The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-30

CHICAGO, Aug PA fire which
in the extent of territory it covered
almost rivals Chicago's historic confa-
grafton began in that part of the city
known as South Chicago about o'clock
this afternoon.
From a three-story brick building at
the corner of Ninety-first-st. and SUI
perior-ave. flames which rapidly grew in
volume ate their way over block after
block of small frame residences until
they reached the lake. Within two
hours the fire had consumed at least
thirty buildings and five blocks of the
greatest industrial suburb of Chicago.
The $4,000 residents of the town We're
precipltated into panic second only in
this city to that which characterized the
conflagration of 1871.
As the pine structures in which lived
the workingmen employed in the large
steel mills of the Illinois steel company
and in which the smaller merchants of
the place made their homes were leveled
by the roaring flames, those whose
homes had not yet fallen fed with their
goods and household chattels to the
other portions of the city. Streets were
blockaded with wagons containing the
effects of the frightened and fleeing
residents, and men and women APP
palled by the calamity fled in every
| direction.
Getting n Good Start.
From the brick building in which the
fire had its origin and before the few
fire engines of the district could make
the slightest impression upon the flames
they bounded eastward between Ninety
frst-st., and Ninstieth-st i'm the direc-
ton of the lake House after house
rapidly fell before the sweep of fire,
which hurled blazing brands far in adj
vance. After S,nerior-ave the flames
| crossed Ontario-ave., Buffalo-ave., Mack
inaw and Green Bay-aves. Among the
first buildings to fall was the First
methodist church, at Ninety-first-st. and
Superior-ave., and before it's spire had
toppled to the ground the new and
| commodious German Lutheran church,
on the opposite corner, was blazing in
dozen places. Hardly had these
more pretentious buildings been lev
eled TO the ground than the fire was de-
tected blazing in dozen places further
east. The local department, a branch
| of Chief Sweenie's city service. had been
called upon to help; also all the help in
| the immediate district, but by the time
| the First methodist church was we'll on
| fire it was seen that every effort must
be made to prevent the destruction of
| the greater part of the town. The CEN
trail fire alarm office sent to the fire
| every engine that could be spared in
the south side of the city. The Yosem-
tie, the giant fire boat, lying at the
foot of La Salle-st., was hurried from
| its dock and with the call for extra
help was soon blowing its way through
the waters of the lake in it's thirteen
| mile race 10 the far southern section,
where the fire was raging. Before 1t
had reached the harbor at South Chicago
| the terrific force of the fire had eaten
away the five blocks between Superior
ave. and the lake, and the Yosemite
| turned its attention to the immense
| lumber yards on the river front.
New Danger.
BY o'clock a new danger had arisen
in the veering of the wind, and all the
work of the department seemed to have
/ come TO nothing.