Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. VOL. I, NO. 39 Friday, 13 October 1871 TERRIBLE FIRES ------ Chicago in Ashes ------ Manistee and Other Places Burned ------ A HUMAN HOLOCAUST ------ Three Hundred Persons Roasted Alive ------ Many Villages with All their In- habitants Burned Up. ------ At Chicago CHICAGO, Oct. 7. - 12:30 A.M. - The most terrible conflagration that ever occurred in this city broke out about an hour and a half ago, and having already swept over six entire blocks, is still raging with the utmost una- bated fury. The fire started in the large planing mill, situated between Clinton and Canal and Van Buren and Jackson streets, about the centre of the block formed by these streets. Wind blowing very frisk and the flames spread with almost incredible rapidity, and in a few minutes the entire structure was a mass of fire. The immediate vicinity is built up most- ly with small wooden tenement houses and two- story fram buildings, occupied as groceries, saloons, etc. The inmates of many of these houses, startled from their slumber, had bare- ly time to rush from the houses in their scanty attire of the night, leaving their household goods to destruction. In several instances children were hastily wrapped in blankets and quilts to break the force of their fall, and thrown from second- story windows to the ground. CHICAGO. Oct. 8. - About 1 o'clock this morning, shortly after sending my last dispatch detailing the progress of the fire in the western division, the flames were arrested and got under complete control of the fire department. I am now enabled to give a more intelligent and great- ly modified estimate of its effects. The space burned over embraces four blocks, bound - north by Adams street, west by Clinton street, south by Van Buren street, and east by Chicago street. Some four or five buildings within the limits named remain uninjured; among them are Vincent, Nelson & Co.'s grain warehouse, one of the larg- est in the city, which escaped any serious injury. BREAKING OUT OF ANOTHER FIRE - THE ENTIRE CITY THREATENED WITH DESTRUCTION. CHICAGO, Oct. 8. - 11 1/2 p.m. - The fire to- night in the west division is now raging with un- abated fury. The fire commenced near Taylor street midway between Delevan and Jefferson streets, and is spreading in every direction. It covers at least four blocks at this hour, and still seems beyond control. The loss is already large, and it is now feared that it will prove more destruc- tive in its character than the one last night. No estimate can be made of the total loss as the progress of the flames have not been arrested. AN AWFUL NIGHT 12:45 p.m. - To-night is the most awful in the annals of the city. The fire which commenced at 10 p.m. has already swept over a space three times as large as that of last night, and is still rushing on its path of destruction with greater fury than has marked any former stage of its progress, the engines appearing to be almost powerless. Fire Marshal Williams has just tele- graphed to Milwaukee for all the steamers they can spare. The wind is blowing a gale from the south, and showers of sparks and burning brands are sweeping over the city, threatening destruc- tion on every hand. Since this report commenced, two additional alarms have been struck. No description can give an adequate idea of the terrible scene. The fire started in a row of wooden tenements on Delevan street, between Jefferson and Clinton street, as was the case last night, and spread with terrible rapidity. INCREASING IN FURY. Later - 1:15 a.m. - The fire is still raging, and with increased fury. It spreads almost with the velocity of wind, and has now reached West Monroe street, a distance of MORE THAN A MILE from where it started. It covers a breadth of nearly half a mile, reaching from the river to Jefferson street. The distance already burned over embraces an immense number of lumber yards, and the FREIGHT DEPOTS, of the Chicago and St. Louis, and Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne railroads. The property already destroyed counts up MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS and half is not told. Brands from the fire were blowing across to the east side of the river and set the wooden buildings on fire directly adjoin- ing the Chicago gas house. The prospect is that the gas house will be destroyed and THE CITY WRAPPED IN DARKNESS. A terrible panic is prevailing in the whole city, almost everybody, men, women and children, are in the streets. PRAYING, WEEPING AND WAILING are heard in every direction. Large numbers of lives have been sacrificed, but how many or who cannot be known until the progress of the flames is stayed. The alarm bell has just commenced ringing an unceasing peal, which is intended to call every sleeper from bed. A ROARING HELL OF FIRE Still later - 1:45 a.m. - A raging roaring hell of fire envelops 20 blocks of the city, it is al- ready within a block of the telegraph office where this dispatch is written sweeping onward a whirl- wind of flame against which HUMAN EFFORTS ARE POWERLESS. It is impossible to tell where it will stop. Ship- ping in the river and cars on the track with the immense freight houses are swept away. The flames swept through blocks of wooden houses with the rapidity of a prairie fire. Thousands of people fill the streets, rushing out of dwellings in many instances with barely time to save their lives. THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE REACHED. CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2:10 a.m. - The block immediate- ly across the street from the telegraph office, the finest in the city, occupied by insurance and commer- cial offices - [here the operators says: "The fire is in the office, and the Court House is burning Good night." They were compelled to leave office. Nothing more direct from Chicago.] NEW YORK, Oct. 9. - The officers of the Western Union Telegraph Company report that the Sherman House and the railroad depots and the Western Union Telegraph buildings are all in ashes. CINCINNATI, Oct. 9. - Information received from Chicago this morning via St. Louis and Cairo, said to be reliable, states that the following buildings are burned: Sherman House, Chamber of Commerce, Court House, Western Union Telegraph buildings, and all that part of the city, covering over thirty blocks. The following message, signed by the Mayor of Chi- cago, was sent to the Mayor of St. Louis this morning: "Send us food for the suffering. Our city is in ashes. Our water works are burned." THIRTY SQUARES DESTROYED CINCINNATI, Oct. 9. - The latest news received from Chicago was a message from Superintendent Willson of the Western Union Telegraph Company to President Orton, of New York, in which he states that thirty squares have been destroyed, including the entire business portion of the city. LATEST - AWFUL, SWEEPING DESTRUCTION. Chicago, Oct. 9. - 10 a.m. - The entire business por- tion of the city is destroyed. All the banks, express and telegraph offices except the Tribune, six elevators, and the water works are gone. There is no water in the city. Not less than ten thousand buildings are already destroyed. The fire has burned a distance of five miles, and is still raging with the wind blowing a gale. EXTRA DISPATCHES - STILL RAGING. Cincinnati, Oct. 9. - The following is from J. J. S. Willson; Chicago, 10 a.m. - There is no water and the fire is now coming south on Wabash avenue; will probably reach us here before night. SECOND EXTRA DISPATCH. Chicago, Oct. 9. To Hon. Wm. Orton, New York: We are trying to get established a supply depot, but the fire is coming up this way on Wabash avenue. We will probably be drove out of here before night. The water works are burned; every banking house and railroad depot in the city is burned. (Signed,) J. J. S. Willson, Sup't. This dispatch is dated in the southern portion of the city. RELIEF MEETING IN CINCINNATI Cincinnati, Oct. 9. - A mass meeting is being held here presided over by Gov. Hayes for relief of the Chicago suf- ferers. [Mr. Underhill, of this village, has just returned from Chicago, where he was stopping during the time the fire was raging. From him we learn that the wind was south west. About one square mile was burned out of the center of the west division. The flames crossed the river, and consumed everything north of a line drawn from 12th street on the river, to Harrison, on the lake. Passing thence to the north side, it swept away every building in that portion of the city. - EDS. NEWS.] ===========================================================================