The New York Herald Newspaper, October 11, 1871, Page 13

SRIDRDAYS FIRE IV CHICAGO, Tho Prelude to the Drama of the Great Conflagration. wwenty Acres of Buildings / Eurned, Beven Hundred Thousand Dollars’ Worth of Property Consumed. }THE LOSSES AND INSURANCES. }i'rom the Chicago Tribune (the tast number Issued) f of Sunday, Oct. 8.) : DISCOVERED. 4 The sounding of tno fire alarm from box 248, at bout eleven o’clock last night, was the solemn pre- inde to one of the most disastrous and imposing mnflagrations which has ever visited a city, which as already enrolled in her annals numbers of such isitations, many of them so terrible that they can rve ag eras inher history. For days past alarm a8 followed alarm; but the comparatively trifing losses have famillarised us to the pealing of the ourt House bell, and we had forgotten that the bgence of rain for three weeks had left everything So dry and inflammabie a condition that a spark ight start a fire woich would sweep from end to ind of the city. Only a few minutes clapsed after the striking of alarm before the flames wore seen awocping to 6 sky, and the lurid light that illumined the nhort- on grew More and more powerrul, casting its bril- it rays inevery direction, bringing out in bold lief the fronts of the buildings which faced tt from i. quarters, The wind, seeming to rise as the james did, set from the southwest, carrying with it its onward rueh streams of sparks, cloders and tially burned pieces of wood, which covered the ‘ky with dazzling spangles, sweeping northeast- ‘4 like a fight of thousands of meteors, but falle steadily in a flery shower of rain, over that road area embraced between the river, tie South {Branoh, Wells street and Jackson sireet, the lighter going far over on the North Division, while the eavier and More dangerous ones fell before they ‘peached that point, They dropped witn great force the ground, to the occasional danger of foot pas- gers and the scaring of horses, aud showered pon the roofs of buildings, inspiring o onstant fears as Other conflagrations would break out, and that terrible broad area wouldve covered by the flames jand put it out of the power of the engines to combat Shem. 4 ; Late.as lt was, the splendor of the flames and the ;Wondertal brilliancy of the sky wore such as to at, sract enormous crowds from every quarter. The lensely populated quarter of the West Division lying ear the fire would have, of i1seil, been sufticient to rhoke up the surrounding streets witn a dense and Rmpassable crowd, but, a8 the fire showed no signs pt abating, they came from greater and greater dis- ances, forcing their way down Clinton street, in the Wentre of which, near Adams, were half a dozen Psolaved strect oars, utterly unable, for some time to ne, to get back to tueir staves, ‘and getting over T around the obstructious caused by policemen or ‘engines, made their way down to Jackson, near ‘which the fire began, and stopped there, caring Fond th for the smouldering ruins which lay be- nd that point, They crowded Quincy, Adams and Vackson streets on tie oue side of the civer, while thers, far more anxious, were fearful that ihe biaze ght @t any momeut iecap across tne south ranch and sweep loward the filled streets leading #0 and on the east side of tie South Branci, At first the concourse was ail from the West Side, {Dutas time passed on they begun to come from rheed the water, and as the blazing viaduct and Xhe police made Adams street bridge Unpassable, , Shey swopt in a solld mass across Madison sirect, ee: they crosseu, the returulug stream of ose who had satisfied their curtosity, or Who felt It advisable to stay tuere after twelve o'clock, Tue ridge and the approach on Madison street were covered with men and women, aloae aud aitogether, Awho found there @ tavoraoie point tor watching the ames, while they were generally out of the reach { the failing ciuders, Tho \laduct ac Adams street, Sita its biazing woodwork, stood out La boid retief, id beyond and uderheath 16 nothing but a wild hirtwind of Games, obscured for & Moment by ursts of smoke, bUC reappearing the next with dded brililaucy. The fire, buruing close down 9 the river, and impelled eastward by the wind, seemed to one looxing from tne bridge fo have almost reached across the water, and to have parually consuimed that, as well as the more MMbUAULie Material On Which it was really leed- fig. ‘Above the sound of the conflagration occasion- lly roge thc scream o1 Lhe engities or the thunder of falling beams and tumbling houses. The sharp wineli of smoke filicd the air wilh Its oppressive jor. oor ‘the west side of Clinton street, from Jackson to ‘Adains, were the retics of the household gods of the ople Who had been living on the east side of the q et, FoMmetiMes piled on drays or wagons, Dut nerally piled apon the sidewalk. After the ad- olning houses hail proved to small to contain tnenm, heir frayed and delapitated coudition testiied to §ne haste with whicu they hai been catried away. Jn, around and an thea were their unfortu- fo possessors, wlio had been wakened Irom a b ( ound sleepin which they were refreshing themselves OF the Telgious services of the morrow, and who, ad ol getting up to dress for church, found hemselves compelled to suatch what they could ‘and fy for their lives. Those who were near Jack- n street could look castward, across & weltering of fire, through which, bluck aud desolate, raa jackson street, like some road cutting through the infernal regions, From the wrecks of burning buildings, irom rapidly consuming lumber piles, nd more slowly but more steadily burntug coal heaps, rose thousands of jets of Name, whirling up ith them pillars of stnoke, through which loomed ‘ap the taller buildings along tue river, or the sien- dor masts avd b.aziug Tgging Of some vessel In (he giver. So grand and so hovel Was the spectacle that those poor men and women who stood shelter- Jess by night did vot wailand moan and hug their half-clad babies tighter to thelr bosoms, as ts the eustom on such occasious, Dut stood gazlog straigiy forward, hey did not stop to see what they had Lost, or to inquire into the condition of what they had saved, put watched with inteasc admtration She terribly beautiful spectacle which unfolded i1self before thea, ; Further north on the street (he efforts of tne firo- | men and tho casiward teudency of the wind had ‘preserved the houses facing West on Clinton street, he southern enes bewy mere shells and thele coad ion improving as one went north, though they were it much scorched and rendered untiliabliadle | fie fire and its opposmyg e rin Water. ut hough these sombre aud fer ooking teae- Sments generally barred ‘he view. yor tarow wend occasional brvaks dis the | tags 0 there ge. a view intuine urns hiay ed and sul; narous gly: through the portais Of Le! upon those individuals ¥ fore and the only hem were in search of 1 cerning their ible insurance to Witch they generally repiied at they had none, Wy eu ‘ey repiied at all to what ‘whey often const vovy Unnecessary and ration ampertinent que { her inquiries Ww: approached ‘2 4l#0 Mage As to Whether any Yersons were wissing or had been imjared; but ‘while it is imposst.ie, 80 great was the confuston, 0 ascertain much concerning it, 1t is beyond doubt @hat one person was seriously injured and another 48 Most likely missing for ever, Uiess sume portion ‘ofher bones should have escaped the action of the fraging fQames wiuch enveloped them, Mrs, Down. ng Was an old woman who ilved in one of the jouses on the north aide of Jackson street, near anal, and who, surprised in her sieep by the ad- vanclig fire and stapefving smoke, would Nave been unavle to escape without foreign aid. Happily this was afforded by a@ printer of the name of Robert ampsie, who succoeded m carrying her out, but Wot Until she had been severely burned, nor did ne escape without serious Injuries, She was taken to 4 house on Jefferson street, uot far of, where she 1s mow receiving medical aticntion. But, while she escaped, her daugiter-in-law, Margaret Hasiey, with whom she was living, was left beliind, and nas Hot been heard of since, It ts only remarkable that ‘an the sudden origin and rapid progress of the Gre more accidents did not oceur. Alter o time the cniel inverest of ail who could get anywhere near it, or form any idea concerning 1, ‘was centred at the northeast corner of the fire, that being the only point where there waa much danger of its extenaing. But it presently became apparent shat Ae pcralstent and desperate efforis of the fire- Meh had stopped it ere, and consequently the in- terest boyan to dieaway, and the conflagration to be looked upon as someting of & iailure by tose whose res.lences were cutirely out Of danger and who dishked to sce 80 promising 4 sensation culning to amend. But while these people from a distance marched of the livenen never stopped tor a moment 40 their heroic efforts, which were, happliy, ancdis- wurbed, for, with the exception of one false alarm, nothing oveurred to distract thelr acteation trou ive business In hand, PROGRESS OF THR CONYLAGRATION. . At the time of the appearance of tue fre, which briginated in Lull & Holmes planing mili, on Canal ‘street, near Van Buren, the wind was blowing due north, 60 Wat the spread of the flames was north. ward In the main, although the mischiel was soon communicated to the ngat and left, and the district from Clinton street to the river, a distance of two blocks, Was cmbraced in the destruction, Soon, however, the wind veered from tho southwest, and the lane of fire began to take an angle to the nortn east, The buildings and piles of jymbor Leiween | whether tv NEW Y the last line of Ulinton street and the river, ata point about midway between Van Buren and Jack- Bon streets, were entirely swept away, and the flames, sweeping across to the north line of Jacl son street, tureatened to follow that line no one could tell how far, ‘the Fire Department were powerless to check the or which was carried bod! vening streets and swept to north. ward, On Jackson sireet, between Cilnton and Canal, there was continuous Line of wooden buildings, mostly two-story frame dwellings, and pack oi these were various carpenter shops, barns, sheds, woodpiles, &c., all of which became so rapialy surrounded by fire as to renver the saving of the contents an impossibility. In many cases there was barely time to arouse the uccupants and get them in safety from the premises, One alter anot ‘THK BUILDINGS WERE ENVELOPED IN FLAMES, and in the brief space of twenty minutes the space between Jackson and Adams and Clinton street and the river was all ablaze. On the east side of Canal street, and between it and the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Kailroad \racks, bounded north and south by Adams and Jackson, were several coal and lum- ber offices, all of which disappeared like tinder, Huge piles of coal—huniireds 01 tons of anthracite— back of these butidings, and the heat and flames at last became go intense as to commucicate with the coal and set it on fire. Up to this timo the pas- sage across Adams street bridge nad been unre- stricted save by the volumes of smoke and cinders pei in thas direction, but at last the flames THE AVAMS STRERT ViaDUCT, and soon @ Wail of fire drove across the passage- way and barred it effectually, Under the bridge tho devouring element was suckea with tearful velocity, and betore any steps could be taken to prevent it the sidewalks and railings of the tron viaduct were lapped up. anda der low shed, on the northeast corner of Adams and Canal streets, used asa freight depository by tie United States and Adams Express Companies, was doomed to destruction. As rapidly 3 possibje tie Cenients were removed, but Lhere Was not time enough io save one-quarter of the gooils in store. Beyond this shed, to the eastward, stood a large nuimder of PASSENGER COACHES x belonging to the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Ratlroad Company, lo save Wuich it was necessary w tear down the shed, which was gucceasfully accom: plished, Had ib been otherwise and had these cars taken fire notning could have checked the flames, which would have communicated with the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne ‘ht depot, consuming in their train the passenger buildings, cars, &c., and never stopping until Madison street- bl was reached, All this was fortunately prevented by the strenuous endeavors of citizens—the Fire Department helug Unabie to operate to advantage in this locality— who, appreciating the terrible danger of a further spread to the east and northeast, labored most he- roically in the midst of @ horrible shower of livid cinders and a flerce, hot, driving smoke, SOUTH LINE OF ADAMS STREBT. While the citizens were battling so successfully between Canal street and the river, north of Adams street, the firemen were having a furious contest on the soutn line of Adams street, west of Canal, and extending neaiy to Clinton street. ‘the buildings were all wooden structures, mainly occupied as Tesidences, aud it had vecome perfectly clear to everybody that the eet fight must take place at this potnt, Once let the flames cross to tho aie line of wooden structures on Adams street a THE CONSEQUENCES WERE AWFUL TO CONTEMPLATE, Adozen leads of hose—all that could be worked to advantage—were brought into the street, and as many streams of water were directed on the burn- ing buildings, the rear portions of which were blaz- ing iuriously. Inch by inch those firemen fought for an advantage, fighting in a perfect heil of heat and smoke, ‘heir courage aud endurance were something magniiceat While the spectators, hun- dreds of feet further away, cowered before the ter- ridle beat and biinding dritt of glowing cinders, the Pipemen stood their ground, often: for five minutes ata stretch, witvin a dozen feet of the wali of fire, now and then withdrawing a few paces in order to get breath, only to return to the charge as mantully as before. They could not hope to extinguish, but they aid succced in subduing, the flames so as tosave the opposite buildiags, and prevent any furtuer spread of thecunfagration. This was the grand pitched patile of the Occasion—the master- Diece of the departmont—and It deserves to be sig- naiized as one of the most remarkable achieve- ments on record. THE BOUNDARIES ca ne conflagration may be briefly summarized as o) — Between Clinton and Canal streets, about three. fourths of the area south toward Van Buren street, Between Canai street and the river, about pine- tenths of the area south toward Van Buren street, Between Canal street and the river, aud Adams and Jackson streets, the entire area. Between Canal and Clinton streets, and Adams and Jackson streets, about seven-cignths of the en- ure area, the only remaining buiitings being tho frontage of about eighty ieet on Adams and 128 feet on Clinton street, On the east side of Canal, north of Adams, about one hundred feet poneee tHe Express Company freight sneds—is consumed, A3 nearly as can be estimated the total area burned Over Covers about twenty acres, which 1s by far ino largest district ever devastated ‘by fire in Chicago, even eclipsing the famous conflagration of 1857. JACKBON STREET. From the planing mull the Names travelled with ungovernable fury west and north, igniting ailthe lumber in the lumber yard attacied to tho planin: Tul. ‘The sparks—some large brands—were carrie by the draugt of alr on to Clinton street. Mean- while the truck house, owned by the city and situ- ated on the soutiwest corner of Jackson and Cun ton streets, Ignited, and was reduced to a clader 1m a remarkably short time, A tow of dwelling honses on Jackson street, between Canal aud Clinton, caught tire somewhere in the middle, the Dames shooting trom the, lumber yard on the sonth side, impelled by @ roaring soutiwest wind, ‘These dweil- ing houses, dried almost to tinder by the long con- tipaed drought, fell before the comsuming flames without appearing to add to their savage brilitancy, go quickly were iley destroyed. They succeeded in helping the fire into,the mass of dry barns, out- houses, slanties, shops and dwelling houses si.uated on Cluntoa street and in t's rear. They were all on fire in a few minutes, and in a few more were re- daced to ashes. Ali the dweilingyon Jackson street, from Canal to Clinton, were thus destroyed, whe the fire travelled half way to Adams, on Cliatou. ‘The whole of the row of houses, ten in number, as owned by Alanson Watson, and were totaily de- stroged. ‘they were occupied by twenty eight fami. lies in all, who lost all their property with the ex- ception of a few articles they had succeeded in ree moving before the Names rendered ingress to their buildings rmpossibie. No, 67 Jackson Was & two-story frame house, on the corner of Clinton street. It was occupied by three families, nameu respectively, Peters, Wiluams and Isaacs, Wiitams was a printer. The total loss of the three iamilles must have been about $409, upon Which there was no insurance. No. 65 was vacant, and owued by Lazarus Siiver- Man; total loss. No. 63 was also owned by Mr. Sil- verman, and occupied by W. Robbins, # hackman. His loss was avout $50; no insurance, No. 61 was owned by Mr. Watson and occupied by Patrick Power. His loss was probably $300; insured for $500, though he does not Know in what company, and believes the policy has er. No. 69 was owned by Mr. Watson. It was a two- atory house, Thomas Walker and two daughters occupied the lower part of the house, Their posses- sions, valued perhaps at $300, were all destroyed, and were nottnsured, The upper story was occu- pied by Mra. Merrill, who was in great distress, hay- Ing no sloes on her feet, which were wet and nasty, {tis probable that her loss 18 $109; no insurance, Noy 57 was also a two story house, owner by Mr. Watson, and occupied on the ower floor by Frede- rick Greenough, lis loss 19 $600; uninsured. He ‘was waiting ior some miraculous agency to restore nis property. ‘Tho apper floor was occupied by Sam. MeAluister, who says he lost $690 anyway, and had | no consolation of insurance, Nos. 85, 43 and 41 completed the \ist of rained houses In (nis locality, all owned by Mr. Watson, ana more or Jess occupied, The occupants hai van- ished vo safe quarcers, and could not be found, The total 10s on buildings on this sirect, on the nortit sie Of the same, will probably amount to $8,000; asured OF not couid not be learned ‘last night, Th to the property of occupants was ossivly the insurance on which will be ound very highs indeed. IN THR REAR, Scattered aroand in the rear of these hoases was an unnumbered mess of eng pat buildings. The carpenter shop, owned by Jolin Stephenson aud occupied by & man. named Klein, was de siroyed, The loss to Mr. Kiein was $250, A barn owned vy Kiewn, adjoiaing tte carpenter slop, was destroyed, Loss $000 There Was no insuratice in guy one of these cases. Thore was also an unpre- tending two story frame house owned by Mr. Pierco, Which Was also destroyed. His furniture was a& total loss, aggregatuug $1,200, on Which there is nO insurance. The south side of Jackson street, as anove stated, Was occupled by the track house belouging to the city. Loss, $2,590. ULINTON STREET. Adjoining the truck house on Clinton street stood two one-story frame cottages, Owned by Messrs. Haltslander & Randali, a3 a box, blind and sash fac- tory, Thetr esiablishment was piled up with limber and valuable property, and they claim to have lost $10,000 by the transaction, ‘They were protected With a light proportion of insnrance, No, 180 Clinton sirees was north of Jacksou. It Was @ two-story irame house, where Mr. Monahan lived. He was einployed im the Alton and St, Louis Raliroad depot as general porter or in some otner capacity, He saeveeded in saving his goods, but claims to have lost a respectable amount. There Was no Insurauce oo his destractible property. No, 184 was owned by Mr, Watson and oceapica by Jolin Weiss, who insists that his name ia decent English is White. Hs furniture covered the site. walk tO a0 appalling aistance, but he inststed on bis losing $49, on Wihicu he hac 00 insurance in the Firemen’s No, 182 was also owned by Mr. Watson and ocen pied by B, Cronin, Whose Joss Is chaiued to be $809; insured for $f. The farniture ts insured for $200, No, 180 Was aiso owned by Watson, and occupied by Israe@liuish famuy nated Shoen. Bis joss 1s assumed to have been $1,200; insured for $700, Mr, Sullivan, Who aceupted the top door, lost all bis property. No insurance, Nos. tis): and 178 were owned by ©. B. Farwell, They were but slightiy injured. Now i%6 was also owned vy Mr. Varwell, and occupied by James Hanley. Tn a house jv the rear lived & hackman named Lewis, who saved his hack, Near him was the ‘wagon shop of Messrs. Bolzer & Co, Who had just attne present time @ great press of repairing on nand. They lost not only their entire stock, but a hamber of wagons sent over for repairs, L088 avout $8,000; insurance probably light. AN UNWHOLESOME SUGGESTION was made by some bystanders. There was a story Hl | { i ORK. HEKALD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER N. current that a wake was being celebrated, in one of the Wretcued shanties in the rear, tho party under- going the ceremonies being a woman. The gorpse was leit in the bouse and was b Whesber this was truo or false it Was Linposaldle to discover Tast nigat. CANAL STREET—THE ORIGIN. The firs origiuated in the boiler room of the large laning mit of Lutl & Holmes, at No. 209 Canal rect, and, as fur as could be ascertained, was groundiess—that 38, no possible or provable cause Was assigned for its origin, The building was of brick, two stories in height, and about 100x60 feet on the ground. The whole building, machinery and material of the firm were consamed, involving & 1038 Of not less than $20,000, The msarance on tho Planing mill was about two-thirds that amount. In tue rear of this was a box factory be:onging to @ Me. Foster, The loss is stated to be about $3,000; insured for $1,500, Directly north of the planing mill was a two-story frame dwelling, which was totally destroyed; 20 insurance, as sar as could be ascertained. North of the dwelling on Canal street was a two story frame building, used as a saloon and dwelllag., Tiis was totally consame, with a total loss of about $1,000 to the occupant, and no iusurance as far as could be ascertained, At Nos, 189 and 191 South Canal street was situ- ated the Excelsior Vinegar Works of F. Weigle. Tue buildiag and machinery were entirely coasumed, involving a loss of fully $12,000 to the proprietors, On this there was an insurance of $9,000, as fol- lows:—Teutonia, of Cleveland, $1,000; Alps, of Erte, Four Hibernia, of Vleveland, $1,000; Chicago Fire, 32,000; Knickerbocker, of Chicago, $1,000; come ing, of Pennsyivania, $1,000. ON THE EAST SIDE of Canal street the wind permitted a scarcely less disastrous conflagration in proportion to the ‘value oft the property than eccurred on the west side, The Racine House was tocated at No. 210, aud suffered the tate o1 the rest of the street, being totally con- sumed. The butlaing belonged tou o man named bar 4 and was uninsured, The Union Wagon Works, situated at No. 190, on the same atreet, were also totally consumed, ‘The were owned by Mr. KE. F. Flood, woose loss on build- ing and stock will approximate $17,000. Mr. Fiood ig understood to have been insured for $6,000. Messrs, Chapin & Foss, manufacturers of shingles and iath, at Nos, 220, 222, 224, 226 and 223 Canal street, had, in addition, a large lumber yard, in whica Were contained not less than four qwillion feet of lumber. About one-third of this was destroyed, the logs involved being between $50,000 and $60,000, Thelk inguranee Was $12,000, all placeu by the #ire- At Nos. 216 and 218 were the lumber yards of John Sheriffs & Son. These yards contained not far from three million feet of lumber, Valued at over $65,000, ‘Their tusurance was large, but not commensurate ‘With their loss, Among tae items may be mentioned 6,000 in the Germania, and $15,000 in the Liverpool, ndon and Globe, Other companies could not be learned until tae opening Of the firm’s sate. The whole sum was stated to 5,000. At No. 214 was situated a large two-story frame, Ocoupied by several German families as dwelling houses. The ownership was uuderstood to have been in Messrs. Sheriifs & Son, and the loss was complete, ‘The firm held some inaurance, but how much was not ascertained, At No. 212 was a two-story frame, also belonging to Sheriffs & Son. In this building was the oiice of the Arm. It was totally destroyed. TUE GREATEST LO3S of the destructive fire, next to the planing mill, was 1a the coal and wood yards on the east side of Canal Street, The first of these was at No. 176 Canal treet, where B, Holbrook had an immense amount of coalin store. ‘he value of the stock was set at $36,000, apd it will be nearly all lost, The insurance was not large enough to cover everything, being not far from $25,0.0. This was placed in the Fire- men’s, Muiual Security, Germania and two other companies, The next frm north of Holbrook was % smaller one, Messrs. Lamon & Cornish. ‘hey were enurely burned out, North of the last named firm was the establish- ment of W. £. Jonnson, agent of the Wiimington Coal Company. He had quite alarge amount of coal on hand, and his logs will not be iess than $30,000, The insurance will amount to about two-thirds of ‘this sum. Directly north of Holbrook’s yard was the black- smith shop of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne aad Chi- cago Railroad Company. Ip this were a large amount of vaitabie tools and machinery, which were entirely consumed. The loss will be about ‘Two barns were included in the fire on the east side of the street, and the joss In them was, per+ haps, even more untortunate than in the yards, The barns belonged to Messrs. Johnson aud Hol- brook, and in each of them were consumea valuable live stock, The loss of Mr. Hoibvook under. this head wil, it ts understood, be excepuonully heavy, The number of horses lost could not be ascertaimed, but will not be iess than naif a dozen, and may Teach twice that number. ADAMS STREET. Soon after midnight the fire began to.appear in the rear of the bulidings fronting on the south side of Adams, The flames came on in vast volume, @nd in less thao ten minutes Nos, 38, 42, and 44 were enveloped. ‘Tey were as dry as tinder, and burned rapidly. The flames ran up the rear of tae houses, along tae roofs and sides, burst out of tha windows, aud i twenty minutes Not a vestige was left. Tue firemen had all they could do to prevent the tire from leaping across the street, and the buildings on. the opposite side were only saved bv betng deluged. with Water. 80 FIBROR WAS THE HEAT that the crowd fell back voluntarily before it, glad enouga to get teyond the reacitof its scorciing power. No. 38 was owned by Sainuel Wagner, who lived in the basement, aud toe first door was occu- pied as @ saloon. Nos. 42 and 44 were totally de- stroyed, the latter being owned by Mr. Stephenson, Fortunately there were vacant Jota along the street, and tho loss of property was, therefore, less, ag nothing coud have stayed the progress of the fire had the block been entirely built. When the flve tircatened to consume the houses on Clinton street the inhabitants began to move their goods and furniture out on the street. ‘They were jostiy poor people, somo of them boarders, and ail of tuein will be al @ serious loss, to say noth: ing of the tuconventence aad discomfort they suf. fered. Beds, chairs, tables, bureaus, clothing, and everything that makes up household furniture were heaped up in aa indiscrimimace mass, guarded by the owners, Who stood gazing upon the tery sea that spread out before them, There were MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, babes In their mothers’ arms, and little ones, who could not fully comprehend the disaster, clinging around tiem and crying pitiably for protecuun. Tue sight was beartrending. Many of them mourned their loss, but ali seemed thanktul that their lives and tue lives of those dear to them were preserved from the merciless wave of tire that swept every- thing before it. Une poor man deplored the loss of an overcoat which cost him $40 4 lew days previous, and his wife wondered where he could find another to shelter him trom the cold of the approaching winter. A woman lying sick In one of the houses alone, her busbatid being away, did not discover her danger until the fire was close upon her prem- ses, Then sho escaped with o blanket around her, everything sie owned in the world being ablaze a few minuies afterward. So it was with man; others, There were cases of distress ail around, but it would be impoassivle at tins writing to nar- rate any more, THE ADAMS STREET VIADUCT. ‘The new viaduct uver Adams street was wrapped in flame and abont one hundred feet of the Nooring was burned. The paint was scorched and biistered, the total damage anrounting to about $1,000, which the city will have to pay. Froma distance the view of the Viaduct was weird and grand. ‘The tron rail- ing stood out like the ribs ot soine gigantic skeloton coudemned to the lower regions, the flames and smoke twisting and twirling around and to and out among them. The Adams and United States xpress Companies bad a smali shed lor the delivery of goods near the viaduct, and fronting ou the railroad track, Some men who were looking after the property were driven away by a shower of sparks falling as thick as snowflakes, but they returned and moved away two or three cars standing near the shed. ‘ihe shed itself took fire sooa after from the viadact and was totally destroyed. The luss and laaurauce, U any, could not be definitely ascertalaed, THE NATIONAL ELEVATOR, owned by Vincent, Nelson & Co., made a narrow escape. For atime it seemed to be almost sur- rourded py the flames, and looked like some tall rock looming wp in the midst of a seething ocean of fire, Ifwas expected momentarily to fall a prey to the flames, but happily It was saved. THE TEKRIGLE SCANE—THE PLYING SPARKS AND CINDERS, From all the bridges in tne vicinity of the great fite tho scene was one of unparalicied, terrible beauty. The dense column of smoke, driving be- fore the southeasterly gale the millions of buraing cinders, carried by the force of the wind over @ mile from the theatre of conflagration, and the dense, fiery glow ol the destroying element itsei/, } Hiuminating the entire city, made up A PANORAMA OF GRAND BUT TERRIBLE FEATURES. Everything was rendered so plaiu by the gigantic flames that the ropes on the vesseis In the river g.00d out in stronger relief than they woud bave done in the Hight of day, while the gallant flremen drove their horses, coming from the South Side fre, right over the burning bridge at Adams street, call- ing forth the admiration of all beholders, The num- ber of spectators Was beyoud precedent, every alley and lane, a8 weil as the principal streets, the cross- yards ‘of Vossels and the rools of houses were gar- Tsoned with anxious and exclted citizens, watening with Mnferest the progress of the Maimes. TAK VRE DEPARTMENT more than surpassed itself, No effort was spared by the boys to check the advance of the great de- Siroyer, Again and again the flames appeared to be gaining grouud, making desperate Cilorts to pass over to the north side of Adams street, bat as often did the firemen, with ho-e and ax, repulve the dreaded enemy The unforty tially burmet out esaioon Keepers who liad been par- necame unduly liberal, and dis- sa sliame to bave who evidently believed that tt w liqtor given ty the Manes, nh many pl #riewaiks gave Way, cansing tin. Mense cohiusion sid ranning troone, Women kept shouting for their friends, children made the air resound With thelr howhngs, boys yelled, while the ceaseless clatter of the engines and the loud voices of the Fire Marslials helped to make up a din that might confuse many who had bee steranized to such sceues. THE POLICE peused Chetry cordial s to crowds of Tevdy customers, | helr hands move a full in Keeping back per gona anxious to get inte the circle of the fire, ‘the reporters aione were allowed to pass trough. Dep- uty Wells Shermau kept moving along the line, calling out to the police, “If they don’ % Keep back lock ’em up; that’s the way to HX’em.” Had tho officers beon obliged to atrest every man that at- mmpted to pass the ropes all the prisons and police ations ta the city would Naye been lull, The ots ha 1871.-QUADKUPLE SHEEP, 13 leaving their ~ ————— blazing homes, hoving to reach -- tens! : y a place Gers Fenaored most emXent service, and desorvo | In ctroie; some under tents, some nde, rite ph A It Altogether, Much praise for ther eergy aud forbearance | fii bap 2 pee mig eo wny me wes, Were | houses, Firemen in. axing pve pein tne aurcete on y it om delic, re o throughout the excitement, ¢ommodation in stately and wall fevciiee hos e | the poor creatures trom thvir horrible fun weet DIPFIOULTURS+ No fire that has ever taken pl woe” in this olty Yai gresged With 30 much rapid.ty, aid at uo previous ‘Ume Was IL 50 dilicult to get at the ‘acts and iigures, owing to the general desteuction, WiNell bred @ coi fusion seldom, uf ever, equalled. 4 STEAMER IN DANGER. Atan early stage of the fire the ast wntion of the Spectators was diverted for a ume to the Chicago” engine, WAich wad overtaken by an auooked-for disaster. Jt was stationed at the nortuwet corner of Canal and Jackson streets, and had commenced Operation Wien tie entire side of a house seeed to Rive Way. and tue Names burst out tn a farious vol- ume, ‘fhe eugine was almost enveloped im the Dame, and the engmeer and all the men were come pelled to desort her and dee lor their lives. After time the flaines at that point subsided, and a crowd of citizens rusted to the rescue and dragged her off, She was consileraoly damaged, vut not to such an extent as to prevent her from going into active ser- vice at @ Subsequent period of the night. TELRGRAPH WIRKS BROKEN, The western wires or the Western Untoa Telegraph Company were burned and broken down, so that Comuiunication witi the West was temporarily sus- ded, aad the Wires of the Fire Alarm Telegraph in the Western part of the city mct the same late, INCIDENTS AND ACUIDENTS—A COLLAPSE. On the corner of Clinton und Jackson sireets was @ large shed, the rovi of which offereaa tempting “coigne of vantage” for the crowd, lt was accord- ingly taken possession of ut an carly siage of tho ire, and the numbers on the roof kept on increasing till the crowd numbered about one bundred and fitty peopie, All of a sudden the roof gave way, aud the entire structure collapsed with a great crash. A cry of terror arose from the crowd, large num- ber of the adventurous spirits had gone down with the ruins and were severely crushed. ‘The precise number who suifered tijury was not ascertained, Every effort was made to rescue the sulferers, and itis believed that no lives were Lost, The sidewatks on Clinton street caved in while they were crowded with passengers, and a good many persons were more or less damaged by the A NARROW ESCAPE, When the fire was raging in the lumber yard of Sheriils & Son some six or eigut men were sur rounded py fire and could not ger out. Lucy were 1m imaunent danger of being suifocated or burned, and, as a last resort they tuiubled one of the blazing poidhed SEO peo tee Ast and made a sort of ul ‘mich they pi led Lhe Way in salety to the opposite bank. - 7 PROPERTY SAVED IN THE RIVER. Deadly diseases call for sharp remedies. It was a singular sight to see the men velouging to the coal yards hauling heavy trucks and wagons and precipt- ating them into the river, ‘nis was tue only method to be adopted to save them under the circumstances, About fifteen trucks and twenty-five wagons were in this manner turown into the river, THE SIDEWALKS on each side of Jacksun street, frum Clinton to Ca- nal; on both sides of Canal, trom Adams to Van Buron, and on one side of Clinton street, from Jack- son to Van Buren strect, were enurely burned up Or otherwise destroyed, LOSSES AND [NSURANCR—DIFFICULTIES. In a fire oi such magnitude it 13 reasonable to pretame that every imsurance company in tue city 18 suilered Lo a greater or lesser excent, Tue late- hess of the hour and the extraordinary confusion prevading everyWhere, however, precluded tne pos. gibility Of ObLaIning an approximation to a correct lust of the compauies, The followlag are among the Dames of those reported this morpiug:—biremen’s, Home, Equitavle, Commercial, Caicago Fire; ‘Leu. tonia, Cleveland; Alps, Lycoming, Hibernia, Bualo City, Builato Fire aud Marine; Weston, of Butlalo; Andes, of Cincinuati; Iimos ‘Mutual, Merchants’; Pacitic, San Francisco; Union, San Francisco; Fire reel Friend, Kuickerbocker, Kepuviic, Great estern. AN ESTIMATE, Owing to the extent of the fire it was Impossible to learn the losses or the insurance of the owners of the property destroyed, ‘the provable loss will be in the neighborhood of $70u,000; tue Insurance is about two-thirds of that, FORMER FIRES. THE GKEAT FIRE OF LONDON. Terr.ble Conflagrations in New York, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, San Fran- ¢eiseo, Portland, Charles- ton and Chicago. TABLE. QF OTHER MONSTER BURNINGS, The Great Fire in London. ‘We must go back more than @ couple of centuries to find. a parallel to the terribie fire which has wrapped the city of Cnicaga ina sea of resistloss flame, On tue 2a of September, 1666, the city of Londen was almost utteriy destroyed by what has since been known as the Great Fire, This awful conflagration gaived headway with the same ter- Tible rapidity as that of last Sunday night, and tn five dreadful days of ruin and terror and panic laid two- thirds of the English metropolis in ashes, Like the fire at Chicago it broke ont upon a Sunday, though at a diferent hour—two o’clock in the morping. It orlgmated in @ bakehouse, kept by @ man with the gqnaint name of Farryner, at Pudding lane, near the Tower, At that period tho bulidings in the English capital were chicfly con- structed of wood, with pitched roofs, and in this parucular locality, which was immediately adjacent to the water side, the stores were mainy filied with materials employed in the equipment of ship- ping, mostly of conrse of a highly compbustivie na- ture. ‘To add to the conspiring causes of the Im- mense mischief in which the fire ultimately resulted the pipes from the New River—the source of the water supply of the city—were found to be empty, and the engine which raisea water from the Thames was among the first prop erty destroyed, The vactilation and indecision of the Lord Mayor aggravated the confusion. For several nours he refused to listen to the counsel given him to call in the ald of the mulitary, and wheu the probable proportions of the fire were plainty apparent, and when it was clear that the de- struction of a block of houses was absolutely neces- sary to the preservation of the city, he declined to accept the responsibility of destroying them until he conld obtain the consent of their owners, All through Sunday the wind increased in violence, and the fire sped withincredible rapidity froin house to house, from street to strect, on tts Work of havoc, We cannot now do beiter than transcribe the ac- count of the further mischiel caus iby the ire given by Mr. Joun Evelyn, in his ‘Diary.’ it reads as foilows;— Sept. 3. The fire continuing, after dinner I took coach de, in South mes near ye wate! all Thames streat, Cheapeside downe to the three Cranes, were now cou gummed. ‘The Gre having continae? all this nigbt (if T may call that night which was an ight as day for ten mies round era dreadful manner) when conspiring wita ® rn windin avery drie season; I went on tout to iace and saw tho whole svuth part of ye city burn Ing from Ubcapesive to. the Thames and hat gaa Cornebil, i ry wind as (for it kindied ~~ back — against hureh street, Well as forward). Tower street, Gracious street, and #0 along to now taking hold of St. Paul contribnted exceedingly. The contlag: fal and the people ao weionished that, know. not from what, despondency or fate the Girivod to quench ity '6o that Wore was nothing i feene but crying out and lamentation, running about like distracted creatures, without at ali atiempting to save even their goods, sci them—a9, as it bi churehes, public bal ornamonta, Jeapiax house and strecte to onte, at ge other; for ye leate, with a Ton weaiuer had even ignited the alr, tb conceive the fire, which devow her houses, faruiture an everything. Thaines covered with gyod Boates laden with what trom 79 tof far aed warp prepared the materials J utter an incredible man- Here we w ihe to save, aw on ye other, ye carts, &c., carrying out td Ja, which for roany miles were strewed with moveables of wil sorta, and tents erecting to shelter both people and what goode tuey souid'get away. ‘Ob, the iniserable and calamioue spectacle! such as haply the world wad not seene the iike ritee the foun- dation of i, nor toe ousions till the universal eontia.ra- tion, All the sky Was of @ fiery the top of a burning oven, the light see a forty miles round about for many night dod grant my eyes nny never behold the hike, now seeing ubove en thou bones ail in one fame; the noise aud crackling avd | th iu flaines, ye shriektug of women and cbildren, the hurry of people, the fail of towers, w and chareles was like an hideous storme, and the about so hot and inflamed that at inet one was not able t rouch it, so that they were forced to stand let the vhich they did for jh The clouds of amoke were disinall eur fifty miles in Jog -a vexeuniian ® reached, npov Liertic da the or the last day. but Sepr, 4 ‘The barning stil Pages, a far as the Inver Temple, oide Fleetn aw Hl, Warwick jane, N ow Farming and m. Panie sew | no more ! twas now gotion wo | reate, the Uide H Pale’ Iannds w mopped all the passages, #0 (iat no Help coud The eastern wind alll nore impetuousiy drove tite fa toward, Nothing buc ye almighty power of Gon was to stop them, for eo sipe of Man. Serr, 5. Ul crossed towards Whitehalle; oh, ‘he confusion there was then at that Court! It pigased His Majesty to command me among the rest to looke after the qnenehing of Fotter lane and to preserve If possible that part ot loiborney white the rest of ye genilemen tooke their several poste and began to conetder that nothing was so likely to put tho bowing Up of 40 many houses as might. moke | change piace down was lovelled, reluced now to extreataest misery and poverty, ’ . . * . . G . And agatn:— T thea went towarta Ieitagton and Hictigate, where o miiaht have, oeane 2.001 "people ve all ranks phere | 2 ny by their heapes « a Save trom the tre, deploring heir loase’ oii thouulr eoachy tp perinls rom unger and destitution, yet not for relief, which to me appeared & Tbad yet beheld, How vivid an idea of the suiferin; misery entailed by this terrible vei 4 we tind i this simple pus expressty: narrative | Nearly two-thiras of the entre city were destroyed, Thirteen thousand houses, eighty-pine churches and many protic bnildings were reduced to charred wood and asies. Tn hundred and seventy-three geres within, aod sixty three acres without the walls were utterly de- vastated. Weil might Mr. Evelyn conipare the fire to that which overwhelmed Sodom aud (ororrah, or that other and yet more awiulone whitch will engulf the eatire world wt the day of doomy Beginning on & Sunday as did chat in Chicago yes- terday, the same cause—a high wind—was the cause in each instance of the extensive consequence’ or the conflagration. Tae London fire, however, was seized upon by fanatical preachers aa an Llustiation of the avenging justice of God upon the wicketnesa of the metropolls, Let us hope that uo American pulpit will resound to this class ef uuseenly “im- brovement” upon the awiul catastrophe at Chicago! The London fire also bai the Nonor of being spe- Clally predicted, tu which respect, also, Chicago ts comparatively happier. New York’s Groat Fire. That great event in the history of this city, the 1 ay ‘great fire,” occurred on the night of the 16th of December, 1835, It was declared: by the croakers of the time a damper upon the city’s prosperity and a clog to the wacels of its progress toward its present position, But though the peopte lost a givav part of their capital, they did not lose thetr stvength, energy and enterprise, and the proper application of those qualities caused their city to rise, Phoenix-like, from 1s ashes more beautiful, stronger and suller of life than before. At between eight and nine o'clock on the evening above stated the fire was discovered in the store No. 25 Merchant street, a narrow street that led from Pearl into Exchange street, near where tie Lost Oilice then was, The fMames spread rapidiy, and at ten o'clock forty of the most valuable dry goods stores in the city were burned down or on fire. ‘The narrowness of Merchant street, and the gale which ‘was biowing, atded the spread of the destructive element, It passed from building te batiding, leaped across the strect between the blocks, urged by the gale and in no wise aeterred by the feeble forces Opposing .1t Tne night was bitterly coid, and, though the firemen were most energetic, the freezing of the hose and ihe water in their defec- tive engines, combined with thew suiferings trom the weather, made their e/forts of littie avail. ‘Ine flames spread north and south, east and west, until almost every building on the area bounded by Wail, South anu Broad streets, and Coenties sup, was burning, gutted or levelled to the ground. There was not @ building desiroyed on Broad street nor on the block on Wall street from Wiluam to Broad street, the fire taking an almost circular course just at tno rear of the bulidings On tre streets named, The scene in twe nigh’ was.one of indescribavle grandeur, the glare from the 300 bulidings that were at oue time burning brigatly lighting up the whole city. In all 530 build. ing were destroyed; they were of the largest and Most costly descriptiun, and were tilled with tne Most valuable goois. The total loss, estimated at lirss at about $20,000,000, was afterwards found to have been about $15,000,000. Of the buildings destroyed the most important were the Merchants’ Exchange, the Post Uilice, the oillces OL the ceic- brated vankers, the Josephs, the Allens and tie Livingstons, the Phenix Bank and tue building owued and occupied by Arthur Tappan, then much despised for his uutl-s.avery sympatiies. The busi- ness portion of the city was alone that burned over, wo that Low poor were rendered otherwise tin with out employment. New York, 1845. > | destructive of & ‘The greatest fire, since that of December, 1835, that has devastated property la this city, began on the morning of -the 20th of July, 1845. The fire originatea in a sperm oll store in New street, near the corner of Exchange place, about three o'clock | which was but In small on tho morning named, and spread over a great part of the terrivory which had been the scene of the conflagration of 1835, Tne flames were com- Tunicated to a chair factory adjoining and nearer to tho corner of Exchange place, whence they asset along Exchange niace to Broad street. There hey enwrapped a building in which was a quaan- tily of saltpetre, or gunpowder, on storage. Wien this building had been burning for about frien Minuies @ Most awful explosion took place which SOOK the city like an eariaquage, The balding ‘Was viown up, and with it souid other dulidiugs, Immediately alter the explosion Ure was discovered in four aifferent places, and shortly the rear of the | entire bluck was blazing. Soon the firo leaped to the south side of Broad street, passing athe same fume to Broadway. All this time te firemen, al- though maktog the most strenuous efforts, had ef- fecied but litte toward suppressiug the fanies, On Broadway they spread downward toward the Bowl- jog Green; and on Broad street north toward Wali street and souti to Beaver street, along which they passed to New street, voth” sides of which had beeu devastated. The fire was checked ere jt had reached the magnificent Merchants’ Exchange ou lis way to Wall strect, Both sides of Exchange piace, from Broadway to Broad st and hall way down to William, were burned, ery building on ‘oadway irom Ex- and then the Navies turved tato Marketileld street, where they were checked. Altogether about three hunured buildings were destroyed, among which were the cosuy shrmes of commerce and floance and the abodes of the poverty stricken. A hberat estimate of the total loss 13 made at $6,000,000, bat this is belittied when tne lamentable loss of hie of which the explosion was the occasion is tuought of, The number of persons wito: ves were vestroyed never was accurately ascertained, but it was yene- rally believed at the fume that about six persons perished, Puttsharg, 1845. Pitsburg, Pa., Was visited by & most destructive couflagration on the 10th of April, 1845. By tt avery large portion of tne city was laid waste and a greater number of houses destroyed than by ail the fires that had occurred previously to it Twenty squares, containing about eleven hundred batla- ings, were burned over. Of these buildings the greater part were business houses containing goods ‘of nmmense Value—grocery, dry goods and commis- ston houses, and the spring stocks of the jatter had just been laid in. The fire commenced in a frame buliding at the corner of Second and Ferry streets, and the prevailing siropg wind urged it witn fear- ful rapidity throngh the city, So short was the tune between the discovery of the es and their spread through the city that many persons were unabie to save any of their household goods, whtle others, having got theirs to the walk, were compelled to fee and jeave them to be seized and destroyed by the element. The merchants were equally unsuc- cessful in saving anything from tneir warehouses, ‘The loss was estimated at $10,000,000, Philadelphia, 1850. A vonfagration by Wich an immense amount of property was destroyed took place In Pluladelphia on the 9vh of daly, 1850, Lt began about four o'clock on the afternvon of that day ln a store at 7% North Delaware aveune, The fire was beyond control | when discovered, and soon spread, despite tne mp0st | strenuous efforts to prevent tt, to tle storchouses | adjoining. When the fire had reached ite cellar of the builulog in which it had originated two expiv- \ sions ovcnrred which rent the wails of the balidaing and threw flakes of compustible matter ip ali dtrec- tons, setiing fre to many other buildings. Dela- ware avenue and Water street wer a with persons who exhibited Ittul se evidences of dangerons substances being stored in the butding. Suddenlya third and most terrific ¢xpiosion occurred, by which @ number of men, Women and children wore killed and several buildings demoiished, This disaster caused a vanic among the firemen and spectators, and tM the efforts of all to escape from | danger many Were wampied apon and injured. | Some were thrown Into the Delaware, and otners jumped in to getaway from the faliing bricks and peas sen! up from the burning building by the ex- plosi The nugoer of persons who lost their lives | by ine explosion Qas avout thirty, nine persons who Jamped into the rP¥er in a fright were drowned, and about one hundred persons injured. The arca over which the fire spread contained about foar hundred buildings, Its locality was one of the most deasely populated im the city, and, a large number of the residents having been poor people, the sulfering caused Was immense. The loss was about one mil- hon dollars, and the fre would be & comparative’ smiail one had (here been No loss of Ite. hia, 1805. The most ter conflagration of wiueh Pla deiplia was tie ti rematter that of July, 1850— occurred there on the morning of February 8, 18 Like its predevsssor it brought death to many, and tu the must e and pe iimauner, Tre fire originated among severai (nousands of barrels of } } | | | coal of Hat were stored upon an open Tot on W | ingion street, near Ninth, ‘Ihe fanies spread through the ol as if wt had been gunpow ad and i & very short tine two thousand bar reix Were aviave and sending @ huge column | of fame and smoke upward. ‘The residents in Uie vieinity, awakened by the nowe of the bells an] divemen, and affrighted by tue gare aid nearueas 0: (he fire, rashed ia thei night gare ments into the streets that were covered with snow and slasi, ihe most prompt to leave their homes got off with their lives; but those near the spot where the fre commenced, and not prompt to escape, were met by @ terrible scene. The blaziny oil poured tuto Ninth street and down to eed making the entire street a lake of fire that ignt Gap than any had yet been made by the vedinary method of Pulling them gown by engin vem 0, RE . Then after a description of the abating of the wind and the gradual dying ous of the fire, Wie quaint old diarist continues: — poore inhabitants were diapersed about St. George's aud Meornelds, as (ar as Liigngaie, eal several myles The Peake te houses On both sides of the street tor two blocks, tee aeenen also passed up and down the cross streets and deatroyed a number of houses, ‘The flery torrent Was whirled back and forth along tho atreet at the pleasure of the wind, and aa tt assed destroyed every! tag (a oF wear Hy COUN fearfully burned, The toas of properiy amounted about $500,000, and Mity buldings | estroyed. From Washington street to Federal, on é ‘ulding Was burned, Cnet fs San Francives " ‘ ‘f Sau Franciseo was retarded in tis pte Die cfire | 1s present promt position by many gees towwh oo ling “Tiore than fire, The most , but PY se Wiany confagraiions whicn lava v began on the d4 of May, 1851, , aNd Was Lot overuiastered (ose that was caused py is and tt destroyed 2,509 bulla paiht slop on the wess occurred in chat % | at eleven o'clock F. | nth cine Ste inst. Thy * @mounied to $%,500,000,, ings. ‘The fire begaa tt & adjomiag the Ataericag wide of Porismouth square, . + 3 Boye Mause, Alpfough but a st blaze when dissoy- We miuates enwrape the fixe engines the American the oter urping. The ered, the bun ding was Withlie & Ped’ With Hawes, aud Letom could be got iy work Howse | ad the builtin side af the pint shop were aise», UPBINR Duildtegs betag ll of wood and ext, aly sombus- Bible the fire spead up Clay street, pace 6 Sacks meato add down Wiay street towards Koa, "POY W. bite teariul rapidity. Soon the fire department ~ oe pelled togtve up every atidrapt to exungiis and to confine inci WUIK to juaking Its mivands lowe rapid. Purging this p&an ther checked the Famed om sa™ north see at Dupagt street, But in every ovher di+ Feclion &® tovk its OWh cours: i Was onty arresina e water's edge aad (ue F 3.0F Che Nodses that been plown up. ‘ihe shipplog {a the harbor was only proteyted by the breakang Up Of the wharves, Thousands of eee were made homeless, and torr along tnnejaiter lived to tenis, The Vasteu House, sevea hotels Lid Post Oitice, she viticomor tne steaut ship compaay aud tie wanking lease of Pago, Bacon & Co. \were destroyed, During the contina~ ance of the dre a number or persons were Du‘ned and otlers did (rom thew exertions toward sub- dung it, i Another larga fire devastated a great portion of San Francisey wm June, 1851, It occurred-on theazo® of tat mont, aiid 504 Daildings Were destroyed ay At. “The Loss Wasg@stlinatod ab 9,000,000, , Pow@land (Me.), 1806. The terribie tire ‘which jaia’ fy ruins moré" thas haif of the city of Portland, Me., commenced al five o’clock on she afternoon of the 4h of July, 1866, Beginning ta a caoper’s shép at the foot of High street, caused, by & firecracker befag thrown amome some” wool silavings, it swepe through tho city with frighstat rapidity. Wither diMeculty did the inhabitauss Of the Rouses In tee th OscaHe With their tives, Litwie effort was made save honsehott goods when this saving involved . a@ possibility or death. Kverything-tn the track of” the Names was destroyed, amd sv Compiciely tuat~ when they hud. beon overcome even the sweets could » hardly be traced. For a space of cng mile and 2 > hall long by a quarter of a rove wide, there seemed @ straguiing.torest of chimneys, with parts of their walls atiacied, From the place of nming the fire was swept by @ violent gaie in a dovions way, sparing nothing m its passage until it was check: by the ruius of the houses wiuch had beon blowa up. The utinost endeavors of the firemen of the City, alded by those irom other cities oud Lown were of [attic avail uot the pian blowing up bad been carried ou and then only to prevent the fre trom spveadw and cause it for want of fuel to burn out. One hail of the city—aud that the exe which incladed ite business portion—-was destroyed. Every pank and all the newspaper offices were burned, an it le somewhat singular t) note that all the lawyers? vesia the city were swept away. The spiondid yaud county bulidmg ou Cougress street was cousidered fireproof and sale, and was filled. with furuiture from the Beighboring houses, waa them the Names catching it laid it in ruins. All the jewelry establishments, the wholesale dry gvods 3, several caurches, the telegraph oMices aud the majoriiy Of other business places were de- 8B royed. The Custom House, though badly burned, Was not destroyed. Most singularly # building om Middle street, occupted by a hardware ‘rm, was leis unscathed by the sea of fame which surged ead~ Gevastated all around it. ‘Two thousand persons were rendered house leas and were sheltered 1a the churches and tents erected for them. In ali the loas was estimated at $10,900,000, part covered by iusurance. Churlesten, LS6S. Uharleston, 8. C., was, on the 27th of April, 1838, visited by one of the most destructive fires that has ever occurred in any city in this country, A terre tory equak tv al/nost one half of the entire city waa made desolate, The fire broke out at a quarter past eight o'clock on the morning of the aay mentioned, ina paint shop on King street, corner of Berestord, and raged uniil avout twelve A. M. of the follown day. it was then arrested by the blowing up ol buildings in fis path. There were 1,163 busidings destroyed, aud the loss occasioned was abous $:,000,000, ‘The worst featare of the catastropne ‘Was the loss of life which occurred willie the housea Were being biown up. Through the careless wan ner in wiich the gunpowder was used four of tae most prominent citizeus of the city were kilied and @ number injured, Chicaco, 1957, 1559, 1866, tS6s. *On the morning of the 19th of October, 1557, a fre occurred in Clucago which, though notavie from the amount of property destroyed by it, was made awiul by the loss of haman life which it cansed. The fire broke out in @ large double store in Sout Water strect, and spread east and west to the bulld- Ings adjoluing, dua across an alley tn the rear tow block of new baildings, All these were completely destroyed. When the fumes were threatening one of tho buildings a number of persons ascended to tre roof to there fight against them, Wholly occupied with their work, they did not notice that the wall of the burning building lottered, and when warned of their danger {hey could not esca jug through the house ou which they were, aud carrying them into its cellar. Of the number Tour. vecn were killed and more injured, ‘The loss In prde @ ere it fell, crusi- } perty caused vy the fire amounted to over haifa mmiilion of dollars. A fire, the most Msastrous after that of Qcto 1857, took place on September 15, . It broke out In astable, and, spreaaing in different directions, consumed the block bounded by Clinton, Norta Canal, West Lake atid Fulton streets, on which the stable was situated. From tis vlock tie fire was communicated to Biatenford’s lead works and te the liydraulls ratils, whence it passed 10 another bi: of bulidings, al of which were destroyed, Tne tol loss was about five hundred thousand doliars. Property to the amount of $500,000 was destroyed by fire on the 19th of A it, 1h65, ‘Toe fire origi- nated in @ wholesale to! establishment on South Water street, and passed to the adjoining buildigs, occupied by wholesale grocery and drug firma ‘The first two buildings ana contents were utterly, while the other Was but partiaily, destroyed. Alire, which destroyed several large business houses on Lake and South Water streets, took piace November 1s, 1466, It origiwated ta the tobacco warehouse of Banker & Co, and (le load Caused by It was about $500,000, ‘The fire which occurred on the 28th of January, 1863, Was the most destractive by which Chicag@ had ever been visited. It broke out tu a large boot and shoe factory on Lake street, ana destroyed the entire block on Which that butidiog was situated. The soarks fromm (hose bulidings set fire to otuers distant from (hem on the samo street, and caused their destrucden. In all the loss was abous $3,000,000, Tnbie of Former Great Kires. Der, G Norfolk, Va., destroyed by fire and the cannoa balla or the British, “Property vw the amount of $1,500,000 destroyed, Janaary 1, 1776 Oiry of New York, Soon alter passing into posseq. sion of the british; 600 buidings cousumed, Sep. aber 4U-21, 17 @ at Richmond, Va. The Governor of the : and alarge number of the leadiug innabe tants perished. December 2é, 1811. City of New Yo 030 buildings destroyed ; loam, $20,000,000. December 16, 1835. Washingion city. General Post OMce and Patens omice, with over ten thousand valuatje models, drawings, &c,, desireyed, December 15, 1836, Philadelptua. Bitty-two baiidiugs destroyed. Loss, $500,000, Uctover 4, 1839. Quebec, Canada; 1,500 buildings aud many lives destroyed. May #5, 1549, nuda; 1,00 buildings destroyed. Jane nw York; 300 vulidtugs destroyed; loss, $6,000,000, Tune 20, 1845, St. John’s, N. FP, nearly destroyed; 6,000 people made homeless. Jane 12, 1946 Quebec, Canada; Theatre Koyal; 47 persons burned to death, June 14, Ls4e, Nantucket; 300 buildings and other property (ie stroyed; Value, $800,900. July 13, 1946. At Alvany; 600 Duildiags, steamboats, piers, &c., de stroyed, lows, $8,000,090. August 17, 1548, Frookiyn, 399 ‘buildings destroyed. Septermper 9, 1848. At St. Louis; 16 ylocks of houses and 23 steamboats; Joss estimated at £4,00,000, May 17, 1649, Frederickton, about J/9 Duildtags destrayed. N 48 Vestroyed; loss, $1,200,. A $1,500,000. May 14, 1851, Concord, N. * part of the business portion of the (own ¢ + Angst 24 1851. Congressional Library, ab Washington; 35,600 vol- Ps a4, Will Works ol art, destroyed, poember 24, 891. At Moutreai, Cana 1,200 houges destroyed; jogs, $5,000,000, July 0k Harper brothers’ estavlisiiment, Us clty; lose over $1,000,000, December to, | Metropolitan tial) and Laiargs Louse, io tnis city, Janaary 7, 1894. At Jersey uy, thirty factories and houses destroyed, July 30, 1804, More than 100 lionses and factories tm Troy, N. ¥65 on the same day @ large part of MUWaukee, Wis, destroyed, Algaay 25, 1so4. At Syracuse, N, about 100 bolidings destroyet; 1088 $1,000,000. “Noveniber 8, 1858, New York Crystal Paiace destroyed. October 5, 1454. Oty of Charleston, 8. , almost denirayed. 1 ebru- at uabos, 1 800 hanves destrored: lum $4,000,000,