which at one time ehoked up the
streets no lives, as far as Is known, was
lost
hundreds OF people deprived OF home
comforts with scarcely warning. gath
cred along Ninety.frst street and al
jacent thoroughfares. But they were
not 10 be homeless, for citl-
zens OF South Chicago raj
lied TO their assistance. IL was not
necessary 70 organize committees ana
no steps toward housing the uniortu-
nate people we're taken. The word
was passed down the line that the
houses Of those who were not losers oy
the fire were without exception open
70 auy any and all who had been driven
ont upou the streets