The New York Herald Newspaper, October 11, 1871, Page 5

2 CHICAGO. The Frightful Conflagration Quexched at Last. Rain and Gunpowder -to the Rescue. Graphic Accounts of the Origin and Expansion of the Fire, the Ter- ror of the People and the Sufferings of the Shelterless, Five fundred Lives Lost—Twelve Thousand Houses Burned—Three Hundred Mil- lions in Property Destroyed. INHOHAN INCENDIARIES CAUGHT, The Men-Wolves Hanged to Lampposts or Shot. WHE BOYS FATAL KEROSENE LAMP. Resistless Speed of the Fire—The Roar ‘of the Flames—The Storm of Burning Brands. The Hurricane Helping the Conflagration. Meddened. Flight of One Tandred Thousand ~ Peaple—Heartrending ecnes. Druaken Men and Boys Falling **"Victims.to the Fire. ‘Milles of Wooden Pavement Burn- ing—A Literal Sea of Flames. PROMINENT CITIZENS KILLED. Fears of Pillage-—-1,500 Special Police and 500 Troops on Guard. M@incemped on tho Prairie—Births, Deaths, Makeiness, Cold, Thirst and Hunger Among the Homeless. Signs of Returning Life to the City. The Legislatare to Meet—Business About to be Besumed—The City To Be Rebuilt—Ho- tela and Banks to Reopen. Newspapers Reorganiving—The Postal Service—The Food and Clothing Supply—Work To Be Provided for the Pauperised. The fire, unexampled in American annals, which broke out at ten P. M. on Sunday Bight in Chicago, and which in the short period of thirty-six hours swept away twelve thousand houses, including the entire business portion of the city, after having completely eonsomed the entire northern division, was stepped in its recoil southward by the blowing @own of houses and the merciful fall of a heavy rain, Our reports of the fire, from ite origin to its latest chapter of horrors, will be found to contain all the obtainable facts at- tending this overwhelming disaster. THE WAR WITH THE FLAMES: CHICAGO, Oct, 10, 1871, ‘The fire demon that has been for two wecks stalking over the rolling prairies of Wisconsin and Minnesota, devouring forests and hamlets like tin- Ger, and even adding human lives to his mad repast, has at last fallen upon Chicago in one of those awful visitations to which rapidly growing marte are gadjected, His ravages were aggravated by the ex- ‘traordinary drought which has for weeks prevailed im the Northwest, rendering the earth and every- ‘abipg resting upon It INFLAMMABLA 48 TOW, One-fourtn of Chicago in area and one-half in value is 10 ashes, Last might at eight o'clock @ Son living on the corner of Taylor and Halsted ‘streets went to the stables to milk his cow; at noon noting was left in Chicago but dwelling gro0md the outskirts. The Names caught in Me loose straw and communicated to tne hay and the rick, and the northeast wind caught through Me burning roof, and fung it abroad over the dry and famishing city, i: burned with uncontroliapie Jury, and in five minutes the block was in Names. YHB WIND SUCERD Prng THROUGH THE BLOCK, 18 rolled Up the roofs like sheets Of Wasue paper and F cas tem iro the ai, fe. clevgn a’olock the NEW YORK HERALD. WEDNESDAY, UUTUBER I, 1871 QUADRUPLE SHEET. fire had swept five blocks along she Sousm ranch clean of buliding#, mainly cheap tenement houses, with a large warehouse and a factory or two, and by twelve o'clock it had reached Jackson street and encountered a large district still smoking from the fire of Friday nignt. Here it CONSUMED A BRIDGE, caught @ schooner and destroyed and sprang across the river straight towards the business centre of the city. The streams of water seemed to feed the fire Mike fountains of oj), Its raid was ungovern- able, and 1t sped inward with a wedge-shaped pro- gress, breaking as it went. The wind increased. At one o'clock the fire burned the Michigan South- ern depot and the New Pacific Hotei, uearly ready to open. Ten blocks were in ashes. Ten thousand people had assembled, and corps of the bravest and most efficient men fighting vainly in front. It spread, despite all efforts to bate, It hurled its brands like great kites of flame over the city to the lake. It was @ roaring furnace. By three o'clock it had reached the vital part of Ohicago, and had even LEAPED ACROSS THE MAIN RIVER and sped northward at four. Most of our citizens were on the streets In the vicinity of the fre, At this Present moment it is known that at least three square miles are totally in ashes. Every business block of importance is burned without an excep- ton, Not a newspaper office 1s left, not @ decent hotel, not a popular hall, not @ place of amusement of any sort, THE PEARFUL DESTRUCTION. ‘The fire swept the Evening Post, Zettung, Repub- uecan, Hail, Times and Tribune in tneir order. The Post Ofice, Sherman, Briggs, Tremont, Metropolitan, St. James and Palmer House are ali gone, Several vessels are burned in theriver. It burneg over OD, he fouth between the Jake on the daa, fiver on the north, the soath branch on the ‘went and Harrison strees om the south. About 100 solld squares of business buildings on north, all the verritory east of Clark street and north two miles to Lincoln Park, Indeed, as I write the fire has leaped across Ulark at Ontario and is making ite way north. THE WEST SIDE COMPARATIVELY SAFE. Westward on the side of the river the loss ts com- paratively insignificant, not more than a dozen being burned. The Joss ot life cannot be estimated. ONB LOAD OF CORPSES hae gone down Wabash avenue. The city outside of the burned district looks like a camp; 100,000 home- Jess people are scattered along the sidewalks with their furniture, { they saved any. Every block 4s erowded, women and children are cooking their food along the curbstones, the greatest distress pre- Vaile, and depression 1s seen In all faces. VIFTY THOUSAND PROPLB ARE OUT OF EMPLOYMENT and 10,000 business men have lost their all. Insur- ance ia felt to be worthless, The Mayor has re- eeived sympathetic despatches from ali quarters, and replies, asking them to send cooked food. Sheri- dan‘bas given requisitions on the United States com- miesary. The Starving in the Burnt Dictrict—Pre- visions Arriving—Dead Bodies Taken Cut of the Ruins—The City in Darkaese—50,000 People Houseless on the North Side—Dying from LExpesare—The Exoduse—Guarding Against Thieves—Inserance Mattere—The Missing—A Central Intelligence Office Opesed—Hotels, Banks and Newspapers to Reopen—The Legislature te be Convened. CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 1871, ‘The special corresponaent of the H#RALD tur- nishes the following :— Women and childreh are going around the burnt @istrict vainly seeking something to satisfy their Donger. ‘They ask for relief, but there is nono to give them. NO ONE HAS PROVISIONS OR MONEY, What provisions there were In the city are now burned or eaten, and some few people have enough to Jast them for a day, but not longer. Provisions have arrived from Detroit, Cincinrati, Milwaukee and St. Louls, and are being distributea as fast as possible, Twenty-three dead bodies have been taken to a station on the north side, at the present time it is impossible to know who they are. As night comes THE WANT OF GAS 18 KEENLY PELT. ‘There are but few candles in the city and no water except what is taken from the lake. Very grave fears of outragesby thieves on the west side are felt en every hand, General Sheridan, who has been a hard worker all through the fire, is STHLL CALLING FOR TROOPS from Jditfferent pomte to keep order. All business and work are suspended and every one Is intent on securing firet something eat and a place of shelter, ¢ TAB DEVASTATRD NORTH SIDE. ‘The suffering on the north side is heartrending to witness, Fifty thousand men, women and children huddled together like #0 many wild animals, and im other places 17,000 Germans and Trish praying for rehef; helpless children asking for bread; beart-broken parents, who know not which way to turn or what to say, and nothing to do but await the distribution of supplies, which, at best, must be a slow proceediug, as there are Parts of districts over which It is almost impossible to travel, present, Indeed, A HARROWING SCENE. Women in the pains of childbirth, and patients who have been moved from beds of sickness to save their lives—which, at the best, were nearly spent— were all exposed to the rain of last night and the cold, raw winds of to-day. DYING OF BXPOBURE. beveral deaths have occurred at Lincoln Park, and three women have brought children into tne worla only todie. There are people who, in the bitterness of their souls, ascribe the calamity to Gop’s JUDGMENT, A German said to me, “This is a@ second Sodom and Gomorrah, and the curse of God Is on 1t.”” Another night must be spent in Lincoln Park and Buckflelds, at Division street, and yet another and another. Each train and extras are loaded to their faliest capacity taking people away, who, in many instances, have no place to go, yet they cannot stay here; and every train is obliged to leave five umes as many passengers as it can take away. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST HUMAN WOLVES, Every.precaution is being taken by the author+ ties to guard the people to-night, and if morning comes without robberies they all will thank God and go forward with courage. THE FIREMEN OF THR WREST AT WORK. The Indianapolis Fire Department are here and doing good service, Springfeld and Peorla have done nobly, contrib- uting liberally. The expression of sympathy on all hands i most gratifying, but help must come, ‘The Evening Journal got out half a sheet to-night, and other papers will follow to-morrow, some presses having been found. The private residences of Horace White and Wm. Bross, of the Tribune, were consumed. Mr. Medill, Mr, Cowles and Mr. Wilson, of the Journal, also Mr, liorey, were more fortunate, The general agent of the Atna Fire Insurance Company of Hertford announces that we company will pay every dollar of tbe insurance. Meetings of citizens in the west and portn sides will be kept open the reet of the night. A BANK TO OPEN—PAPRRS SRCURBD, ‘The Commercial National Bank will commence rabytiging op thelr oli aig to-morrow, Moanmniin they reopen for business on West Washington street, ‘They opened their vault this afternoon, and all their booxs, papers and securities were in perfect order. DEAD AND MISSING. There {s @ rumor that in @ burned blacksmith shop on Rush street the bodies of fifteen men were found burned to @ crisp, they having rushed into the shop to escape from the flames which had sur- roupded them before they had discovered their peril. An immeuse number of people are missing, and for the purpose of aiding in the discovery of the Missing ones a central imtelhgence office has been established, where are collected the names oO! all missing ones, and they are given to the police. Tne large hotel in the West Division, just com- pleted, has been taken by Gage Bros, & Rice, late of the Sherman House, and they will open it in ten days. It will be known as the Sherman House, TUB NORTH DIVISION 18 SWEPT CLEAR from the Chicago River to Wright’s Grove, @ dis- tance of more than three miles. But one house— that of Mabion D, Ogden, formerly Mr. William B. Ogden’s--remains standing in the entire asirict. A large portion of the population, driven from this desolated ground, are ENCAMPED ON THE PRAIBI tothe north, where they have nothing but the canopy of heaven to cover them and scarcely sufficient food to satisfy their hunger. A meeting of the citizens of the State was beld this evening, at which resolutions were passed recommending Governor Palmer to call an extra session of the Legislature at once. Ex-Governor Oglesby was appointed wo proceed to Springéeld and Jay the matter before Governor Palmer. All the packing houses in Chicago and many of the elevators remain uninjured, and. these two branches of Chicago’s best property will be bat | slightly interrupted, The Directora of the Chamber of Commerce met to-day, and resolved to proceed at once to the RE-BRECTION OF THEIR BLEGANT EDIFICE, Two companies of United States infantry ar- rived here this evening, and will be at once put on patrol duty. HISTORY OF TRE CONFLAGRATION. CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 1871, HOW THE FIRE ORIGINATED, ‘The following is an account of the history of tae disaster by those wno witnessed and fought the fames:— Late on Sunday evening & boy went into a stable on De Koven street, near the river, on the west side, to milk a cow, carrying with him a kerosene lamp. ‘This was kicked over by the cOw, and the burning fluid scatvered among the straw. This was the be- ginning of the great fre. A single extinguisher on the ground, or active work of the police in tearing Gown one or two shanties, would have prevented ‘the spreading of the flames, but the engines were waited for, and when they arrived the firemen, stu- pefied by their exertions at the first fre, on Satur- day night, WORKED SLOWLY AND CLUMAILY. Their efforts unavailed, the wind from the south- Wweat blew a gale, rapidiy the flames shot from house to house and board yard to board yard, ontl! the district burned ou the night before was reached. Meanwhile THE FLAMES HAD CROSSED THK RIVER north of Twellth street on the south side, and made for prick and stone and business blocks, railroad freight depota and manufacturing establishments. ‘The fall extent of danger was realized for the first time; the Fire Department, aiready tired out, Worked like heroes, THE SUPINENESS OF THE AUTHORITIES. ‘The Mayor and city government, tnat had supinely Tested, now began to exert themselves, but the op- portunity had been lost. The time when thorough organization could have blown up buildings or pre- pared for the emergency was neglected and 1t was now afight for lite. The wind blowing a sliff gale had possession of she flames, and the beautifal bulidings—Chicago’s giory—taw hofere them. Har. mson, Van Buren, Adams, Monroe and Madison streets were soon reached, the intervening blocks from the river to Dearborn strect on the east being consumed. Three-quarters of @ mile of brick block» were consumed as if by magic. IGNORANT OF THEIR DANGER, It being Sunday proprietors and employés were at home, utterly unconscious of wha’ was transpiring. ‘Those who saw the fames supposed it was the re- mains-of Saturday night's fire, and having confi- dence in the Fire Department were unconcerned, ALIVE TO THE TERROR, Between eleven and tweive o’ciock a rumor got abroad that the fire wasin the business portion of the city. Then the people commenced moving. Horses were brought mio requisition to take the propr‘etors and others to the conflagration. What a scene met their gaze! The Board of Trade, Court House, Western Union Telegraph and Asssoviated Press office and hundreds of other buildings were allafame, The air was filled with live coals, which were horied to the north and east @ beacon of de- struction. ‘THE FIRE ENG:NES WERE POWFRILESS for saving. All that men could do was to blow up buildings, but this availed Hittle. ‘Tne Times, Tribune, Post, Repubdlicin, Journat and other newspaper offices, the Western News Company block, Field & Leitter’s establishment, the Drake block, recently built, Farwell & Company's, all were soon in ashes; It seemed that no sooner had the flame struck a wall than it went directly through, and a very few minutes sufficed to destroy the most elaborately built structare, the walla meited and the very bricks were consumed. THE WOODEN PAVEMENT TOOK FIRE, making a continuous sheet of fame two miles iong by a mile wide. No human being could possibiv survive many minutes, Block after block fell, and the red hot coal shot higber and higher and spread farther and farther until the north side of Lake atreet was @ vast mountain of flame from the river tothe lake At one time, #0 hemmed in were the people that it was expected thousands must perish, Sherman, Tremont and other HOTELS WERE EMPTIRD OF THEIR GUESTS, and a remarkable sight presented itseif in the hur- rying throngs, with tranks, sacks or bags on ther shoulders, feeing amid Names for their lives. Those who could made for the remaining bridges, others got next to the lake shore and s0 south. One biock in all the vast business section remained at day- light, viz:—the Tribune block, Toe Custom House and Honore block, in Dearborn street, had burned and those who had fought the flames here thought atleast this block could be saved. FIGHTING THE FLAMES, A patrol of men, under Sam Medill, swept off live coals and put out flames in the sidewalks, and another Jot of men, under the direction of Mr, Joseph Medill, watched the roofs, At haif-past seven o'clock these appeared safe, and most of the men went to get reat or food, A number went to sleep in the 7ridune Building. But there was A CHANGE OF WIND, ‘The flames reached Wabash avenue, State street and Michigan avenue, and soon McVicker’s Theatre caught fire, Ina few moments the Tribune was in flames, and at the last moment the sleeping men were aroused and rescued from the Names. By ten o’clock in the forenoon this remaining biock was in ashee. THE FIRE STAMPEDE. Now was to be seen the most remarkable sight ever beheld in this or any country. There were from 60,000 to 75,000 men, women and children fiee- ing by every available street and alley to the south. wari and westward, attempting clothing and their lives. Every available vehicle was brought into requisition for use, for which enormous prices were paid, and the streets and sidewalks presented an extraordinary sight, ‘Thousands of persons and horses inextrivably com- mingled; poor people of all colors and shades and of every nationality—from Europe, China and Africa—mad with exoltement, struggied with each other to get away. Hundreds were trampled under Jon, Men and women were haved with bundigg to save their J and their household goods, to whose skirts were clinging tender INFANTS, HALF-DRESSEO AND BAREFOOTED, all seeking a place of safety. Hours afterwards these might have been seen in vacant lots or on the streets, far out in the suburbs, stretched in the aust, ‘These are the suffering Jamba whom Christ now Calls on the rich world to feed and clothe, God help them if the heart of man shall prove obdurate! MADDENED-BY FIRE. One of the most pitiful sights was that of a middle- aged woman on State street, loaded with bundies, struggling through a crowd, singing the “Mother Goose” meloay, fhickery, Chickery, Crany Crow, went to'the well to wash my toe. mere were hundreds of others likewise dis- tracted and many made desperate by whiskey or beer—which, from excess of thirst, they drank in absence of water in great quantiies—who spread themselves In every direction, @ terror to all they met. FIVE RUNDRED LIVES LOST—FBARFUL INCIDENTS. It is fearful to think of the loss ef life, It 18 con- Jectured with good cause tnat nearly five hundred have been burned to death, We saw four men enter a burning building and in ® Moment they were overwhelmed by a falling wall. ‘There was @ crowd of men around the corner of @ building, trying to save property, when, the wall yielding, some of them were buried beneath it, About twelve or fifteen men, women and children rushed into the building of the Horticultural So. ciely, a fireproof building, for safety. In a few minutes the fames burst up and tiey were burned to death, PROMINENT CITIZENS BURNED. Among those who took refuge in this building Was the venerable Colonel Samuel Stone, eighty years of age, for a long time connected with the so- ciety; also John B. Gerard and wife, Mme. Depel- grone, the noted teacher of music, 11 Is feared that Dr. Frear and family were also burned, aa they Were in the building and have not heen seen since, Mrs. Edsali, whose husband was murdered last ‘Week, and who was suffering from an illness, was carried away for protection to a building which was afterwards consumed, and it is feared she also per dened, VALUABLE DOCUMENTS DESTROYED. AD the books and papers of the Historical Society, etuding the original copy of the famous Emanci- pation Proclamation (President Lincoln's), for ‘whieh the society pald $25,00, rere destroyed, SAVE THE CHILDREN. it ts feared that a large numoer of children, in- mates of the Catholic Orphan Society, on State street, were also burned, as many of them are miss- tmg; Un Chicago avenue a father rushed up stairs tocarry three children away, when he was over- taken by the flames and perished with them. The mother was afterwaras seen on the street on the northwest side, A RAVING MANTAC. In the same neighbornood a family of five persons perished. The list of such fatalities is very long and can only be tully verified after the smoke shall have cleared away. There are bundred of families on that side who saved no clothing, but barely thelr iives, Among these is the family of Perry Smith, formerly President of the Northwestern Railroad Company. THERE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS 1088. A careful survey of the insurances to-day shows that there were written on the property destroyed over two hundred millions of dollars; add another hundrea million to this sum and a fair estimate can be reached of the loss. All vhe leading mer- chants wbo have been seen expresa their determi. nation to RESUME BUSINESS AT ONCE. This includes beavy houses, such as Jonn V. Far- well, Fiela, Leiter & Co., and Sprague, Warner & Co. Farwell & Co., and Field, Leiter & Co. saved from three bundred thousand to @ half million dot- lars’ worth of goods. Botn firms have already established headquarters on the west side. Field, Leiter & Co. have just issued the following :— A COOL, CIRCULAR. To OUR Paruons-We have saved all. our books and papers, opened an ofice at No: ) Calumet arene, ‘rust you fly appreciate our situation sand ail who aré Jndebied ‘to us will make immediate payment. We shail ever cease k you for past actions, In a suort time wo expect to be reorganized, and Teady for business soon. FIELD, LEITER & 00. BNEFRPRISING JOURNALISTS. ‘The Bening Journal aud Tribune hope to publish emali sheets to-morrow. Ata meeting o! the bust- ess men to-day 4 spirit was manifested to at once set to work to rebuild the city and restore business. Ynw rmoreramiRe TO MRI Re OW PILLAGE. ‘A special meeting of the Tagithtare is 10 be held to provide means for alding the business men aud provide employment for the poor. Fears are enter- tamed that the desperate distress of 80 many wil create squads of pillagers, and that Ife will not be safe. To relieve these General Sheridan Is tele- graphing for more troops, and special police forces are being organized by the citizeus, The only effectual remedy 18 to FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE THOUSANDS ‘who would work if they could, The temporary oMice of the Western Union Tele- gtaph Company is thronged by thousands avxious to advise friends. The operators are busy every moment, but as the number of wires available are few, aud the fires in the country threaten these, General Stager has directed that private (family) Ines*ages aud press despatches shall first go, POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS MADB. Perfect arrangements have been made by the Post OMice authorities, under direction of Colonel Wood, for sending, receiving and distributing all mail matter, THE SITUATION. The Fire Under Coutrol—Kxtent of the De- vastation. CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 1871—Noon. The fire continued to burn all last night on the north side, but this morning is under control. It is literally true to say that there ia nothing remaining of that side from the river north to Lincoin Park on the north, and from the north branch of the river ‘on the west tothe lake on the east. This portion of the city, except along the main river, where there were business Diocks, was occnpled by dwellings, * UNSHELTERED THOUSANDS, Two-thirds of the population of this district were German and Scandinavian. ‘These people are now homeless, Some of them are in frame buildinga on the northwest section and others on the prairies withont shelver throughout the day, Yesterday a renewal of the fives on the west side was looked for, and a change of five degrees in the direction of the wind at any time would have led to that result. There would then have been no refuge for any, Everybody had their clothing packed ready to start for the prairie at any moment, but God Werted this last possible addition to onr disaster, RAIN AT LAST. At sundown the wind iniied and at three o'clock this morning the rain, #0 fervently prayed for, came. It did not rain long, but the roofs of houses and the ground have been wet, so that now It is pos- sible to have fires and cook food for the multitude. A MEETING OF CITIZENS was held m the First Vongregational church, in West Washington gireet, which was vontinuca througheut the might, Measures were converted to protect what property was lelt and to provide for the homeless, PUMPING WATER FROM THE RIVER. Messrs. Richards and Charles Craine, of the Nortn- western Manufacturing Company, have contrived a plan, which is being put into execution, for provid- ing waetr in case of fire breaking out at any time. ‘The machinery of their works is being used for that Purpose, and their engine and boilers are being used for pumping water from the river. SPECIAL POLICE AND TROOPS CALLED OUT. Fiftcen hundred citizens were sworn in last night a8 an extra police force, aad the Seeretary of War authorized General Sheridan to employ ali available troops for guard, and issued an order for 100,000 Tations. Five hundrea eoldiers are on duty. INCRNDIARY DBMONS BANGED. ‘Thie precantion was necessary; for, as romarka Ite po 4 aay acon. ere were Mende who pti} 5 sought to extend erp disaster, Two men, caught im the act of firing houses on the west side, were arrested and immediately hung to lamp posts—one on Twelfth street, near tne river, and the other ‘nree miles away, on Clayborne avenue, north side. ‘Ts summary action has checked the thieves and murderers, FIREMEN AND ENGINES ARRIVE—CONFIDENCE RE- TURNING, The arrival of fremen and engines from Milwau- kee, St, Louis and other cities, nas apparently restored confluence, Tne Cincinnati train arrived Unis morning with four engines, three from that city and one from Dayton. They were seventecn hours on the way, having to change the route twice, and thep, finally, came via Piqua and Lo- gansport, There was an inexpressable plea- sure in seeing those experienced men go right to work, in a business-like way, where Work was most needed. They are playing on coal piles to save whatever of fuel is possible, and pre- venting the further spread of the Names. Ihe vast plain is covered with people wandering about, seeing the evidences of a wealth that has com- pletely vanished in fames and smoke. DBTSRMINED TO RETRIEVE THB LOSS—THE NEWS- PAPBRS, A few business men with some nerve are seeking houses for business on the weat side. Rooms that rentea last week for $50 now readily command $5,000. Ther not many of these, but enough to allow afew ess Men to start, The newspapers will be started again in a few days or weeks. Mr. Joseph Medill, of the Tribune, who 18 one of the heaviest sufferers, succeeded yesterday in leas- ing a brick building on Washington street, at the tunnel, He also purchased two single cylinder Presses used in @ job oice on the west side, and ‘TELEGRAPHED EAST FOR PAPER AND TYPE, there being nothing of the kind left here. Mr. Story, of the Times, will erect 4 rough one story building and begin the issue of that paper as goon as material can be procured. ‘The Journal! 1s provided for on the west side. ‘The Post, Republican and Staats Zeitung will also arrange ior business as eoon as practicayie, but everything must come from elsewhere, There is nothin gleft, WATER ! WATER | WATER ! Water for drinking and household use is secured from (he lake and the parks, and for horses from the river, There are atnousand people campea about the artesian wells, four miles out, and perhaps as Many more at the lake and on Fullerton and Victor avenues, near the prairie, FREPING THE PEOPLE. The people are being fed in the remaining churches, schoolhouses, in sheds and by the road sides, It was cold and chilly this morning, causing great suffering. FRARS OF FINE WRATHER, It is now clearing up again; but instead of this being welcome the people are praying earnestly for More rain, 80 fearful are they of a continuance of the Names, A False Report—The Wire has Not Again Broken Out—More Incesdiaries Hanged and Shet. ASSOCIATED PRESS a. } New YorK, Oct. 10— The report recelved ata late hour this afternoon and builetined throughout the city that the fize had broken out again in Chicago in @ quarter hitherto untouched happily proves untrue, General Palmer, Vice President of the Western Union Telegraph Comapny, on reading the report, telegraphed direcy to General Stager, Saperin- tendent of the Company, now at Chicago, for con- firmation, and received the following reply :— CHicaGo, Oct. 10—4 P, M. General PALMER:—- A fire stared in asmall building on Thirty -first street, but was speedily put out. ‘The mcendiaries are busy, but seven or eight hanged or shot at + daha mili STAGER, A CITIZEN FIRE-TIGHTER'S STORY. The Ungovernsbio Fury or the Fire—The Rear ef the Flames—The Fire Working Back Against thc Wind—Over the River Among the Wooden Dwel'ings—Meansess and Extortion Amid the Flames—Drunken Men and Boys Burned to Death. CHIcaGo, Oct. 10, 1871. The following reliable and graphic description of thé firé has been furnished by 2 gentleman who par- tictpated in the work of subduing the Names during their continuance:— “None but an eye-witness can form an idea of the fury and power of the fire-flend as he revelled among the palatial buildings and warehouses on the south side, with THE WIND BLOWING A HURRICANE, At times tt seemed but the work of a moment for the fire to enter the south ends of buildings front- ing on Randolph, Lake and Water streets, and re+ appear at the north deors and windows, belching forth in fierce flames which often licked the oppo. site buildings, and then the flames issuing forth from the buildings on both sides of the street would unite and present A SOLID MASS OF FIRB, completely filling the street from side to side, and shooting upward a hundred feet into the air above the housetops in uicir mad career, Thus was street after street filed with flame, and the exultation of the fire fend was given vent to in A RESOUNDING ROAR, which can only be equalled by combining the nojse of the ocean when its waters are driven during a tempest upon the rocky beaci with the howl of the blast. Huge walls would topple and fall into the sea of fire without apparently giving a sound, as the roar of the flerce element was so great that all minor sounds were swallowed up, and tile fall of the walls was only perceptible to the eyes. If the reader will recall to mis mind the flercest snowstorm in his experience and IMAGINE THE SNOW TO BE FIRE ‘aa it surged hither and thither before the fury of the wind, they will be able to form a faint conception of the fames as they raged through the streets of our doomed city. Many of the buildings ~ situated along South Water street buried their red hot walls ia the water of the river, Into which they plunged with @ hiss. The heat was so intense at times from some of the burning buildings that they could not be approached within 150 feet, which accounts for the manner in whicn THE FIRE WORKBD BACK. and often against the wind, The fire, after reach- Ing We business portion of Randolph and South Water streets, leaped the river to the north side in an incredible short space of time, and thence among the wooden buildiogs on that side reached the lake shore, alter touching block after block of happy dwellings with its fierce blasts, Such a scene OF UTTRR POWBRLESSNESS in face of an enemy was never presented than that Ot these people trying to combat the fire fiend, for the combat was not of long duration, The peopie bowed their heads in anguish of spirtt and suffered the fiend to have untrammelied sway. While there are many instances of generous devo- Uon on the part ef rich and poor io dividing with the destitute, there are PAINFUL INSTANCES OF MEANNESS and selfishness. One person was trying to remove valuable papers from an office and asked two fire- men to help him, but they refused unless he paid them $50; the papers were destroyed. Drivers of express wagons have taken $100 and even $600 for an hour's use of their vehicles in getting distressed people away from danger. Among the sad scenes of the calamity was the appearance of HUNDREDS OF MEN AND BOYS BEASTLY INTOXI- CATED, around the streets of the North division, whete saloon keepers’ stocks of liquors were turned into the street, and furnished @ convenient opportunity for the gratification of their slavish propensities; ‘and there can haraly be any doubt that many of these poor wretohes found their DBATH IN THR FLAMES, from which they were too helpless to ercape. One poor man had crowded for refuge into the water main, lying in the street, near the water works, but the fire-fleud found him even there before he conid get bis body wholly in safety, and robbed nim of bis life, PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS BURNED. Among the fine buildings laid in ashes by the great fire are:— The Court House, Chamber of Commerce. Custom House and Post OMce. Western Union Telegraph dice. ‘BOTBLE. Sherman House. ‘Tremont House, Briggs’ House. Metropolitan. St. James. Palmer House, Bigelow Hotel. Pacific Hotel (unfinished). THEATRES AND HALLS> Crosby's Opera House, McVicker’s Theatre, Dearborn Theatre. German Theatre. Farweil Hail. Aiken’s Museum. RAILROAD DEPOTS, Tiinois Central. Rock Island. Michigan and Southero. Northwestern. BUSINESS HOUSES, Palmer block. Farwell & Co, Drake block. Field, Zeitung & Co. Honore block. Brown, Hunt & Winslow, NEWSPAPER OFFIORS. Tribune. Mall. Timea, Post. Republican. Journal. ‘Staats Zeitung. CHURCHES, 80, St. Mary's, Trinity. First Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian. Paul's Swedennorgian. Catholic Orphan Asylum, —_— ANOTHER ACCOUNT. ‘The Path of the Fire—Particalars ef Re Spread—The Water Works Burned—Gen-~ eral Aberidan at Work Blewieg Dews Housre—He Stope the Flames—The Ghipping and Elevators Destreyed—The Weeden Pavement and Sidewalks Consumed. CLEVELAND, Oct. 10, 1871. Mr. G. H. Taylor, eon of Mr, H. W. Taytor, of this city, manager of she Chicago Agency of tne Cleve- land Paper Yompany, who lefs Chicago om Monday — night, gives a better account of the disasterthan has been before obtainable. He says tue fire com- mMenced on the west side, in a house on Halsted street, between Bunker and Dekoven streets, a short distance north of Tweith street. From this point {t travelled northeastwardly, crossing the blocks diagonally, until it reached Desplaines street, near Polk. In this vicinity was a large planing mill, which took fire and burned with jntepse heat. From this builuing CAME ALL THB MISCHIEF the wind was viowing furiously, and fakes of fire from the burning planing mill were carried afong to great distances, causing fames to burn In a dozen places at once, though widely separated, ono line of fire traveiled rapidly in A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION, across the south branch of Uhicago river, between Polk and Harrison streets, and reached the lake at Congress street, At Wie ewe. -— fire was travelling more nortnwardly, crossing the river near Van Baren street, whilst the flames continued due north along Canal, Clinton and Jefferson streets, the wind blowing a gale from the south carried the burning fragmenta so far northward that fires burst out almost sigul- taneously all over the district between Harrison street and the Chicago River. This territory con- tains the best business portion of Chicago, inclad- ing the great wholesale and retail establishments, the banks, hotels, newspaper offices; Court House, Custom House and Post Ofice; Chamber of Com- merce, ‘Velegraph Building and railroad depots, with THE SPEED OF A PRAIRIE FIRE, : The flames swept through this vast amount of property, aud converted 1t into araging heii. Sosud- den and unexpected was the spread of the Names that there was little time for saving property; bat the fury of the fire was not stayed at the river, the burning branas were carried across far up 10 the north aide, and the flames swept from tne river up to Lincoln Park, carrying everything before them, | DESTROYING THE WATER WORKS on Pine street ana Chicago avenue, and the sup ply of water being cut off the flames had it all their own way. The fire swept tnrongh the Catholic Cemetery, and latest rumors said it bad entered Lincoln Park, reached the woods beyond and was sweeping up towards Evanston. How far this is true coaid be ascertained when our iniormant was there was but little communication with the north side, but the intense glare and smoke in that direction showed that the work of destruction was still going on. The fire did its work perfectly; brick, stone and wood, fireproof block and white wood shanty shared the same fate. All were levelled to the ground. HERE AND THERE A CHIMNRY STANDS ora fragment of a wall, but over what was the finest part of Uhicago the eye can range unob- structed save by smoke. What was once Chicago is now a plain covered with confused heaps of oricks at white heat. Streets are blotted out, and not landmark remains to show the oldest inhabitant where he stan¢s. Such complete obliteration can- not be conceived possible unless it is seen, The fire, after it had passed northward, turned for a time and commenced travelling SOUTHWARD, ALONG WABASH AVENUR, It was at this time that Lieutenant General Sheri- dan came on the field and commenced blowing up buildings, {mn company with Surgeon Ash and Mayor Mason, he drove rapidly throuuh the menaced districts with cana of powder, and blew up houses wherever he saw it necessary to stop the flames. A house on Wabash avenue, just south of Cangréss street and next door east to that of Mr. Lato, was blown up, which STOPPED THE SOUTHWARD FROGKESS OP TOR FLAMES. ‘The river was crowded with shipping. These, aa @ matter of course, were destroyed. So rapid was the progress of the flames that It was impossible to remove them from the danger in time. A nam ber of THE FINEST ELEVATORS IN THE CITY were burned. The Court, Honse records are supposed to be destroyed tnough @ rumor was current that @ portion bad been re moved to one of the tunnels, and possibly said there were grave fears as to the safety of the bank vaulis, but the facts In regard to them cannot be known until the ruins ceo! of the Nicholsow pavement burned up, the ore travelling on me pavement as it progressed along the biocks. THE WOODEN SIDEWALKS BURNED LIKE TINDER. and assisted in spreading whe fire, Thousands of people were on the streets Monday evening without food or snelier. Men who on ‘Sunday were worth millions were sitting on Monday night on the curb stove, with thelr families penniless and hunary. Many of them who were supposed enormously CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.