Evening journal., 1899-05-09
QUITO WHACK" CLUB


Chicago, one OF alose who b.. witnessed !
the exciting days during and ates The great
fire, and he was sure to have h4e some ex-
citing experience.
The guest had been invited by the presi-
dent the composing room foreman, who
had also witnessed the FIRE, but who never
tired Of the stories Of those exciting days.
After She box of cabbage perfectos had been
passed the president requested the guest
TO entertain the club for a short time by re-
lating some incident of his life.
"a hardly know what 10 tell the gentlemen
Of be said. MY life has been much the
same as the lives Of hundreds OF other old
time Chcagoans. / have been here since
along ia the ifties."
Tel us something of the great fire, sus-
gested the artist
THAT is the correct idea, saia the presi
dent. Il never tire Of hearing OF those ex-
citing days, Of which had taste myself
"There was one incident which / shall
never forget" he began. Il lived, orrather
boarded, over on the North side, and had
hoped that the fire would not rench that sec,
ton Of the city. The concern with whom
was employed, however, were located IN the
center Of the business district, and all day
long we had been making every effort TO
save the books, and such other things IN the
Office as were of special value. by the time
that task had been completed ! discovered
that the fire was making rapid Roadway to-
ward the North side, and that IN alhWoh-
ability that part of the city was doomed
also. had but little Of this world goods,
but what / had was in that North side
boarding house, and / desired to save 1t If
such thing was possible.
"The homeless thousands we're either
working their way northwayd or west
ward. Women and children stood IN the
streets utterly helpless TO protect them
selves from the rush of the crazed multitude,
and with none to help them. IL was certain.
ly pitiable sight, and as the majority az
those going north were trying TO reach the
tunnel or the State or Dearborn street
bridges, / attempted 10 escape from the
| lam, and seek a more direct way to my
boarding house by crossing the Rush street
bridge.
"a strong wind was blowing from the
ssuthwes. against which it would have been
Impossible to walk had any OF Is frightened
mortals wished TO have gone In that
direction. Far over our heads the wind was
carving great blazing planks and tmbcrs,
scattering FIRE and destruction to the north
ward. and adding to the terror Of the
crowds going in that direction, and to the
people living there
"As | ran north on State street, ioI
walking was impossible with the wind and
crowds carrying you onward, found a
woman and little girl fighting against the
wind and crowds and crying for some one g
HELM them. The crowd carried me neal
- 4
three Of us went running north toward thl
bridge. l explained TO the woman where
WAS going. but she did not want to go II
Il, that direction; in fact, she did not know
d where she wanted to go, and l had 10 ne
, lease them and make my way alone towar'
Michigan avenue and across the bridge.
d "Onee over the river on Rush street
found il easier TO get along, for Rush stree
Z seemed practically deserted in comparison
to the streets ! had just left. Once at m.
boarding house l hastily packed my belong
ings into zinc trunk which / had an
again stated north dragging the trunk WIT
me This time / worked my way toward th
northwest, as the fire was going in north
easterly direction. The frightened iamilie
p had thrown their household goods into th
, street, into yards and onto sidewalks
u where they had left them, and over these
v dragged my little zinc trunk until l ha
y wern hole in one corner OF it.
+. There was no one knew in that part Q
the city, no place to put my trunk, and az
last resort determined 70 put 1t into larg
e sewer pipe which found on Cass street
all A stranger assured me that might as we
1 have thrown it into the river as to leave
AL there and dragged it ont again and starte
Il farther north.
n u had only gone a short distance when
" met a lady with whom / had a speakin
= acquaintance. She was a schoOlteaohe
and had boarded for a few days az the sam
place l had. She asked me whore ] was s.
ing, and L described my predicament. 81
then told me Of a friend Of hers, where sl
- had left her trunk, and assured me that
ne could find accommodations for my own
r the same place. Ipromised 10 find the houi
Err and thanked her for her kindness, then az
i, vised her to get out OF the path OF The III
N as soon as possible. But instead Of heedir
10 my advice, she insisted on helping me wit
tho trunk, and between us We carried 1t
~ the house she had spoken Of.
hit How often have | since thought
~ what a sight we must have been wanderir
err through the streets as we were with hit
Ia zinc trunk between us. When we reaeh'
IA the house to which she had referred it toe
but few words of explanation from her
:. secure a place for my trunk, and for mys'
- as well had l wished 10 accept their hosl
tality.
y 1T was three days before / returned
D. the place at which had left the trunk, az
when / did so found the house totally
ed stroyed, and no one in the ncighboEbol
III who knew the fate Of its occupants. d
IT, not know the name Of the family, and 80 hi
III no way OF ascertaining where they had 60
or the fate Of my trunk. More than mon
st. after the fire found a boy who knew I
Is scbool-toacher, and he told me where S
his was living When found her also fou
IT, my trunk, for she was living with the IA
en- lily with whom l had left IT,
"After had left the trunk with them
the day Of the fire they found their hoI
would be in the path Of destruction, and,
they were engaged in the teaming busine
had the wagons and horses with which
IE move their goods TO a place of safety. WI
T. their own effects they had kindly taken j
trunk
k Their kindness did not stop at carl