USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > History of Chicago : historical and commercial statistics, sketches, facts and figures, republished from the "Daily Democratic press" ; What I remember of early Chicago, a lecture, delivered in McCormick's hall, January 23, 1876 (Tribune, January 24th) > Part 15
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Early in the afternoon we began to send our goods south by teams, being careful to have some friend with each load, and by sundown all that we had been able to save was distributed among friends south of Twelfth street. In the evening my little family of three, came together at the house of E. L. Jansen, Esq., No. 607 Wabash avenue, Mrs. B.'s brother, where she and my daughter remained till we were most kindly received by Dr. E. Andrews and family. There was very little sleep that (Monday) night, for every-
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body was in mortal fear that what re- mained of the city would be burned up by the desperadoes who were known to be prowling about everywhere.
I add a few incidents not reported in the interview printed herewith. When I arrived at 15 Canal street I found Mr. Medill in the upper stories among the types and printers, doing all he could to get ready to issue a paper in the morning. I saw at a glance that my work was be- low. The basement and main floor were filled with boards, boxes and rubbish, and these must be cleaned out at once. I placed a gang of men under the command of our cashier to clear out the main floor, and another gang under a boss to clear out the basement to receive a load of paper. I then went foraging for brooms, but the market was bare of that indispen- sable article and I borrowed some of a neighbor. Seeing that business was going on lively, my next duty was to get up four stoves. For these I started west on Randolph street, but every store had sold out, till I got to the corner of Hal- sted street, I think it was; I found here the four I wanted: price $16 each. Told the owner I wanted all his men to go to work at once to get the pipe ready; but fearing if he did not know who had bought them somebody with cash in hand might “jump my claim," I told him they were for the Tribune Company, that we had plenty of money in our vault and in the bank, and as soon as we could get at it he should have his pay. "I don't know about dat," said the worthy Teuton, "I guess I must have de money for dem stoves." The thing amused me at the rapid change the fire had wrought. On Saturday our note would have been good for $100,000 and on Tuesday we could not buy four stoves and the fixtures on credit. In the best of humor I told him to come with me and mea- sure the height of the holes for the pipe in the chimneys, and before he could get the articles ready he should have his money. This he did, and then my first question, half joke, half earnest, to every friend I met was, "have you got any money?" The tenth man perhaps, Hon. Ed. Cowles, of Cleveland, Ohio, said, " Yes, how much
do you want?" " All you can spare;" and he handed me $60. Not enough for the stove genius, but I walked rapidly to his den, shook the greenbacks at him and told him to hurry up, for I'd soon have the balance. Came back to the office and found a dozen or two more of our leading citizens like myself all " strapped," till at last E. S. Wadsworth, Esq., handed me $100. Messrs. Cowles and Wadsworth, therefore, furnished the cash capital to start the Tribune the next day after the fire. But money soon began to flow in. Between three and four o'clock, our clerk, Mr. Lowell, came to me and said, " there are some people here with advertisements for lost friends!" I said, " take them and the cash, registering in your memo- randum book;" and upon a dirty old box on the window sill for a desk, the Tribune at once commenced doing a lively busi- ness. A gentleman called me by name and said, " I haven't a morsel of food for my wife and children to-night and not a cent to buy any; may I not paint “ TRI- BUNE" over your door?" It was soon done-bill $3.75; and thus a family was provided for that night at least, and another citizen started in business.
By four P. M. the stoves were up; Mr. White was duly installed with the editors in the rear of the main floor; the clerks were taking ads., the paper was soon after going into the basement, arrange- ments were made to print on the Journal press, our next door neighbor. Mr. Medill had his printers all in order, and a council was called; a list of materials made out, and it was agreed that I should start for Buffalo and New York that even- ing to get them. I hurried home, got my satchel-alas, clean linen was not to be had-and back to the office. About eight I took the middle of Canal street and went south to Twelfth; thence east to Clark and thence south to sixteenth, and just saw the cars moving away. Nothing was to be done but to return to 607 Wabash avenue. I have mentioned my route thus particularly to add that this was one of the most lonely and fearful tramps of my life. No street lamps, few people in the streets, and there were good
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reasons to give them as wide a berth as possible. Another sleepless night, and in the morning as I sat sipping my coffee over some cold liam, I saw Sheridan's boys with knapsack and musket march proudly by. Never did deeper emotions of joy overcome me. Thank God, those most dear to me and the city as well are safe, and I hurried away to the train Had it not been for General Sheridan's prompt, bold and patriotic action, I verily believe what was left of the city would have been nearly if not quite entirely destroyed by the cutthroats and vagabonds who flocked liere like vultures from every point of the compass.
As soon as my name was found on the hotel book at Buffalo, Thursday morning, some gentlemen came round, and took me to the Board of Trade, where I gave the best account I could of the extent of the fire, the relief that had been sent, and of the certainty that the city in a very few years would rise from its ashes in all its pristine vigor.
Completing my business, I left for New York in the evening train. My arrival in some way soon became known at the Tribune office, and Whitelaw Reid, Esq., sent two reporters to interview me. I insert what appeared in the Tribune Sat- urday morning, Oct. 14th, headings and all, with only a very few verbal corrections.
STATEMENT OF EX-LIEUT. GOV. BROSS OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE-SCENES DURING AND AFTER THE FIRE-WHAT CHICAGO HAS, WHAT SHE NEEDS, AND WHAT SHE WILL BE.
Ex-Lieutenant Governor Bross of Illi- nois, arrived in this city from Chicago, yesterday morning. A Tribune reporter called on him at the St. Nicholas Hotel, immediately after his arrival, and although Gov. Bross was suffering greatly from fatigue and the reaction consequent on the excitement of the last few days, he kindly and cheerfully dictated the follow- ing statement of his experience during the conflagration. Gov. Bross is well known as one of the principal proprietors of the Chicago Tribune, and his statement will be read with the greatest interest.
Before I begin to speak of the fire, I wish to say that I think the accounts of it, published in your paper are most admir- able. They have been, considering the difficulties of obtaining information, won-
derfully accurate; and your map, show- ing the burnt portion of the city, is the best I have seen.
As to what I saw of the fire. About two o'clock on Monday morning, my fam- ily and I were aroused by Mrs. Samuel Bowles, the wife of the editor and pro- prietor of the Springfield Republican, who happened to be a guest in our house. We had all gone to bed very tired the night before, and had slept so soundly that we were unaware of the conflagration till it had assumed terrible force. My family were all very much alarmed at the glare which illuminated the sky and the lake. I at once saw that a dreadful disaster was impending over Chicago, and immediately left the house to determine the locality and extent of the fire. I found that it was then a good deal south of my house and west of the Michigan Southern and Rock Island Railroad depots. I went home considerably reassured in half an hour, and, finding my family packing things up told them that I did not antici- pate danger and requested them to leave off packing. But I said, "the result of this night's work will be awful. At least 10,000 people will want breakfast in the morning ; you prepare breakfast for one hundred." This they proceeded to do, but soon became alarmed and recom- menced packing. Soon after half past two o'clock I started for the Tribune office to see if it was in danger. By this time the fire had crossed the river, and that portion of the city south of Harrison street and between Third avenue and the river seemed in a blaze of fire, as well as on the West side. I reached the Tribune office, and, seeing no cause for any apprehension as to its safety I did not remain there more than twenty minutes. On leaving the office I proceeded to the Nevada Hotel (which is my property,) at the corner of Washington and Franklin streets. I re- mained there for an hour watching the progress of the flames and contemplating the ruinous destruction of property going on around. The fire had passed east of the hotel, and I hoped that the building was safe; but it soon began to extend in a westerly direction, and the hotel was quickly enveloped in flames. I became seriously alarmed, and ran north on Frank- lin to Randolph street so as to head off the flames and get back to my house, which was on Michigan avenue, on the shore of the lake. My house was a part of almost the last block burned.
MAGNIFICENT APPEARANCE OF THE FIRE WHEN AT ITS HEIGHT.
At this time the fire was the most grand- ly magnificent scene that one can conceive. The Court House, Post Office, Farwell
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Hall, the Tremont House, Sherman House, and all the splendid buildings on La Salle and Wells streets, were burning with a sublimity of effect which astounded me. All the adjectives in the language would fail to convey the intensity of its wonders. Crowds of men, women and children were huddling away, running first in one direction, then in another, shouting and crying in their terror, and trying to save anything they could lay their hands on, no matter how trivial in value, while every now and then explosions, which seemed almost to shake the solid earth would re- verberate through the air and add to the terrors of the poor people. I crossed Lake street bridge to the west, ran north to Kinzie street bridge, and crossed over east to the North side, hoping to head off the fire. It had, however, already swept north of me, and was traveling faster than I could go, and I soon came to the conclu- sion that it would be impossible for me to get east in that direction. I accordingly re-crossed Kinzie street bridge, and went west as far as Desplaines street, where I fortunately met a gentleman in a buggy who very kindly drove me over Twelfth street bridge to my house on Michigan avenue. It was by this time getting on toward five o'clock, and the day was be- ginning to break, On my arrival home I found my horses already harnessed and my riding horse saddled for me. My family and friends were all busily engaged in picking up and in distributing sand- wiches and coffee to all who wanted them or could spare a minute to partake of them.
BURNING OF THE TRIBUNE BUILDING AND THE DWELLINGS ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.
I immediately jumped on my horse and rode as fast as I could go to the Tribune office. I found everything safe; the men were all there, and we fondly hoped that all danger was passed as far as we were concerned, and for this reason, that the blocks in front of the Tribune building on Dearborn street, and north on Madison street, had both been burned; the only damage accruing to us being confined to a cracking of some of the plate glass win- dows from the heat. But a somewhat curi- ous incident soon set us all in a state of excitement. The fire had, unknown to us, crawled under the sidewalk from the wooden pavement, and had caught the wood work of the barber's shop which comprises a portion of our basement. As soon as we ascertained the extent of the mischief we no longer apprehended any special danger, believing, as we did, that the building was fire-proof. My associ- ates, Mr. Medill and Mr. White, were present; and with the help of some of our employés, we went to work with water
and one of Babcock's Fire Extinguishers. The fire was soon put out, and we once more returned to business. The forms had been sent down stairs, and I ordered our foreman, Mr. Keiler, to get all the pressmen together, in order to issue the papers as soon as a paragraph showing how far the fire had then extended, could be prepared and inserted. Many kind friends gathered round the office and warmly expressed their gratification at the preservation of our building. Believ- ing all things safe, I again mounted my horse and rode south on State street to see what progress the fire was making, and if it were moving eastward on Dearborn street. To my great surprise and horror, I found that its current had taken an east- erly direction, nearly as far as State street, and that it was also advancing in a north- erly direction with terrible swiftness and power. I at once saw the danger so im- minently threatening us, and with some friends endeavored to obtain a quantity of powder for the purpose of blowing up buildings south of the Palmer House. Failing in finding any powder, I saw the only thing to do was to tear them down. I proceeded to Church's hardware store and succeeded in procuring about a dozen heavy axes, and handing them to my friends, requested them to mount the buildings with me and literally chop them down. All buttwo or three seemed utterly paralyzed at this unexpected change in the course of the fire; and even these, seeing the others stand back, were unwilling to make the effort alone. At this moment I saw that some wooden buildings and a new brick house west of the Palmer House had already caught fire. I knew at a glance that the Tribune building was doomed, and I rode back to the office and told them that nothing more could be done to save the building, McVicker's theatre, or anything else in that vicinity. In this hopeless frame of mind I rode home to look after my residence and family, intently watching the ominous eastward movement of the flames. I at once set to work with my family and friends to move as much of my furniture as possible across the narrow. Park east of Michigan avenue, on to the shore of the lake, a dis- tance of some 300 feet. At the same time I sent my family to the house of some friends in the south part of the city for safety; my daughter, Miss Jessie Bross, was the last to leave us. The work of carrying our furniture across the avenue to the shore was most difficult and even dangerous. For six or eight hours Michi- gan avenue was jammed with every de- scription of vehicle containing families escaping from the city, or baggage wagons laden with goods and furniture. The sidewalks were crowded with men, women
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and children, all carrying something. Some of the things saved and carried away were valueless. One woman carried an empty bird cage; another, an old work box; another, some dirty empty baskets; old, useless bedding, anything that could be hurriedly snatched up, seemed to have been' carried away without judgment or forethought. In the meantime the fire had lapped up the Palmer House, the theatres, and the Tribune building; and contrary to our expectation, for we thought the current of the fire had passed my residence, judging from the direction of the wind, we saw by the advancing clouds of dense black smoke and the rapidly approaching flames that we were in immi- nent peril. The fire had already worked so far south and east as to attack the stables in the rear of Terrace Block, be- tween Van Buren and Congress streets. Many friends rushed into the houses in the block and helped to carry out heavy furniture, such as pianos and book cases. We succeeded in carrying the bulk of it to the shore. Much of it, however, is seriously damaged. There I and a few others sat by our household goods, calmly awaiting the destruction of our property- one of the most splendid blocks in Chi- cago. The eleven fine houses which composed the block were occupied by Denton Gurney, Peter L. Yoe, Mrs. Hum- phreys (owned by Mrs. Walker), William Bross, P. F. W. Peck, S. C. Griggs, Tut- hill King, Judge H. T. Dickey, Gen. Cook, John L. Clarke, and the Hon. J. Y. Scammon.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE CITY AFTER THE FIRE-ENTERPRISE OF THE TRIBUNE.
The next morning I was of course out early, and found the streets thronged with crowds of people moving in all direc- tions. To me the sight of the ruin, though so sad, was wonderful; giving one a most curious sensation, and especially as it was wrought in so short a space of time. It was the destruction of the entire business portion of one of the greatest cities in the world! Every bank and insurance office, law offices, hotels, theatres, rail- road depots, most of the churches, and many of the principal residences of the city, a charred mass, and property almost beyond estimate gone.
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Mr. White, my associate, like myself, had been burned out of house and home. He had removed his family to a place of safety and I had no idea where he or any one else connected with the Tribune office might be found. My first point to make was naturally the site of our late office; but before I reached it I met two former tenants of our building who told me that there was a job printing office on Randolph street, on the West
side, that could probably be bought. I immediately started for the West side and while making my way west through the crowds of people, over the Madison street bridge, desolation stared me in the face at every step, and yet I was much struck with the tone and temper of the people. On all sides I saw evidences of true Chi- cago spirit, and men said to one another, "cheer up; we'll be all right again before long," and many other plucky things. Their pluck and courage was wonderful. Every one was bright, cheerful, pleasant, hopeful, and even inclined to be jolly in spite of the misery and destitution which surrounded them and which they shared. One and all said, Chicago must and should be rebuilt at once. On reaching Canal street, on my way to purchase the print- ing office I had heard of, I was informed that while Mr. White and I were saving our families and as much of our furniture as we could on Monday afternoon, Mr. Medill, seeing that the Tribune office must inevitably be burned, sought for and pur- chased Edwards' job printing office, No. 15 Canal street, where he was then busy organizing things. One after another, all hands turned up; and by the afternoon we had improvised the back part of the room into our editorial department, while an old wooden box did duty as a business counter in the front window. We were soon busy as bees, writing editorials and paragraphs; and taking in any number of advertisements. By evening several orders for type and fixtures were made out, and things were generally so far advanced that I left for the depot at Twenty-second street, with the intention of coming on to New York. Unfortunately I missed the train and had to wait till Wednesday morn- ing. We shall get along as best we can till the rebuilding of our edifice is finished. Going down to the ruins I found a large section thrown out of the north wall on Madison street. The other three walls are standing, but the east and west walls arc so seriously injured that they must be pulled down. The south wall is in good condition. More of our office and the Post office remains standing than any other buildings that I saw. Our building was put up to stand a thousand years, and it would have done so but for that awful furnace of fire, fanned by an intense gale on the windward side, literally melting it up where it stood.
THE LOSS $300,000,000-GRATITUDE OF THE CHICAGO PEOPLE.
With regard to the probable loss from the fire, it is impossible to say anything certain. I saw an estimate the other day which was based on the tax list of the city, which is over $500,000,000; and the writer inferred from that list that the loss
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cannot exceed $125,000,000. Now, accord- ing to our system of taxation in Illinois, this city tax list never shows anything like the proper amount of the property in the city. To my knowledge, houses hav- ing $20,000 to $30,000 worth of furniture in them are not rated at more than $2,000 to $4,000. Stocks of goods were never valucd among us at more than one-fifth or one-tenth of their real value on the tax list. All our merchants had just filled up their stores with fall and winter trade stocks. From these and other facts I estimate the loss by the fire at consider- ably more than $200,000,000; and if dam- agc, depreciation of real estate and prop- erty, and loss of business are considered, the loss would, in my judgment, exceed $300,000,000. Besides this, therc are the family accumulations of centuries, such as heir-looms, the value of which cannot be estimated in moncy. The collection of the Historical Society, including the Emancipation Proclamation, were invalu- able, and cannot possibly be replaced. The Chicago Library possessed many costly works, among which were the records of the English Patent Office, in 3,000 volumes. The destruction of the files of the Tribune is an immense loss to Chicago, and an irreparable one to the Tribune. There was a duplicate copy, but I unluckily presented it to the Histori- cal Society. They contained a complete and exhaustive history of Chicago from its first settlement.
One of the most striking circumstances to me, almost as astounding as the great fire itself, is the grand and spontaneous outburst of sympathy, aid, and brotherly love, which come to us from all parts of the world. It is a touching spectacle, this man-to-man, shoulder-to-shoulder way of standing by us. I have seen strong men, accustomed to the wear and tear of life, whom the loss of enormous fortunes could not bear down, stand at the corners of our streets with the tears in their eyes as the kindly words came pour- ing in upon them on the telegraph wires. They could only ejaculate, "God bless them!" I can say no more than they. God bless all who have raised even their little finger for Chicago.
WHAT CHICAGO NEEDS FOR HER FUTURE.
This country and even Europe have already provided for Chicago's present wants with a munificence and promptncss never before witnessed in the history of the race. Enough has been and will be forwarded, when the contributions are all in the hands of the proper committccs, to provide for the immediate necessities of the more indigent sufferers, who are unable to take care of themselves. What
is most needcd is to furnish the Icading business men of the city with capital, so that they can employ the laboring classes in erecting stores, warehouses, banks, business blocks, hotels, churclics, school houses and manufactories of all kinds. How is this capital to be placed in their lands? Let those who hold mortgages taken for half the value of the property, take a second mortgage of sufficient amount to defray the expense of erect- ing a good building on the former site. Such a structure will rent for a sufficient sum to pay the interest on both mortgages, and in the present demand for buildings will also pay a reasonable percentage to the owner of the property. A very large number of such mortgages, made to life insurance and other companies and to in- dividuals, were recorded on the burnt records of Chicago, and will be recognized by its business men.
Furthermore, let those who know the leading business men of Chicago, honest, industrious, and determined to rebuild the city, lend them money to start again the business in which they were engaged, asking only pledges of honor, if they, in their afflictions have nothing else to give. These men understand the business of the Northwest, and can of course transact it with profit. Aided by the capi- tal of others they can rapidly regain their lost wealth, and amply repay those who may assist them. Let the banks and busi- ness men of New York and other Eastern cities who have been connected by busi- ness with Chicago merchants, furnish them with all the money and goods they may require with which to re-establish themselves.
NEW YORK'S DUTY TOWARD CHICAGO.
As a gentleman expressed it in my hear- ing to-day, New York is the senior and Chicago the junior partner of the great firm which manages the vast commercial interests of our nation. By a dispensa- tion of Providence which the wiscst could not foresee, the means in the hands of the junior partner have been destroycd. Will the senior partner sit by and see the business of the firm crushed out when he has the means to establish it on a scale more gigantic and more profit- able than ever before? Let him contrib- ute a small portion only of his vast ac- cumulations to his unfortunate associate, and the influence and power of the concern will assume fresh life and vigor. By thus furnishing the means with which to start again the business of Chicago, the holders of mortgages will at once make the property for which the mortgages were given as valuable as ever, and will insure for themselves both interest and principal. The merchants of New York and the
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