Year: 1871

The Chicago Tribune thus recountS the
last scene of the battle between the firemen
and the fire:


As the fire progressed up Wabash Avenue
and State street, it seemed as If it would be
impossible to stop it. Only two engines were
in that section OF the city, and these were
powerless for want f water After the con.
flagration had successfully passed Adams.
Jackson aud Van Buren,, and had arrived at
Congress street, determined and vigorous
effort was made at Harrison street, on the
west line. Leaving the block between Con,
eress, Harrison. State and Wabash Avenue
as certain prey for the flames, efforts were
concentrated on the line of buildings on the
north side of Harrison. On the corner OF
State was a wooden building which was too
;nAammable to be allowed TO stand. The
proper method ofstopping was here adopted,
and the principal actor in the contest was
thereafter red-capped chap ina square box
wagon, in which was also placed several
hundred pounds of powder. The wooden
buildings on the northeast corner OF State
and Harrison streets were the first to go,
and was laid fat by two charges Of powder.
Next to this, on the east. was three-story
double brick, which met the same fate as its
neichbor, and in a moment only the front
wall remained. The effect Of this was seen
in a moment, and the fire was eftectually
checked, at least as far as the high-reaching,
dangerous flames were concerned Between
the brick house just mentioned and the
church, which occupied the corner Of Wa
bash, was a small frame building, which
wss an extremely dangerous customer, and
partook of the same treatment which cured
the next house; but not until after it had
been SO far cnveloped in the flames as to en-
danger the church.


The last building was, in reality. the hope
of the fire,nen, and it stood its ground nobly
It was commonly called the Wabash Avenue
Methodist Church, and was one of the Oldest
churches in the city, having been dedicated
in 1857. The blowing up OF the building on
the west proved the salvation Of that end,
and the church resisted the attack on that
side. On the north side Of the church was
the real danger, though, fortunately, there
was a vacant lot between the nearest house
and the church. The heavy, honestly ybuilt
walls of the latter, and the intervening dis.
tances so far protected it that nothing took
fire except the ornamental tower on the
norteast corner. This was extinguised by a
citizen volunteer, who showed most wonder.
full indifference to danger and marvellous
efficiency in work. -,


Here, then, was the real turning point Of
disaster, and over the barrier formed by the
church and the overthrown houses, the
flames did not succeed in passing. -.
Between Wabash Avenue and the lake
| the firemef, were more fortunate. An attempt
was made to arrest progress on the line OF
| Congress street, and it was partially success
full. The east three buildings were protect
ed by the vacant ground between Terrace


Row aud the street, and did not ignite. Or
the Wabash Avenue corner the fire succeed
ed in passing the boundary of Congress
street. and attacked the brick block on the


southwest corner. Here again the gunpowde1


was used to good effect in fighting'he flames
| and by its aid No. $50 Wabash Avenue wa;


reduced to heap of ruins in moment. b.
thi< means the fire was checked at this point


and The end of devastation at length reached