Chicago Times Weekly, October 22, 1857
We have never had occasion to to record the particulars of a disaster so awful in the destruction of human life and property as that which took place in this city on Monday morning the 19th inst. Some of the finest buildings in Chicago are in ruins considerably over half a million dollars in property has been destroyed and business men who on Sunday were worth their hundred thousands, are to-day bankrupt. But the most terrible part of the disaster is the destruction of human life. At least twelve of our citizens were buried beneath the falling walls of the buildings, hurried into eternity with a suddenness and in a manner which make the heart shudder and the blood chill at the contemplation.
About four o’clock a m the alarm of fire was sounded by the watchman in the court-house observatory. The fire, which must have commenced a considerable length of time before this, now mounted in one vast column of flame, and tilled the heavens with lurid light. When the firemen arrived in South Water street, the buildings 109 and 111 were in flames from the first to the fifth stories, and no effort could possibly have saved them.
There was a pretty strong wind from the northwest which blew the flames south-easterly towards the large new marble-front block occupied by D. B. Cooke & Co., and others on Lake street. Had the alarm been given in time to enable the firemen to reach the ground half an hour sooner, this block might have bean saved—that is by well-directed and energetic effort. But as it was, when the engines arrived, the front walls of the first building had already fallen, and hardly an ocean of water would have prevented the further progress of the fire.
The file spread both east and west on South Water street to the buildings adjoining, and crossed the alley in the rear to the new block above mentioned. About fifteen minutes after four, the flames had reached the front of the block and burst out through the windows into Lake street. Even at this time, had a steam fire-engine been stationed in Lake street the block might have been saved from total destruction and the fearful loss of life which soon followed would have boon prevented. The band engines were comparatively useless, not one of them being able to throw a stream through the upper windows with sufficient force to do any good. Indeed, there were no engines there at all until the fire in this block was so far under way that it could not be checked. The two eastward tenements were completely gutted, and the flames threatened the adjoining building, occupied by Mr. Barnum as a fancy store. Mr John High jr., agent of this building, and a number of other persons were on the roof, endeavoring to save the building, when the rear wall of Mr. Cooke’s store fell down with a fearful crash. Mr. John V. Dickey, foreman of Liberty Hose Company, was instantly killed and several firemen were more or less injured by the falling bricks. Two persons on the roof of Barnum’s were warned of the danger of their position from the east wall of Cooke’s store, which rose some thirty or forty feet above them. They were hastening to get out of the way when this wall came down, crushing through the roof and to the very cellar of Barnum’s store, carrying everything with it. A large number of people were in the store at the time, assisting in the removal of goods. They had no time to escape, and all except four or five who were nearest the door, were instantly crushed to death!
Below we give the particulars in regard to the
Loss of Property.
The fire originated in the large double stare numbered 109 and 111, South Water street occupied by Cornick, Cross & Co. as a hardware store. Nothing was saved. The lessees value their stock at $42,000; insured for 32,000, viz; $10,000 in the Howard of N. Y.; $5,000 in the Merchants of Phil,; and $$17,000 divided between four other companies. The books and papers of the firm were lost including $9,000 of open accounts which were in the safe.
Messrs. Pitkin & Brother, who formerly occupied this building, also had in the safe their books and papers and $8,000 in gold. The books and papers were destroyed; the gold, it is probable, will be recovered.
The second floor of this building was occupied by A. D. Titsworth, with a stock of $42,000 worth of clothing, all of which was lost. He was insured for $5,000 in the Fireman’s of Chicago $5 Out; in the Western of Pittsfield, Mass.; $5,000 in the Atlantic, of Providence; and $5,000 in the Washington of New York—making $20,000 in all.
The third and fourth floors were divided into small apartments and were occupied as lodging rooms by a number of young men, who lost all they had in them, probably not less than $2,000 in the aggregate.
The building was owned by Mr. J. H. Dunham and cost $24,000. It was insured for $10,000 in the Home of New York, and $8,000 in the Providence R. I.
No. 107. This building was totally destroyed. It was occupied by Clark & Dater grocers whose stock, worth $40,000 was all lost. Insured for $30,000; we did not learn in what companies. The building was owned by Dr. Douglas, of Quincy worth $5,000 and insured for the same amount.
No. 105. This building was vacant, and was not totally destroyed. The roof was crushed by the falling of the adjoining wail. Owned by Mrs. Andrews, valued at $6,000 and fully insured
No. 103—occupied by Honore & Co., druggists who sustained damage by water, etc. to the amount of $2,000. Building damaged to extent of $1,500.
No. 113, the first building west of Cornick, Cross & Co., was occupied by Lewis & Page with paints, oils, varnishes, etc. Nothing of consequence saved. Stock $70,000; insurance $50,000. Building owned by Dr. D. S. Smith of Waukegan; valued at $6,000 and insured for $5,000.
Na. 115; occupied by Edward Hempstead groceries About $4,000 worth of his stock was saved including books and papers. Stock valued at $20,000 insured for $15,000. The building was owned by Dr. Philip Maxwell and was worth $8,000; insured for $5,000 in the Old Hartford company
Lake Street.
No. 108; Tappen Brothers clothing store. This building was not destroyed, although badly injured by the fire, but the Messrs. Tappen sustained damage by water to a considerable sum, probably $8,000 or $10,000. They have a stock of $80,000 which is probably insured.
A portion of the second story was occupied by C. H. Gauber with a small stock of jewelry and plated ware. The jewelry was all secured in a safe; the plated ware was removed and about $800 worth stolen. No insurance. Building owned bv Mr. Shotwell of N. J. and worth $6,000.
No. 110, occupied by Mr E. H. Barnum with a stock of fancy goods worth probably $15,000. A total loss. There was probably an insurance, though we were unable to ascertain the amount.
On the second floor, Mr. H. S. Bradley had a stock of jewelry the value of which is unknown. Both Mr Barnum and Mr Bradley were crushed beneath the fallen ruins.
The building was owned by Mr. Shotwell of N. J. whose agent Mr. John High jr., it is believed, was also killed by the falling walls. It was valued at $6,000—probably insured.
No. 112 D. B. Cooke & Co. had the largest stock of books in the city, amounting to $120,000 in value They succeeded in saving about $5,000 worth principally of law books. The copy of the forthcoming City Directory was also saved and the progress of the work will not be delayed. They were insured for $70,000 in different companies.
A portion of the second story was occupied by Asher Hecht & Co. with millinery goods most of which were saved. Loss $500; no insurance.
On the third floor was Mr. Nathaniel Gould’s piano-forte wareroom. Twenty pianos were lost, five belonging to Mr. Gould and fifteen to Mr. R. G. Greene; also two church organs belonging to Mr. Erben, of New York. The Chicago Music Union also had considerable musical property on this floor, which was lost. Mr Greene’s loss, $50,000, no insurance. Mr. Gould’s, $2,000, no insurance; Mr. Erben’s $2,000, no insurance; Music Union about $1000 no insurance.
The fourth floor Mr. Wm. Stacy occupied as a book-bindery. Everything lost amounting to $25,000; no insurance.
The fifth floor was full of books in editions belonging to Cooke & Co., and of Blackwell & Scates’ Illinois Statutes, a new work in process of publishing, which was in sheets. Of course all was lost.
The building was owned by Mr. Walter Wright, and cost $26,000. Insured in four New York companies, a follows: $5,000 in the Home; $4,000 in the Niagara; $5,500 in the Astor and $5,500 in the Market.
Nos. 112 and 114—a double store occupied by J. B. Shay, dealer in dry goods. The stock was about $100,000, only a small part of which was saved. Insured for $45,000.
Blake & Webster dealers in millinery goods occupied the floor above Shay. Their loss is about $10,000.
The building was owned by Edward Wright It was valued at $36,000, and was insured for $20,000, divided equally between the Atlantic Garden City, AEtna and Liverpool companies.
No. 116—J. A. Smith’s hat and fur store. Mr. Smith’s loss occasioned by water and thieves, who stole some very valuable furs, was about $10,000. He was insured on his stock for $40,000 in various foreign companies. This building was injured to the extent of about $2,000. It is owned by H. H. Magie, and insured.
Several other buildings In the immediate neighborhood were more or less injured and their occupants sustained small losses. On Clark street, the three story frame building occupied by Mr Newhall, was damaged to the extent of $500 by the falling of the rear wall of the five story block. This loss is sustained by Capt. Bigelow who owns the building.
The Killed and Wounded.
Eight bodies were yesterday recovered from the ruins of Barnum’s store, and one from the ruins in the alley. The latter was the body of Mr. John V. Dickey, foreman of Liberty Hose Company. He was a son of Mr. James V. Dickey, who lives at 118 Monroe street. His age was about 24 years. He was killed by the falling of the rear wall of Hempstead s grocery store, while endeavoring to place his hose in the alley. His body was recovered almost immediately and taken to the Sherman House whence it was removed to the residence of his parents.
Two of the other bodies were removed, one to Mr. Mark’s store, 115 Lake street, and the other to No. 1’s engine house; the others were removed for identification to the Coroner’s room in the court house. A more shocking spectacle than that which they presented we never witnessed. Blackened, roasted, mutilated and disfigured, it was impossible for even their most intimate friends to recognize them, except by some garment or other article which could be found upon the body. In this way, however, all but one were identified. The body taken to the engine house was so shockingly mutilated that no one could identify it with certainty, but it was thought to be that of John Tarr, a gas-fitter in the employ of Gerould & Co., Clark street. The head was gone and only the trunk and parts of limbs remained together.
No. 3, taken to 115 Lake street, was supposed to be the body of Jean Jungers. A passport from the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, filled up to this name was found on the body, and also two drafts for money drawn in favor of John Youngards, doubtless the same person. Nothing more could be learned in regard to this body.
No. 4 was identified as the body of Dudley C. White a clerk for Joseph Fiske & Co., of 51 Lake street. He was a single man, 22 years years old, and came from Sandusky to Chicago about two years ago.
No. 5 was not identified. It is apparently the body of a laboring man of medium size. The face is not much burned. The body still remains in the coroner’s room for identification.
No. 6 was identified as the body of Auguste Wolff, a member of Hook and Ladder No 3. He was about 18 years of age, boarded at 88 Jefferson street and is said to have no relatives living in this city.
No. 7 was the body of H. S. Bradley, who had a stock of jewelry in Mr Barnum’s store. Mr Bradley was about 55 years of age, and has left a wife and two sons in this city, one of whom was a clerk for Mr. Barnum. The family dwell at the corner of Washington and State streets. They came from Utica, New York.
No. 8 was the body of E. Romayn Clark. of Metz & Clark, tin and hardware dealers, 50 and 52 State street. Mr. Clark was au old acquaintance of Mr. Barnum’s, and was assisting in the removal of his goods at the time of his death. The body was identified by means of a ring upon one of the finders bearing the name of Anna Cole, now the wife of deceased. He was about thirty years of age, and leaves a wife but no children to mourn his sad fate. He was formerly teller in the Central Bank of Utica, N. Y.
The ninth body was taken from the ruins just before dark last evening. It was thought to be that of Timothy Buckley, a member of Hook and Ladder No. 1, who was with the others at the store at the time of the crash. Mr. Buckley was twenty-five years of age and leaves a young wife.
It is believed that the bodies of Mr. High and Mr. Barnum are still buried in the ruins, and it is nut unlikely that there are others. At the time of the crash it is said there were twenty or thirty persons in the store, only a very few of whom escaped. Mr. High was on the roof, and being warned of the danger started to go below, and had passed through the scuttle-way when the wall fell. His body must have been carried down with the ruins
When the fire was first discovered, the lodgers over Titsworth’s store had barely time to escape with their lives, and it is supposed that one of them did not escape. Mr. Henry B. Russel, who occupied room No. 9, has not been seen since he started to go to bis room on Sunday night, and it is quite probable he perished in the flames. The occupant of room No. 8, on awakening, found the flames just bursting through the floor into his bedroom. He had barely lime to seize his garments and leap from a window to the roof of a house one or two stories below.
Accidents, Etc.
Mr. J. B. Shay was hurt by the falling of some timbers upon his head, insomuch that he was obliged to retire to his home and seek relief.
Daniel Rock, a member of Hope Hose, was severely hurt by the falling bricks striking him on the back. He was taken up senseless and conveyed home, where he revived.
Wm. James jr., foreman of Hope Hose had one of his bands severely bruised.
A member of No 2 had one of his legs severely jammed and had to be carried home.
Several members of No. 6 were hurt and sent home.
A Milwaukee fireman named Cooper was taken out of the ruins of Barnum’s store, after having been buried there for about two hours. He was insensible when first taken out, but soon revived and commenced swearing at his rescuers for not digging him out sooner!
Thomas Murphy, a member of No. 4, had one of bis feet badly injured by getting it caught in the brakes of the engine.
Policeman Wagner had one of his arms broken in two places by the falling of timbers.
A member of Hook and Ladder No. 1 was considerably injured
Origin of the Fire.
The origin of the fire is not known. It is generally believed, however, that it originated in some one of the lodging rooms over Titsworth’s, in Mr Dunham’s building. Soon after the fire was discovered, several females, in various conditions to dress, or rather undress, emerged from the stairways leading to these rooms, and one female whose slumber had perhaps been sounder than the rest, was cut off from escape by the flames and leaped from a third story window into the outstretched arms of a gallant fireman. She did not wait to dress. Another of these lovely fallen angels made her way by the scuttle-hole to the roof, where wild with affright and picturesque for want of sufficient clothing, she shrieked aloud for some one to help her back to earth again. She finally succeeded in reaching a neighboring roof and reached the ground in safety via the scuttle.
We are told that the most disgraceful orgies were frequently enacted in these lodging rooms where “nice young men” and outcast women vied with each other in drunkenness and beastiality. The result of these disreputable proceedings we have no doubt was the terrible destruction of life and property which our city has just witnessed. If those persons to whose account the calamity must be charged have such a thing as conscience left after all their debaucheries, what terrible remorse must be theirs!
We shall probably be able to give still further particulars of the awful disaster to-morrow.
- Lake Street
1862
Leave a Reply