Evening star., 1921-10-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

The great Chicago fire OF 1871 start
ed at IL o'clock Saturday night, oc-
tober T. The Star. having
Chicago then no Sunday edition. did
r. not print the news until its
issue of October 9. in which
several columns Of space were filled
with descriptive dispatches. In that is
sue the news reached the point Of thH
destruction of thirty-four blocks, in
cluding 10000 buildings, and an esti-
mated loss of s5o.o0o.ooo. the fire
still raging, with 10000 people rem
dered homeless. The Star OF Tues
day. october 10. gave the good news
that the fire had been extinguished.
the loss being then estimated at $500
100000, and later issues gave further
particulars of not only the destruc-
tion in Chicago, but the organization
Of relief measures In various cities
and the disastrous effect Of the con
fagration upon some of the INSURANCE
companies.
In an editorial printed october L..
1871, The Star thus summarizes th'
effect of the blaze upon the Chicag"
newspapers:
The pluck and enterprise ot n
Chicago press are. indeed. httint
types of the wonderful element
which will lift the new out of III"
dust and ashes of the old Chicago.
In two hours, on Monday, after III
Evening Journal Office was destroyeh.
Hon, Charles Wilson, it's proprietor
issued an extra from a job office oE
the West Side giving full details o.
sn I N m
The Times building was consumed IL
the forenoon of Monday, but at moor,
Mr.. Storey telegraphed to Il. Hoe y
Co, New York, for an eight-cyllnd"l
press, which was shipped on Tuesday
Wednesday and yesterday all VI
papers reappeared
The star quotes as expressive of tll'
spirit manifested by the stricken
city the following editorial IN th'
Chicago Tribune:
Cheer up. In the midst OF caian,
ity without parallel in the world
history. looking upon the ashes al
thirty wears accumulation. the pt"-
pie of this once beautiful city are r.
solved that Chicago shall rise agaih
with 5000 .ooo. 900 or $500, ,ooO. 900 al
| our hard earned property swept aWah
| in d few hours, the hearts OF our
| men and women are SIM braFt', ai'
/ they look into III" futur" with hn-
! daunteu hearts. M llltI' llif ~ -
| been such Il calamity. 50 has th"i'
! never been such cheerful f"rtiiud" Ill
! the face Of desulation aud ruin.
| Already contracts have been n4ad
| for rebuilding some of the burn'H
| blocks, and the clearing away Of tn"
; debris Will begin today, If IN. hea'
! is so far Subdued that the charr'd
material can b" handled. Field. Leitrt
| a. co. and John Farwcll N Co viii
! commence. business today. The mon"A
4, and securities in The banks are sat.
I The railroads are working with All
| their energies to bring us out of a!
| Fiction.
LAS Chicago must rise again, we a.
not helittI.. the calamity that has
| fallen upon Ls. Tn" world has pr"D
, ably never seen the lik" OF IT; 60
! tainly not since Moscow burned. Ten
| or twenty years may IL" required e.
I reconstruct our fair Cit!. but caplta
| will rebuild il. and freprool stflt-
| lures will be Forthcoming.
| The losses We have suffered mus
| be borne. but the place. time ANA
men are here. Commenc" at the pnt
4 tom and work up agaln-not at ili'
bottom. either. for We have credit
in every land and the experience oi
one building of Chicago Ia help US.
| Let us all cheer up. save what Is
vet left and We shall come out al
| right. The Christian world is com
ing to our relief. The worst is al
| ready over In Il few days more the
dangers will be past and We can re
sumo the battle of life with Chris
tian faith and western grit. Let US
all cheer up.