Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-06-12
QUITO WHACK" CLUB
written for This Paper.

y appreciated, and the cigars which the
guest had 80 freely distributed when they
had visited his home OF such exceptional
quality, that they determined TO repeat the
sAr aent, and the next guest to par'-ke
Of tncir hospitality was an old residentti OF
Chicago. one of slose who had w.talsstd
the exciting days during and after the great
lire, and he was sure TO have had son,e 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 the box OF cabbage pertoctos had been
I passed the president requested the guest
! 10 entertain the club for a short time by re-
/ lating some incident of his life.
Il hardly know what TO tell the gentlemen
/ Of" he said. My life has been much the
same as the lives of hundreds OF other old
lime Chcagoans. l have been here since
along iu the hities."
Tell US something of the great fire, sug
gested the artist.
THAT is the correct idea, said the presi'
dent. Il never tire of hearing Of those ex-
citing days, OF which / had a taste myself.
There was one incident which ] shall
never forget" he began. II lived, or rather
boarded, over on the North side, and had
hoped that the fire would not reach that sec
ton OF the city. The concern with whom
was employed, however, were located IN the
center oil 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 tame
that task had been completed discovered
that the fire was making rapid Roadway to-
ward the North side. and that in all prob
ability that part of the city was doomed
also. ! had but little OF this worlds goods,
but what | had was in that North side
boarding house, and | desired t. save 1t II
such thing was possible.
The homeless thousands were either
working their way northward or west
ward. Women and children stood in the
streets utterly helpless to protect them
selves from the rush OF the crazed multitude,
aud with none to help them. II was certain.
~ a pitabie sight, and as the majority OF
those going north were trying TO reach the
tunnel or the State or Dearborn street
bridges, 1 attempted 10 escape from the
jam, aud seek more direct way TO my
boarding house by crossing the Rush street
bridge.
"a strong wind was blowing from the
southwest against which II would have neen
impossible to walk had any OF rs frightened
mortals wished to have gone IN that
+ direction. Far over our heads the wind was
carrying great blazing planks and timbers,
scattering fire and destruction 70 the north.
ward, and adding to the terror OF the
crowds going in that direction, and to the
g.. people living there.
"As | ran north on State street, for
e walking was impossible with the wind and
crowds carrying you onward, ! found d
j. woman and little girl fighting against the
] wsnd and crowds and crying for some one &c
p help them. The crowd carried me neal
n them and catching one with each hand the
three of US went running north toward The
n bridpe / explained to the woman where
was going. but she did not want to go il
L that direction; in fact, she did not know
Z. where she wanted TO go, and l had to re
lease them and make my way alone toNar'
Michigan avenue and across the bridge.
o "Onoe over the river on Rush street
found it easier to get along, for Rush stree
e. seemed practically deserted in comparison
.r to the streets / had just left. Once at M
o boarding house hastily packed my belong
r ines into a zinc trunk which / had an,
d again stated north dragging the trunk will
Is me. This time / worked my way toward ih
Il northwest. rs the fire was going In a north
e easterly direction. The frightened iamilie
z had thrown their household goods into th'
s street, into yards and onto sidewalks
g here they had left them, and over these
It dragged my little zinc trunk until l ha'
d worn a hole in one corner OF 10.
a There was no one l knew in that part O
the city, no place TO put my trunk, and as
lie last resort determined 10 put it into larg
sewer pipe which found on Cass street
lg A stranger assured me that / might as wei
IS have thrown it into the river as to leave
S. there and dragged it out again and started
N farther north.
S. Il had only gone a short distance when
le met lady with whom l had a speaking
acauaintance. She was a sohool-teache
n aud had boarded for a few days at the sam
"a place / had. She asked me whore | was 50
d ing, and described my predicament. sh
Ne then told me Of friend of hers, where sh
IS had left her trunk, and assured me that
could find accommodations for my own q
Z the same place. promised TO find the hous
a and thanked her for her kindness, then &C
II vised her to get out Of the path OF the III
o. as soon as possible But instead OF heedin
my advice, she insisted on helping me wit
he the trunk, and between us we carried 1t I
q: the house she had spoken Of.
IS How often have l since thought
liz what a sight we must have been wanderin
through tie streets as we were with litt
re zinc trunk between u.s. When we reache
N. the house to which she had referred it too
he but a few words Of explanation from her
secure a place for my trunk, and for myse
xt as well had / wished to accept their hosp
tality.
he 1T was three days before l returned
the place at which had left the trunk, an
., when l did so l found the house totally d
d, stroyed, and no one in the neighborhoe
~ who knew the fate OF its occupants dI
>. not know the name Of the family, and 80 ha
" no way Of ascertaining where they had gor
u. ~ or the fate ofmy trunk. More than a mont
or after the fire found a boy who knew Il
~ school.s teacher, and he told me where 81
'' was living. When / found her l also four
my trunk, for she was living with the iaI
- lily with whom had left it.
.er after had left the trunk with them
IA the day Of the fire they found their hon
~ would be in the path Of destruction, and
they were engaged in the teaming businei
had the wagons and horses with which
-, move their goods TO a place of safety. WI