File:History of Tazewell county, Illinois; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons and (14598252217).jpg

Identifier: historyoftazewel00chas (find matches)
Title: History of Tazewell county, Illinois ; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of state laws
Year: 1879 (1870s)
Authors: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., pub
Subjects: Tazewell County (Ill.) -- History Tazewell County (Ill.) -- Biography
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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could devote, however interest-ing it might be. Its progress astonished the world, and its citizensstood almost appalled at the work of their own hands. She washappy, prosperous and great when time brought that terrible Octo-ber night (Oct. 9, 1871) and with it the great fire, memorable asthe greatest fire ever occurring on earth. The sensation conveyedto the spectator of this unparalleled event, either through the eye,the ear, or other senses or sympathies, cannot be adequatelydescribed, and any attempt to do it but shows the poverty of lan-guage. As a spectacle it was beyond doubt the grandest as well asthe most appalling ever oflfered to mortal eyes. From anyelevated standpoint the appearance was that of a vast ocean offlame, sweeping in mile-long billows and breakers over the doomed city. Added to the spectacular elements of the conflagration—theintense and lurid light, the sea of red and black, and the spires andpyramids of flame shooting into the heavens—was its constant and
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SECTIONAL VIEW OF LA SALLE STREET TUNNEL, CHICAGO. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 173 terrible roar, drowning even the voices of tlie shrieking multitude;and ever and anon—for a while as often as every half-minute—resounded far aiid wide the rapid detonations of explosions, or fall-ino- walls. In short, all sights and sounds which terrify the weakand unnerve the strong abounded. But they were only the accom-paniment which the orchestra of nature were furnishing to theterrible tragedy there being enacted. The total area burned over, including streets, was three and athird square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was17,450; persons rendered homeless, 98,500; persons killed, about200. Not including depreciation of real estate, or loss of business,it is estimated that the total loss occasioned by the fire was$190,000,000, of which but $44,000,000 was recovered on insur-ance. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time;and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned

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