Year: 1871

we're removed in carts or express
wagons or whatever could be found.
Men, women, and children ran franti-
cally through the flames in every di-
rection pleading for deliverance. In
many instances the visiting destroyer
found the occupants of buildings
asleep from which they awoke only
to find escape from the most therrible
death impossible. .-.


In the short space Of six hours one
hundred and twenty five thousand in
habitants were


MADE HOMELESS


and four hundred million dollars
worth of property destroyed. The
fire originated on Jefferson St. in the
west division of the city and sweep
ing forward before a tremendous
south west gale to the north eastern
extremity of the city, it carried with
it distance of four miles complete
destruction to everything combusti
ble.-The breadth of this


VOLUME OF FIRE


WIS On lue aNClISC OhC ttHNi ~ h.Nii
miles wide, making an area of three
thousand acres and covering the
entire business portion of the city
and one third of its populated terri
tory. The flames though spreading
with unknown rapidity made Il clean
sweep leaving in many places not
one store upon another. Tire intense
heat melted the gigantic walls and
leveled them with the broad block
surface. The


LOSS OF LIFE


was heavy though not so large as
many had supposed.


Some twenty or thirty bodies were
reported up to Wednesday night artf
and it is believed that many more
will be discovered. One man escaped
from his bed through the flames leav
ing his wife and six children TO perish.


Up to this writing there is the
greatest confusion among the home
less. Mothers are unable to find
their children, wives are lost from
their husbands, and the widest scenes
of excitement prevail. 1t is thought
however that this separation is only
due to the great rush for life which
occurred when the fire was at its
height and that not so many are
burned as would seem from this de-
monstration The fire made


COMPLETE RUIN


of the entire 3099 acres of buildings
constituting the great business centre
of the city. The Postotiice, Court
House, Sherman House, and every
building in that neighborhood is
completely destsoyed.-The streets
seem desolate and strange and the
crows which throng them look wild
with CONSERVATION. On Tuesday
afternoon and Wednesday, after the
heat and smoke had partly subsidized
the once grand business centre was
crowded with men and women
anxious to see what the flames had
left them. There was general in
spection of the


SAILS AND VAULTS


which were pretty generally found in
a state of preservation that indicated
the safety of the papers and valuables
which had been lodged within them.
In several instances, however, all was
destroyed-The melting heat had
dissolved the very iron doors which
had rolled away while the flames lick
ed up the last dollar within. The
bank vaults were pretty much all
safe.


MAGNITUDE OF THE Loss. ..
No adequate idea of the losses can be
given at this time. A district of 4C00
acres of the most densly populated
portion of the magnificent city in
ashes. The loss must aggregate at
least four hundred million (S4O0, 900,
000) dollars. The loss in the main
is final it lies in ashes or has passed
away in smoke. The Banks will
probably be able to pay GO or 20 cts
on a dollar, and all business will be
temporarily destroyed. If the past
greatness of the city is ever regained.
it will be at the expense Of long years
of toll. at least 100000 or more of
the people must seek employment
and homes in other cities. 1t is vain
to disguise the facts. 1t is the duty
Of all to look the matter squarely in
the face, and at once apply the rene
dy. At least three fifths of tie accu-
INFLATED wealth of forty years has de-
parted.in an hour. The city is bur
dcned with an immense debt, both
public and private. But still it has
population that will rise above all
impediments, and if it has surprised
the world in its first growth and pres
ent suffering, we believe that Chicago
is still to ast0nish the world again,
by its recuperation and second
growth.


How terrible our calamity and yet
how grand and sublime the spectacle
ofa whole nation in the throcs of
painfal sympathy, and the blessed
ness of glorious benevolence. The
calamity is great, but the national
heart is greater. Our courage comes
under the pure inspiration of such
sympathy and rclicf-cheerful cour-