Year: 1872

| demoralized for sont, time previous to the nres
In Chicago, the lncessans- demands which had been
made upon the fremen for lAore thau o month had
completely worn them out. The fire bells never
once ceased to ring The horses attacifed to the
steamers had become nearly worthless and tNe men
themselves had lost all discipline and had dessne-
rated into disorganized and disorder1y rabSie.
The Inhabitants or the city were thrown into q
state OF unusual trepidatton by this overthrow OF
department on which the safety OF the city 50
much depended; but in the fre OF the 7th OF Octo-
Der, the night preceding the great cOnagraton, the
mannerin which they exerted themselves partially
restored confidence which was rudely dissfpated
on the succeeding day In Boston similar state
OF things to great extent prevailed, but not
through any fault Of the fremen. The presence OF
thc dreaded horse disease had so weakened the
horses attached to the Fire Department that they.
had to be taken OF, and the engines have for7
several days past been dragged by hand This was


FATAL BLUNDER


on the part OF the authorities Better that the
lives Of hundred horses should be sacrificed than
the city be left to the mercy of an element which s
no respecter Of time or circumstances. This brings
me to the origin OF the fires in the two Cities and
here there was great want of similarity.
In Chicago the fire originated in tho
meanest and least valuable portion OF the
city, from thence extending to the wealshiest
portion OF Boston, 1t broke out In the richest and
was strictly confined within the business centres.
The exact cause OF the Chicago connagration has
always been mystery. Popular fiction attributed


MRS O'LEARY's cow


which kicked over q Kerosene lamp while being
MIXED by It's mistress, setting fire TO the barn.
from which the names communicated to the sur
has Sa nee 80 ns
Joke 10y those who were present IN the doomed
city on the fatal night. My own opinion, strongly
fort nd hy iva 0rAO Ia
rlsm at the bottom Of the whole thing, aided OF
course by the favorable state OF the weather and
fire broke out IN Boston cannot at the present
moment be guessed at. When first discovered,
had enveloped building In smoke and half con-
sumed 1t before fifty people had been attracted to
they burst about sen buildings
ously, and before anything could be done the work
OF the Fire Department was almost neutralized.


THE FIRE IN CHICAGO


was from west to east and then from north to
south. In Boston it first burned from north to
direction. The numerous houses of shingie and
on In their fiery path with terrific rapdity. The
more substantial structures in Boston withstood
the consuming element little more tenaciousiy;
but when the fire got properly under way stone
walls and granite fronts offered no more resistance
Chicago the course OF the fire was tOrtuous and
inexpllcable one II appeared IN three several di-
travelling like an epidemic in the air. Districts
which were congratulatlng themselves on their
safety caught before they could realize
their danger. The fire passed over entire
blocks without touching them, only to return
to envelop them In the deadly embrace of devasta-
ton and ruin. The wind blew in every direction.
and its roar could be heard above the noise OF
cracking timbers, burning fiames falling beams
and exploding walls. Boston was repetition OF
Chicago, though not In as great degree. Like the
latter city, the fire went in every direction and a
singular fact may be mentOned-where the hames
were tiercest they were burning against the wind.
Like Chicago numerous buildings were first passed
over untouched and unharmed, but the flames re-
turned in their wrath to destroy what they had left
In their haste. In Chicago the connagrati0n ex-
tended down the waters edge setting fire to the
great railroad depots, the extensive grain eleva-
tors and the shipping In the harbor. In Boston


THE ONLY EEPOr BURNED


is the Boston and Hartford and Erie Railroad pas.
senger one, and this only an unimportant wooden
ssructure The depots In Chicago were, with the
exception OF the Grand Central In New York;
unsurpassed for comfort, elegance and slen-
dor, and their loss alone could only be
covered by millions OF dollars. The guam
tity Of shipping destroyed In the Western city
was very considerable. In the Eastern city 1t is
comparatively insignificant. No grain elevators
have been burned IN Boston, although 1T contatHod