Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-15
IN NORWICH FIFTY YEARS AGO

Fifty years ago this week the citizens | of Norwich were shocked at the news of the great Chicago fire in which the west e-n metropolis was destroyed. A number of Norwich people were financially inte rested in Chicago and several were en- gagged in bushes sin that city
 Realizing the great need of financial | help for the stricken city the people of | Norwich voluntarily raised a sum of over | s10.0oO in cash immediately after the | news of the big fire was received in Nor wich and before the end of the week i Mayor Greene had notified the Chicago l mayor that lie held the money subject to | his order.
 The Norwich fire department held their | annual parade and it proved the largest | parade of It's kind every held in this city i up to that time. Interesting extracts | from the files of The Bulletin of October | 1871. are as follows. Monday. Oct. g. 1s71-A cloudy morn ing and streets like the Slough of Des- pond Saturday. wholly overthrow the feeble though cherished hope that the ,fates who rule the weather are inte- rested in the parade of fire departments, and the hearts of many waxed cold. But by noon the sun had pierced the clouds. By one o'clock the sky was clear and everything was in a blaze of glory. Natty looking fremen. the very realization of the ideal, were hurrying through the street. The William NJ, Will Hams Steam Fire Engine company, with the Third Regiment band let the line, followed by the Undines of Stonington with the Mystic band. The parade was the largest every made in this city. 1t showed the department larger in num- Der and better equipped than any previ- oue rvhila r. also showed a degree of discipline and harmony among the com panies highly hattering to Chief Engineer Delaney and his assistants.
 The Norwich and New York Transpor- tation company has declared dividend of ten per cent.
 The wauregan Hook and Ladder com bany was presented with handsome glass speaking trumpet. Saturday night. Edward s. Osgood died at, his resi- dence on East Main street Saturday after noon. He was for several years chief en- gineer of the fire department and was one of the most popular of its officers. He was highly esteemd by all who knew him.
 Tuesday. Oct 10, 1s71-rhe great Chi caro fire was the all expressing topic of conversation yesterday. So large an amount of Norwich capital is invested at the west and consequently affected by the lNA.'AN u4SdSlFT dilu SD many HdtlNtS bA this city are engaged in business in Chi cago that the calamity came home with, double force. Among those whose prop erIv was situated in the district burned were the Messrs. c. W. and J. S. Barnes, Mir 14anman son of Peter Lanman and .C. p. Rogers & Co. The former were the proprietors of one Of the largest hat and fur establishments in the city The Chi caco warehouse of C. B. Rogers & Co.,
 
 course destroyed. The loss falls heavily upon insurance companies one of which in the county had. it is rumorcd. policies on Chicago of half a million dollars.
 We can only give this morning a brief outline of the great Chicago fire, with such frsgmentary reports as have reach cd us amid the confusion. The entire business area of the western metropolis seems 10 have been destroyed. Millions Of eastern capital are invested there on mortgages and various enterprises. The losses all over the country will be i'm mense and general financial depression must follow
 Under a Chicago date line, The Bulletin, in connection with the fire says: It is utterly impossible 10 make an approxi- mate estimate of the entire loss. but it nay scarcely fall below S15 900, ,0o0 General Sheridan has today telegraphed 10 St. Louis to send at once 100000 ra- tions. He has also telegraDhed to Omaha for two companies of soldiers and 100 tents He will also order another 1oo,- coo rations.
 At a large meeting of clerks and mer- chants in the Grand Army hall last ev- ening a committee was appointed to re- quest the drygoods and fancy goods deal CTS and miHiners of the city to close their places of business at 6 D m, in win ter and seven in the summer
 Wednesday, Oct. II, 1S71.-Under 2 Chicago date line; a careful survey O the insurance shows there were writer on the property destroyed over s2O0. 900 Add another 3100.000 900 and a fair esti mate of the loss can be reached
 Mir. and Mrs Luke Hillard celebrated their wooden wedding with large mum ber of friends at their residence on I.aure Hill Monday night.
 The 18th wedding anniversary of Col George A. Merrill, superintendent of tn, Y. L. Northern railroad occurred oi Friday last and was celebrated at his res idence at Rutland, Vt.
 The funeral of the late F. S. Osgoo, was held Tuesday from his home on Eas Main street. Brief services were con ducted by Rev. MT Walker of Grac chapel. Yantic. and the remains wer then inferred in Yantic cemetery by Un cas lodge. l. O. O. F.
 Thursday. Oct 12. 1S71-The follow ing explains itself.
 Norwich. Conn, Oct 10, 1871 To His Honor the Mayor;
 Dear Sir: Enclosed find check fo s5l0.5o which the employees of the Nor wich Woolen company and Clinton Wool en company have contributed to assist tn the sufferers in the great fire in the cit of Chicago and we hope that every mil shop and other place of business in thi community will contribute their mite the good couse.
 Respectfully yours.
 M H. DUPBESSES, Agent
 D. A. STARR,
 JOHN STOTT