Year: 1871

|


At the rooms of the Wonan's Suffrage
Association corner OF Fifth and Olive streets
where Mrs Holy furnishes situations free
for the refugees from Chicago. we met a
gentleman, and learned from him his ex.
perience at the great tire, which suggests
why 1t is that so many persons in good cir.
| cumstances two weeks ago are now peuni.
| less.


He was in business. and had in addition
to his Investment enough to own home.
He had made all but the last payment on
his house. and on Saturday received money
enough to cancel the last note then in bank.
but it was past banking hours. He took his
money home. intending to pay the last debt
he owed on Monday.


At the alarm OF fire ON Sunday nigh, he
| got up, told his wife he would 90 to the
| fire and try to prevent a repetition of the
| terrible contiagration of the night before.
He put on some old clothing. suitable for
| the occasion, and handing his wife his gold
watch and money. and promising to return
at as early an hour as possible. started. He
labored hard all night. and when morning
dawned it found him still at work His
wife could not sleep amid the gloomy light
that entered her room, and passed the nj Sht
in anguish. fearing that some ill fortune
would befal her husband.


As soon as it was light she dressed her.





the watch and money in a safe place in the
house. lest it might be stolen from her per-
son. started with the hope Of hearing from
or seeing her husband. She found him
safe, and she was happy. In less than half
an hour they started for their home. But
the fire fend had preceded them. Their
house and all its contents We're in ashes.


They were without home or dollar, but
they have true Western grit. She got a
pass and went to Milwaukee, and he has
come to this city, with the hope to find en-
ployment. On his way hither he found two
girls who were Like him. penniless and
seeking employment He had seen a notice
in the paper Of the provision being made by
Mrs. Holy for homeless girls. and kindly
volunteered to go and intercede for them.
He looked over the list of applicants, and
found place that he thought would suit
the two girls whom he had few moments
before left in Fifth street. with the promise
that he would soon meet them again. He
returned for them, but found that they had
both secured good situations. They saw
Girl Wanted in shop window, entered
the store, and had made an engagement be-
fore his return. He says thousands of
young men and women ia Chicago will
come here just as soon as they think they
can find employment.


The same paper relates the experiences of
lady resident of Chicago:


A lady who was resident Of Chicago at
the time OF the fire. writes to friend in St.
Louis, describing the scenes through which
she passed. from which we are permitted to
make the following extracts:


The fire broke out on Sunday night at
ten o'clock. but We went to bed without
much thought respecting it, as it was away
over on the south side. We woke up in the
night. There was so much light, that we
could see to read by it, although it was still
on the south eide. In the morning we heard |
that it had crossed the river then we heard !
that it had destroyed the waterworks, !
Then we gave up all hope of our house, 40 |
that we went to work to pack up our furni-
ture. We found that we could not get a |
wagon to move it, as everybody was NOV
ing. Some offered one hundred dollars for
a wagon. Mr.. - got spade. dug a hole |
in the back yard, and just had time to get
in the pictures. sewing machines and other
articles. The articles were removed on
Tuesday.