The Washington herald., 1921-10-09

a JoD printing shop on the West
Side, the establishment OF a friend.
There l decided to print my paper
in the midst of the fire, and the
afternoon of the second day saw
the Chicago Ledger being sold on
the streets at SO cents a copy.
The third day Of publication the
owner OF. one of the big daflies
learned that the Ledger svas con-
tinuing operations, rushed over TO
my shop. purchased the whole out
flt for a very liberal price, and
while the copy still lay on the
press substituted the name Post for
Ledger. However, Il pride myself
on giving the city its only news
Of the fire for three days"
As the Ledger Saw It
The Ledger printed during the
fire gives an account part of which
follows:
NO written description or report
of the appalling calamity can con-
hvey to the people who are not here
to see for themselves, an adequate
idea Of the scenes of, last night and
today in this Inflated city. The
most vivid imagination cannot pos
sibly point a picture thtt will
IeQual the reality. 1t Is only once
or twice in a lifetime that any
person can witness such scenes
that have been only too visible in
Chicago since 9 o'clock last even
ing. They are enough to appall
the stoutest heart and unnerve the
most resolute men in the COM
/ munity.
AT about 9 o'clock last evening,
! flames broke out in a small barn on
Farquhar street. near Jefferson, in
the, west division about one-fourth
Of mile from the south branch of
the river. How those flames origi-
mated we do not know. though ru-
NOR has II that they were the re-
suit of incenGiarism and also that
they sprang from a carelessly used
pipe or cigar. The fire soon spread
to adjoining buildings and in a few
moments more the entire depart
ment was called out. more un-
favorable time to check and entin-
guish' a fire has never been known
in the city. The weather has for
weeks been unusually dry and be-
coming dryer every day. All the
buildings were parched up and in a
flt condition to be used like tinder.
Flames, Spread swiftly. q.
"A strong gale was blowing from
the southwest. and the rapidity with
which the flames spread In north
westerly direction was fearful. De-
spite the most vigorous efforts OF
the fire department the flames
Ieaped from roof to roof and build
ing to building. rapidly enveloping
block after block in their consum-
ing embrace. The effort of the fire.
men seemed utterly inadequate 20
stay the onward career Of the de-
vouring element. and ere long it
become apparent that the city was
IIloomed to suffer the most appalling
visitation of the fire iend that 1t
mad ever experienced.
Every street resembled a second :
hand furniture store, goods of every
description being loaded and un-
loaded here, there and everywhere.
Invalids and cripples were carried
away on aimprovised ambulances;
aged women and helpless infants
were carried away to places OF tenn
porary safety; people who were ut
terly overcome with excitement and
fatigue were seen sleeping on
lounges, trunks and tables in the
streets; empty houses were forcib1y
broken open and taken possession
| of by homeless wanderers-in some
| Instances as many as five families
| tumbling into the same house. Such
4 spectacle hardly has parallel in
| the annals of conflagration.
Few Structures Fireproos.
Building after building and block
| after block were reached by the
devouring element, and ii seemed
as il the entire city was doomed
! Safety elevators, huge railroad de-
pots. majestic viaducts, vast yards
of coal and lumber, palatial resi-
dences. elegant business blocks
| in short every: species of structure
not absolutely fireproof. and there
is scarcely one really fireprooi
building in the city-were all In