Fighting fire

Front matter

Gass XH4443

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

1. Standard Club-House.

Preface

In offering this-volume to the public the writer had two objects in view: First, to put upon record in a compact form for future reference the great confla¬ grations of the past; Second, to call public attention to the methods by which the ravages of fire may be stayed.

The losses by fire in the United States during the past six years sum up an aggregate of over four hund¬ red million dollars!' These are appalling figures.

The ravages of war and pestilence are indeed frightful: these, however, are only periodic and occa¬ sional. But fire is always in our midst; like some strong and ferocious serf while chained and guarded it sits upon the hearthstone and does its master’s bid¬ ding ; unchained and unwatched it springs forth and devastates the household.

Civilization, in ministering to the wants of man, multiplies the points of exposure to fire. The use of gas and kerosene, the elaborate devices for heating buildings, and the numerous explosive substances used in the arts, while they add to the comfort and luxury of man, open so many new avenues for the entrance of flame.

Science, powerful to subjugate the other great forces of nature, cannot always conquer fire. Science versus flame! It is like the battles of the mythic gods with the giants. Tartarus sent up its fiery bat¬ talions against the shining hosts of Olympus, who shrank before the first assault, though victorious at last.

IV

PREFACE.

Science grows more potent; it will not rest before it lias won a victory over fire grander than many a Waterloo.

The substitution of steam for hand labor, the appli¬ cation of antiphlogistic gases and the use of building materials which resist the action of heat—these are the three principal methods which modern science employs by way of prevention and remedy against the ever present danger. Very powerful accessories to these methods are the telegraph, a highly organized fire department, and an ample supply of water judi¬ ciously disposed. Much has been done, but much stilJ remains to be done in man’s war against fire. New improvements must be devised and a further extension of such as have been already adopted.

Insurance, an institution now grown so colossal in its proportions, and so beneficent in its results, has also received from the writer a somewhat more than pass¬ ing notice.

In preparing this work for the press the writer has made free use of the articles on the Chicago fire pub¬ lished in the Lakeside Magazine, and of the works en¬ titled “ Through the Flames,” and “ Chicago as it Was.”

Special acknowledgments are due to Mr. F. J. Mil¬ ler, of 65 Liberty street, New York, publisher of The Fire Record , for valuable materials furnished, and to the Insurance Monitor , from whose pages very useful extracts have been made; the “ History of the Fire Engine,” by Mr. C. C. Hine, has been of especial ser¬ vice to the writer.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

l.

8 . 9 .

18. 19 .

Ruins of TnE Chicago Fire,

Page.

- Frontispiece.

“Latest Edition! All About the Great Fires,”

The Palmer House, - .

The “Tribune” Building, ------

“ Clear the Track !”.

Mrs. Leary’s Cow,.

Fighting It Behind the Barricades, - Ruins of First Presbyterian Church—South Side, - Scene at the Junction of Chicago River, - Ruins of Republic Life Insurance Co.'s Building,

Ruins of First National Bank,.

The Spent Stream (Tail Piece), ------

The Fire Fiend Encircled the City, -

Ruins of Chamber of Commerce and Court House, -

Ruins of New England Church—Congregational, -

Ruins of Crosby’s Distillery,.

Ruins of Second Presbyterian Church,

The Outside Aid Coming,.-

Burning of tiie Central Grain Elevators,

66 69

20. Discovering Dead Bodies, . -

21. Ruins of Unity Church—Dr. Collyer,

22. Ruins of Land Office, III. Cen. R. R.,

23. Death in a Water Main, - - - - . -

21. Steam Fire Engine (Tail Piece), -

26. The Chicago Conflagration, Showing the Burnt

District, ..

27. Ruins of Post Office and Custom House, -

VI

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

28. Regulation Button New York Fire Department, - 122

29. Fireman and Child,. -138

30. Ruins of Masonic Temple,.- 140

31. Digging Out Safes,.- -148

32. “Hot Chestnuts,”—Prompt Resumption of Business, 159

33. A Sanctimonious Sharper, - - - - - -160

34. The Claimant—“ So Pure and so Mild,” - - - 164

35. “The Statement the Company Made,”- - 165

36. The Company Gloomy and Glum,.173

37. An Adjuster, As the Claimant Regards Him, - - 174

38: Relics of the Chicago Fire,.176

39. Unity Church—Rebuilt (Dr. Collyer’s), - 183

40. The Monument Now Being Erected to Commemorate

the Fire, .. 185

41. In the Back Room, - -.190

42. An Adjuster, As He Regards Himself, - - - 191

43. Boston (Chapter Heading), - - - - - -192

44. View of Franklin Street Before the Fire, - - 194

45. View on Brattle Street,.197

46. View of Washington Street from Corner of

Summer,.199

47. “Transcript” Office, Washington Street,- - - 200

48. John S. Damrell, Chief of Boston Fire Department, 207

49. View of Winthrop Square,.212

51. Woman with Fire Brand,. -215

52. Working Girls Endeavoring to Save their Effects, 223

53. Hose Coupling,.228

54. Fire Bucket, - 229

55. Desperate Efforts of the Firemen to Save the

Old South Church, - - - - - - -237

56. The New Post Office Building, ----- 240

57. Steam Fire Engine (TailPiece), .241

58. Hose Carriage,. - 242

59. The Arrest of Thieves, Roughs, and Plunderers, - 249

60. Duty Trumpet, -.253

61. Looking at the Ruins,.- 255

62. Military Forcing Back the Crowd on Liberty St., 257

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. v j|

64. Ruins of Trinity Church, Summer Street, - - 265

65. Gas Extinguisher,.- .269

66. The Liberty Pole and Fireman’s Encampment, - - 271

67. After the Struggle,.- 274

68. Opening Safes—The Books All Right, - - - 276

69. Selling Relics,.- 279

71. CORNHILL, FACING WASHINGTON STREET, - 288

72. Fireman’s Hat Tip,.- 308

73. The Burned District (Boston), - 310

74. Washington Street, looking towards the Old South

Church during the Fire,. -313

76. Militia Relieving Guard near Ruins of Purchase

Street Church, - - - - - - - -345

80. Map of Burned District (New York), - - - 406

81. View of Portland,.421

84. Chemical Fire Engine,.485

85. Capt. Eyre Shaw, Present Chief of tiie London Fire

86. Old-fashioned Hand Engine, - - - - „ - - 496

87. Fire-Tower at Moscow, ------- 503

88. Fireman’s Fatigue Cap,.- 531

89. American Fire Engine, 1785,. 551

90. Egyptian Fire Engine, 200 B. C., - - - - 561

91. Syringe of Sixteenth Century,.566

94. Fire Engine of Strasburg, 1739,.572

95. London Fire Engine, 1765,. 574

96. Scene at a Fire in New York in 1730, showing the

Apparatus then in Use,.578

Vlll

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

97. Scene at a Fire in New York in 1733, showing the

Apparatus then in Use,.581

98. Adjustable Spray Nozzle,.585

99. Hose Jacket,.- 586

101. The Hand Engine of the Present Day, - 588

102. American Hand Engine of 185 7 , - - - - 591

103. First Steam Fire Engine ever Built, London, 1829,- 594

104. Capt. John Ericsson,.595

105. First Steam Fire Engine ever Built in America, 1840, 600

106. Latest Pattern Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine, - - 605

107. Steam Fire Engine,.608

108. Diagram of Chemical Fire Extinguisher, - 614

109. Fireman’s Hat,.620

110. Sending the Alarm to the General Office, - - 622

111. “Turn out”—the Bunk Room,.623

112. Joseph L. Perley, Chief of the New York Fire De¬

partment, .628

114. Beady for the Start,.631

115. Going to the Fire,.- 633

116. Fireman’s Respirator and Smoke Protector, - - 636

117. Fire-escape Truck (Running Order), - 644

118. Fire-escape Truck (Extended),.646

120. Fire-proof Safe for Plates,.659

121. Firemen’s Monument (Greenwood Cemetery), - - 709

Chapter I. Tele Great Chicago Fire

THE QUEEN CITY OF THE WEST.

The Infant Settlement.—A City Springing Out of a Quagmire.—The Land Speculation.—Money Increasing Ten Thousand Fold.—Organiza¬ tion of the Town.—Growth of its Trade.—Institutions of the Citv.—Its Schools, Churches, Stores, Libraries.—Materials Used in the Building of Chicago.—Fuel for a Big Bonfire.—Why called Shanty Town.—- The Sun Prepares the Kindling Wood for a Mighty Conflagration.

Chapter II. The First Carnival Of The Fire-fiend

The Slumbering City Awoke by the Fire-bell in the Night.—The Confla¬ gration of Saturday, October 7th.—Its Rapid Progress.—Pine Boards and Shingles and the Lesson they Taught.—Incidents of the Fire.— The Second Conflagration of Sunday, October 8th.—Darkness, Flame, and Tempest Conspire together.—The Track of the Conflagration.— The Fight with the Conspirators.—Ruin Incarnate.—Thrilling Inci¬ dents.

Chapter III. Progress Op The Fire King

The Colors of Tartarus.—The Apathy of Despair Seizing the People.— Following in the Track of Desolation.—The Sweep of the Conflagration. —The Crowd becomes a Rabble.—Dreadful Scenes.—The Fall of the Sherman House.—A Thrilling Incident.—A General Jail Delivery of Thieves and Murderers.—The Destruction of the Water Works.—A Delirious Victim.—A Chapter of Adventures and Escapes

X

Chapter IV. The Grave Of The Fire—incidents

Boundaries of the Conflagration.—The Area of Desolation.—Flight of

O O

the Sufferers.—Heart-rending Scenes.—Taking Refuge in the Parks

o o o

and Prairie.—Night Among the Ruins.—Thrilling Incidents.—The

o o o

Cremation of Songsters.—Terrible Force and Swiftness of the Fire.— Suicide of an Unfortunate.—Burned Alive.—Shut Up in a Furnace.— Escape of One of the Demi-Monde.

CHAPTER Y.

RASCALITY, TRAGEDY, AND ROMANCE OF THE

FIRE.

Cold-blooded Avarice.—Ruffianism Rampant.—Hack Drivers and Cor¬ morants.—A Brighter Picture.—Heroism of Woman.— Hurrah for the Firemen!—Examples of Presence of Mind under Danger.—A Hair- Breadth Escape.—Panic Among the Domestic Animals.—A Bitter Separation.—Torn from the Flames.—A Leap for Life.—Running the Gauntlet.—Death by Fire versus Death by Water.

CHAPTER YI.

RELIEF.

Effect of the Heat—Among the Ruins.—A Sea of Human Agonv.—A Hundred Thousand Houseless People.—Sorrowful Scenes.—A Night Bivouac Among the Smouldering Embers of the Fire.—The Beauty of Desolation.—Bringing Order Out of Chaos.—Firemen from Abroad.— Stout Phil.- Sheridan in the Saddle.—Telling the Storv -over the Fires. — Sublime Exhibition of Charity and Liberality.—Organized Relief.— States and Nations send Aid and Comfort.—The Dead at the Morgue. —Pluck and Hot Chestnuts.—A Sanctimonious Sharper.—Fire as a Mover and Purifier of the Heart.

CHAPTER VII.

List of Insurance Offices that had Risks in Burned Chicago.—Specified Losses.—Catalogue of Burned Buildings.—Business Houses, Churches, Hotels, Elevators, &c.—Grand Total.—Reconstruction.

CONTENTS.

XI

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GREAT BOSTON FIRE.

THE THEATRE OF THE FIRE.

The Situation of Boston.—Inadequate Preparations for its Growth.—Ill Adaptedness of its Streets.—The Cows the Pioneers in Laying them Out.—Old and New Boston.—Great Growth of the City.—Its Wealth and its Enterprise —Its Distinctive Business.—The Displacement of Dwelling Houses.—Tire March of the Merchants.—Splendid Structures in the New Business Region.—Fatal Mistakes in their Erection.—The Territory covered by the Fire.

CHAPTER IX.

' BEFORE THE FIRE.

Earlier Exemption of Boston from Great Fires.—Improvements in its Fire Department.—Security Felt among its Citizens.—Portland fur¬ nishes the First Note of Alarm.—Its Effect only Temporary.—Chicago Startles the World.—Boston Still Undisturbed in its Confidence in Itself.—Impossible that the Scene of Chicago can be Repeated.—Yet a Prophet Arises, and Points Out the .Very Spot of Danger.—He is not Honored in his own Country.—Torchlight Processions.—The Horse Disease.—It Infects the Fire Department, which strangely Succumbs to it.

CHAPTER X.'

THE NIGHT BATTLE WITH THE FIRE.

A Satisfactory Day followed by a Placid Evening.—The First Note of Warning.—The Fatal Delay.—Early Fury of the Flames.—The City Alarmed and Aroused.—Fearful March of the Fire to the North —It Envelops the Grandest Block in the City.—Startling Splendor of the Scene.—Eastward Progress of the Conflagration.—Streets Swept Down Before it.—Acres of Flame.—Sublimity on Earth and in Air.—Showers of Fiery Grandeur.—Sweeping to the Sea—Millions upon Millions Annihilated.—Efforts to Preserve Property.—Flames Carried to Other Regions.—The Eastern Limit Reached.

Xll

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XI.

THE NIGHT BATTLE WITH THE FIRE— Continued.

The Battle on the West.—A Fearfully Critical Situation.—The Entire City Threatened.—The Mayor at the City Hall.—The Appeals of the Citizens for the Use of Powder.—The Mayor Consents.—Frantic Excitement in the Crowds.—The People on the Housetops.—Sublimity of the Scene.—A Sea of Fire.—The Explosions Ill-Directed and Use¬ less.— Superhuman Efforts of the Firemen.—They Make a Successful Stand on the Decisive Westerly Line, and Save the City.—The Fire Yet Raging Furiously at the North.—Advances in One Immense Line. The New Post Office its First Barrier.—It Resists Successfully.—Yet the Flames Advance Beyond.—They Threaten the Merchants’ Ex¬ change.—The Key to State Street.—Will it Hold Out ?

CHAPTER XII.

THE SCENE ON SUNDAY.

The Fire Still Raging toward the North.—It Envelops Liberty Square.— Concentrates upon the Merchants’ Exchange.—The Last Stand Made at this Point.—A Terrible Contest.—Tremendous Struggle Between Opposing Elements.—The Fire Slowly Yields.—The Final Victory.— The Scene at Noonday.—Acres of Desolation.—The People Pour in from the Suburbs.—The Spectators from the Country round About.— The Intellkrcnce Flashed through the Nation.—Excitement Evervwhere.—Flames Still in all the Burnt Region.—The Police Precautions. —The Military Summoned.—A Strange Sabbath.—The Common Covered with Merchandise Rescued from the Flames.—Night Fall.—

O

Crowds Still Arriving, but Quiet Maintained.—A Night Explosion.— The Fire Renewed.—A New Danger, and Another Severe Struo-o-le.— Great Additional Loss, but further immediate Danger Averted.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ASPECT ON MONDAY.

The Last of the Conflagration.—Crowds from the Country.—The City as if Besieged, and in Military Occupation.—The One Avenue North and South Choked with Travel.—Throngs without Precedent.—The Busi¬ ness Men Alert Among Them.—The Curiosity-Seekers Preponderate. —The Dangerous Classes Arrive from New York.—Preparations to

CONTENTS.

XIII

Protect Against Them.—The Common Fast Cleared of Goods.— Activity in the Burnt District.—Signs Set Up, and Excavations Com¬ menced.— A New Experience Comes with Nightfall.—The Gas Gives Out.—Tho City in Darkness.—Queer Substitutes.—Theatres and Public Places Closed.—The Dread of Crime in the Darkness.—Police Precautions.—The Night Passed in Safety.

CHAPTER XIV.

AMONG THE RUINS.

Entering their Borders.— An Impressive Contrast.—Baffled Curiosity- Seekers.—The First View of Desolation.—Eccentric Aspects.—The Heart of the Fire.—Delving in the Debris .—An Awful Atmosphere —A Lurid Light Upon the Scene.—The Flames on the Borders.— Effect on the Imagination.—Depressing Sensations.—The Relief on Leaving the Territory.—The Silver Lining to the Cloud.

chapter xv.

THE LOSSES AND THE INSURANCE.

Estimates of Losses.—Mistakes and Exaggerations.—The Wealth in the Burnt District.— The City Assessors’ Statement of Its Taxable Property, etc.—Proportion of Losses Borne by the Real Estate Owners ■ and Merchants.—The Merchants Much the Severest Sufferers.—Their Entire Property Generally in their Business.—The Loss of Insurance the Finishing Blow.—Cases of Hardship.—'i he Winter Season Approaching.—Obstacles to Rebuilding.—Clerks and Operatives Thrown Out of Employment.—The Insurance Companies.—Their Remarkable Prosperity, and the Confidence Induced by It.—'1 heir Complete Wreck from the Results of the Fire.—Losses to Stockholders.—Ruin to Merchants.—'I lie Legislature Appealed to,—A New Law Devised.— Home Companies at a Discount in Popular Favor.—The Mutual Com¬ panies Mostly Pay in Full by Assessing on Premium Notes.—General Aggregate of Insurance Losses.—Percentages Paid in Home Offices.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE SPIRIT OP THE PEOPLE.

Their Courage, Energy, and Resolution.—Instances of the Exhibition of these Qualities.— Scouring the City for New Business Quarters.—

XIV

CONTENTS.

Eruption of Signs Among the Ruins.—The Rush of the Advertisers.— The Citizens Meet to Consider the Situation.—A Relief Committee Extemporized.—Resolutions and Plan of Action for the Future— Honorable Conduct of the Lumber Dealers.— l he Common Asked for for the Erection of Temporary Stores.—Opposition Thereto, and Final Defeat of the Proposition.—A Mushroom Settlement in the Burnt District.—The Faneuil Hall Citizens’ Meeting.—It Asks for the Passage of a Loan Act by the Legislature.—Opposition to this Measure.—Its Final Triumph.—Sympathy Shown from Abroad.—Its Spirit Checked by Over-Confidence Expressed in Boston.—The Mayor Takes the Right Ground, and is Sustained by the Relief Committee.— Too Late, however, to Undo the Mischief.—Unjust Attacks on the Mayor in the Press.—The Burden of Relief Thrown Chiefly upon the City.—The City Bears It, but Unfortunately and Unnecessarily.

CHAPTER XVII.

FIGHTING THE FIRE.

Censures upon the Fire Department.—Delay in Reaching the Scene.— Early Fury of the Flames.—Combustible Character of the Material in which They Originated-—Fire Easily Controlled on its Southern Side. —Resistless Apparently Elsewhere.—The Theory of Atmospheric Conditions.—Failure in Franklin street.—Success on Washington street.—The Use of Gunpowder.—It is Discountenanced by the Chief Engineer.—He Yields to the Solicitations of the Citizens.—Little Good Accomplished by its Use.—This Probably Because it was in Inexperienced Hands.—No Skill or System Seen—The C hief Engineer Overcome by His Responsibilities.—A Committee of Investigation.— The Mansard Roof Again.—Other Agencies for the Spread of the Fire. —Heroism of the Firemen.—Their Daring Unsurpassed.—They Encounter Danger Constantly.—Loss of Life Among Them.—Examples of Martyrdom.—List of Killed and Wounded.

CHAPTER XVIII.

INCIDENTS AND PECULIARITIES.

Individual Deeds of Heroism.—The Thieves and Their Arresters.—A Case of Mistake, and Serious Turning of the Tables.—Efficiency of the City Police.—A Sudden Warning Out.—An Unceremonious Ejectment. —A Hair-Breadth Escape.—Six Men Immured in a Store and Rescued from Burning at the Last Moment.—An Extemporized Team.—“ Shoot Him on the Spot! ’’—What Two Women Did in Saving Goods.—The Services of a Faithful Domestic.—A Kind-hearted.^Teamster.—A Nervous, and Very Expensive Wife.—Hard Case of a Policeman.-

CONTENTS.

XV

Another of Over-caution and Over-confidence.—Distressing Accident and Death.—The Safe Openings—Despair, Hope, and Relief.—An Affecting Scene.—Cases of Coolness.—Taking it Humorously.—Wit in Misfortune.—Hysterical Grief of a Poor Girl.—A Warm-hearted Irish Woman’s Generous Offer.—A Case of Absent-Mindedness.—A Rector’s Efforts, and His Unfortunate Recognition.—A Noble-hearted Woman. —Works of Art Destroyed.—A Picturesque Tableau.—Destruction of Costly Religious Ornaments.—Valuable Paintings and Artists’ Prop¬ erty Consumed.—The Trinity Church Treasures and Memorial Silver Saved.—The Scene at the Parker House.—The Phenomena of the Air.— Great Distance to which Material was Carried in its Upper Currents.— Quick Work in School street.—Millions on the March.—Losses in Literature.—Losses in Philanthropy and in Education.—Destruction of Engine Hose.—Curiosities in Relics.—Leather Reduced to its Most Condensed Form.—Effect of Heat upon Paper.

CHAPTER XIX.

HUMORS OP THE FIRE.

Unwelcome Assistance.—Boots and Shoes Very Cheap.—Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth.—Great Cry and Little Wool.—Lost, Saved, and Lost Again.—The Danger of Counting Chickens before They are Hatched.—A Harrowing Scene.—Where is Clara?—A Sad Cat¬ astrophe.—An Envious Chicagoan.—Boston Outdone.—Two Small to have a Really Big Fire.—A Bundle and a Man —Division of Labor.— Law and Equity.—A Bottle Trick, and a Fearful “ Splosion.”—A Fall in Glass.—Sodom and Gomorrah.—A Practical Exemplification of Predestination —The Evils of Curiosity.—A Stolen Box Gets its Purloiner into a Bad Box.—Phosphorus Cannot be Carried in the Panta¬ loons’ Pocket with Comfort.—Jehu Outwitted.—The Folly of Not Doin or a Cash Business.—A Polite Coachman, and a Fare Anxious to be Arrested.—Fifty Cents versus Forty Dollars.—Ireland at the Fire. —Condolers Doomed to Hotter Flames than Any that Raged at the Fire.—Good Advice Thrown Away.—A Well-meaning Man Put Out, instead of the Fire.—Some Things that were Saved.—Others that were Not.—The Soldiers at the Barricades.—The “ Sojer ” Coat.—Napo¬ leon’s Old Guard.—Euchred.—Droll Inscriptions.

chapter xx.

AFTERWARD AND IN RETROSPECT.

Feverish Apprehensiveness of Further Fires.—Gradually Allayed.—• Awakened Again the Second Week by Another Large Fire.—And

XVI

CONTENTS.

Still Another.—No Further Remarkable Alarms or Occurrences.— Progress in Recuperation.—The State of the Safes.—A Large Supply oi Water.—No Money Panic.—The Nature of the Losses.—The Good Order of the City.—Closing of the Bar-rooms.—The Theatres and Lectures Suspended.—Classic Sites in the Burnt District.—Webster, Choate, Everett, Bancroft, Channing.—The Temple of the Drama.—The Birth¬ place of Franklin.—Trinity Church.—The Old South Saved.—Its History.—It Encounters Another Danger.—Yields to the Demands of Business.—Formidable Opposition Thereto.—The Newspaper Offices. —The Coliseum.—The Clergy.—Rev. Robert Collyer.

CHAPTER XXI.

Conclusion

CHAPTER XXII.

THE BOSTON FIRE.

AN ADDRESS BY HENRY WARD BEECHER,

Sunday Evening, November 10, 1872.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE NEW YORK FIRE OF 1835.

'The Frost King and the Fire King.—Night Wind and Flame—The Fire¬ men paralyzed.—Rapidity of the Conflagration.—“ Fire-brands, Arrows, and Death.”—“ Pray to God, for all Human Aid is vain.”—Watching the Fire from the Dome of the Exchange.—Dress Goods and Groceries as Fuel.—Burning of a Church.—Sublime Spectacle.—Begging for Gunpowder.— Carnival of Thieves and Plunderers.—Rocking a Bundle of Dry Goods to sleep.—A Picturesque Fire Company.—Walking Home fast Asleep.—Merchants going to survey their own Ruin.— Frightful Losses.—Origin of the Fire.—Gas again!

o o

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE GREAT PORTLAND FIRE.

The Beauty of Portland.—Its Disasters in the Past.—A Bright Morning and a Lurid Evening.—The Fire Fiend Painting Hell on the Sky.— The Career of the Flames.—Wiping out the city.—Floating Down upon a Sea of Fire.—A Pretty Pickle.—An absent-minded old Lady.—

CONTENTS.

xvii

Wandering among the Ruins.—Moralizing over the Instability of Wealth.—A Letter from Hon. P. W. Chandler.—Counting up the losses.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE PLAGUE IN LONDON.

What is the Plague ?—Its first Symptoms, its Malignity, etc.—How and when it broke out in London.—It Spreads amid the Filth of St. Giles. —Terror of the Inhabitants.—A General Stampede.—Two Hundred Thousand People flying from the City.—Closing of Infected Houses.— Cessation of Business and Grass Growing in the Streets.—Imprisoned with the Plague-stricken.—A Terrible Situation.—A Pest-house and a Prison.—Breaking from Confinement.—Heart-rending Scenes.

CHAPTER XXVI.

BURYING THE DEAD.—MOURNING IN DAYLIGHT

AND DARKNESS.

Burials by the Wholesale.—The Great Pit in Aldgate Church Yard.— The Dead Cart on its Rounds.—Thrilling Scenes by the Grave.—Rob¬ bing the Corpses.—Hard-hearted Nurses.—A Female Ghoul.—A Pic¬ ture of the City Festering under the July Sun.—The Plague-smitten Dropping Dead in the Street.—Night Scenes.—The Cross-marked Door and the Drowsy Watchman.—Thieves Loaded with Infected Clothing. —An Awful Cry; “ Lord, have Mercy upon us! ”—The Dead Carts Abandoned by their Drivers and Corpses Tumbled into the Street.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE CITY OP DESOLATION.

* •

Under Ban.—Plague Patients Wandering into the Country.—Dead in Highways and Ditches.—Outrages by the Hired Nurses.—Smothering a Patient and Stealing his Clothes.—Walking about with Death written upon the Face.—Incidents of the Plague.—The Blind Piper in the Church Yard.—Hydropathy; a Rough Remedy and a Speedy Cure.— A Tradition of the Plague.—John Colby’s Adventure.—Chased by one of the Plague-stricken.—Diminution of the Distemper.—Extent of its Ravages.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON.

London in 1666 and 187-2.—Preparing Combustibles for the Conflagration —The Fire Bell at the Dead of Night!*—Burning of St. Magnus’ Church.—Swiftness of the Flames.—Stupefaction of the Citizens.— Vain Efforts of the Firemen to stem the Tide of Fire.—Syringes at a Discount.—Account of an Eye-witness.—Extract from Pepy’s Diary.— A Graphic Narrative of the Fire on Sunday.—King Charles II. and his Officers Fighting the Flames.—Escaping across the Biver.—An Arch of Fire in the Sky.—A Night of Terror.

•

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE SECOND DAY’S HOLOCAUST.

Rioting among the Palaces.—The Old Story of Rascally Draymen.— John Evelyn’s Narrative.—A Ramble through the Flames.—Scenes on the River Thames.—A Cloud of Smoke Fiftv Miles Long.—A Night of Battle with the Flames.—The Burning of the Royal Exchange.— Thursday’s Fire.—Pepy’s Narrative.—Burning of Old St. Paul.—The Palace of the Flame Genii.—Magnificent Spectacle.—Guih’hall burns next.—A Castle built of Blocks of Burning Charcoal.—Dreadful Suf¬ ferings of the Poor.

CHAPTER XXX.

END OF THE FIRE.

Pepy’s Diary of the Conflagration continued.—View from Barking Steeple.—An Ocean of Fire.—Flight to the Suburbs.—The Flames Dying Away.—A Stroll through the Burnt District.—Scenes and Inci¬ dents.—Effect of the Fire upon Metal and Stone.—Sermon by Rev. Thos. Vincent.—Summing-up of the Whole Matter.—Following in the Track of the Conflagration.—Catalogue of Losses.—$300,000,000 of American Money.—The Fire a Blessing in Disguise.—New London.—• The Monument. •

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE OTHER GREAT FIRES OF HISTORY.

Burning of Rome by Nero.—Account of the Conflagration from Tacitus. —Almost Total Destruction of the Eternal City.—Incendiarism upon a Gigantic Scale.—Burning of Moscow by the Tartars, 1571. Frightful

CONTENTS.

XIX

Loss of Life.—Pyramids of Roasted Corpses.—Constantinople Fires.— The Ashes of 100,000 Buildings.—Burning of Moscow in the Russian Campaign of Napoleon.—An Army Driven Back into the Snow.—A Fiend-like Patriotism.—The Blazing Kremlin and the Freezing Soldiers. —The Conflagration in New York, 1845.—Great. Explosion and Loss of Life.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE GREAT FIRES OP HISTORY—CONTINUED.

Blazing Quebec.—The Conflagrations of San Francisco.—The Peshtigo Disaster?—The First Omens.—A Tornado of Flame.—Choice of Death by Fire or Water.—March of the Fiery Tempest.—Seven Hundred Square Miles of Ashes.—Frightful Loss of Life and Property.—Tabular Statement of the other Remarkable Conflagrations.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

CAUSES OP FIRE.

Charles Dickens on Fire as a Servant and as a Master.—A Lecture on Carelessness.—Guarding against the Outbreak.—Chimney and Stove Pipes.—Gas as an 'Assistant to Great Conflagrations, as in Chicago and Boston.—Necessity for Cut-offs in the Large Cities.—A Few Trials Respecting the Use of Gas, and a Word to ^Tas-fitters and Plumbers.— The Foe at our Firesides.—Entertaining Incendiaries Unawares.—The Incendiaries Pointed out by Name.—A Warning to Mechanics, Manu¬ facturers, Hotel Keepers, and Smokers.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

INCENDIARISM AND PYROMANIA.

Twenty-five Thousand Fires and their Causes.—A Few Statistics.—The Three Principal Causes.—Accidents, Flues, and Fire-bugs.—Incendia¬ rism ; its Prevalence and Motives.—A Terrible Fact.—Sheep, Dogs, and Wolves.—Firemen as Incendiaries .—Pyromania as a Form of Insanity. —Symptoms and Characteristics of this Kind of Mania.—Instances where it has Manifested Itself, in Europe and this Country.—The Salem Fire-bug.—Rufus Choate Defending a Youthful Pyromaniac.—Candles, Lamps, Gas, and Kerosene.—A List of Explosive and Combustible 'Articles.—Two Curious Causes of Fire.

XX

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXV.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

What is Spontaneous Combustion?—Explanation of the Term.—Cotton, Oil &c., Taking Fire of their own Accord.—Cases where such Fires have occurred.—Ships and Warehouses mysteriously Bursting into a Blaze.—A Black List of Dangeroifs Substances.—Spontaneous Com¬ bustion of the Living Human Body.—Will a Man Burn up without beinfr set fire to?—A Few Cases in Answer to this Question.—What

O

Plenty of Gin will Produce in a Corpulent Man or Woman*—Story of the Fisherman’s Wife.—Opinion of Orfila, the Celebrated Physician.— What became of an old Woman in an hour and a half.—A Strange Phenomenon.—Boasted and melted Alive.—The Fate of a Drunkard.— Terrible Warning to the Intemperate.—A Catalogue of Precautions.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

OLD METHODS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE.

How the Ancients Fought Fire.—Alum as a Shield.—The Water-bomb; „ who Invented it and How it W r orked.—Other Devices in the Last Cen¬ tury.—History of the Fj^e Engine in Ancient Times.—Its Use in Egypt and Old Rome.—Syphons; what were they?—Forcing Pumps, Valves, and Levers in Former Ages.—V 7 ater Bays, Pipes, and Syringes.—De¬ vices Employed at the Great Fire of London, 1666 .—Rise of the Fire Engine and Hose in Germany.—Fire Engines in the Seventeenth Century.—Invention of the Van Heides.—Description of the Improve¬ ments made in Holland.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE MODERN FIRE ENGINE AND THE HOSE

SYSTEM.

Fire Engines of the Eighteenth Century in Germany and England.— De¬ scription of the Strasburg Engine.—Richard Newsham, of London, and his Invention.—Means used previously to Extinguish Fires in London. —Full Description of the Newsham Engine.—Fire Engines in the Cities of America.—A Fire in Old New York.—How the Knicker-

CONTENTS.

XXI bockers dealt with Conflagrations.—Tools and Appliances connected with the Manual Engine.—Invention of Hose.—Different Kinds of Hose and the Various Contrivances which belong to it.—Hoods, Jackets, Strainers, Branch Pipes, Heels and Drying Racks.—Manual Engines and their Inadequacy to the Purpose of Putting Out Fires.— The Story of one of Hummans Tubs.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

STEAM FIRE ENGINES.

Steam versus Muscle.—A Fight between the Fire Fiend and the Steam Champion.—Invention of Steam Fire Engines.—Captain John Erics¬ son.—Description of the Machine.—History of the Invention.— Triumph of Steam over Muscle.—A. & B. Latta of Cincinnati Demon¬ strate the Practicability of the Machine.—The Test.—A Brilliant Success.—Christening the Engine.—The Steam King Enthroned.— General Adoption of the Machines.—Qualifications of a Good Steamer.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

EXTINGUISHING FLAME WITH CARBONIC ACID

GAS.

A Volcano in Action Suggests the Use of Gas as a Means for Extinguishing Flame.—Putting Out Fires at their Start.—The True Value of a Portable Fire Extinguisher.—The Phillips Patent.—The Basis of the Extinguishers at Present in Use.—Carbonic Acid Gas, and its Effect upon Fire.—How it is Manufactured.—Description of the Machine and its Use.—Special Tests.—Value of the Invention.—Its Superiority over all other Methods.—A True Fire Annihilator.

CHAPTER XL.

FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND HOW TO PUT OUT A

FIRE.

The Fire Department System in the United States.—A Visit to Head¬ quarters in New York.—The Fire Boxes and their Use.—Telegraphic Apparatus.—A Gigantic Music Box.—Striking the Gong.—Sending Word to the Steamers.—Mending the Broken Wires.—The Rendez¬ vous.—Sounding the Alarm.—A Visit to the Engine Houses.—The

• •

CONTENTS.

xxn

Horses and tlie Iron Horse.—Waiting for the Signal.—The Composi¬ tion of a Fire Company.—An Alarm Sounded upon the Gong.— Getting Ready to Start in Thirteen Seconds.—A Dash Through the Darkness. —On the Ground, and at Work.—Fires in a Diminishing Scale.—An Efficient Organization.—Fighting Smoke.—A Good Respirator.

CHAPTER XLI.

FIGHTING FIRE WITH WATER AND STEAM.

New Plans to Put Out Fire.—Letting in the Briny Deep.—Chief Engineer Tracy’s Plan.—Utilizing Steam and Gases.—Kidd’s Proposition.—A Patent Sprinkler.—Flames Reduced by Mist.—An Elaborate Mechan¬ ism.—The Hydrant System.—“ Putting a Head ” on it.—A Deluge by Turning a Screw.—How this Plan Works.—Can it be Adopted in our Large Cities.—A Few Words to Countrymen.—A Village Fire Engine. A Simple Recipe.—A Good Use for Woolen Blankets and Carpets.— Fire Escapes, their Description and Efficacy.—Sliding Down from a Four Story Window.—Defects of Fire Escapes.

CHAPTER XLII.

SAFES AND BANK VAULTS.

Wealth and what it Consisted of in Old Times.—The Modern Commer¬ cial System and its Effect upon the Evidences of Value.—The Strong Box of Antiquity.—History of Safe Making.—Plaster of Paris as a Fire¬ proof Filling, and How it came to be Discovered.—Other Mixtures Capable of Resisting Fire, and their Merits.—Water in Combination.— Steam Safes.—Improvement Recently Made.—Locks and the Electro Magnetic Detector.—How Fire and Burglar-proof Safes are Made Now.—Bank Vaults.—Their Construction and Use.—The Vaults of the Stock Exchange, of Brown Brothers, &c.—The Value of Safes.—A Visit to the Safe Manufacturers.—Thrilling- Incidents of the Boston Fire.—Opening of a Red-hot Safe.—“ Thank God! My Fortune is Saved.”—Song of the Fire Champion.

CHAPTER XLIII.

FIRE PROOF BUILDINGS.

The Mania for Tinder Boxes.—Catering to the Appetite of the Fire Fiend.—A Word of Caution.—Nothing Absolutely. Indestructible by Fire.—Action of the Devouring Element upon Ordinary Materials.—

CONTENTS.

“Fire-proof” Buildings as Blast Furnaces.—Stone, Iron, and Brick under the Flames.—Proof of a Physical Axiom.—History of Fire¬ proof Buildings.—How the Architects of Old Rome and of the Middle Ages went to Work.—Fire-proofing in England.—The Principal Diffi¬ culty and Danger of such Structures.—Examination of Materials in Detail.—Brick, Stone, and Iron: which is the Best ?—The Nearest Approach to a Fire-proof Building.—The Mansard Roof as a Tinder Box, and its Proper Construction.—The Water Shield in the Walls of Buildings. 664

CHAPTER XLIY.

INSURANCE: ITS HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE.

Definition and Objects ot Insurance.—Rise of the Institution.:—Insurance in Ancient Times, and in the Middle Ages.—Its Origin in Germany and England.—Magnitude and Importance of the Present System.—A Few Facts and Figures. 683

CHAPTER XLY.

THE BUSINESS OP INSURANCE AND HOW IT

IS DONE.

Subdivision of the Insurance.—Nature of Risks in General.—Life Insur¬ ance as a Science.—Its Essential Principles.—Unsettled Character of Fire Insurance.—How it is Conducted in England, France, and Ger¬ many.—The Law of Insurance.—State Legislation.—Fraudulent Com¬ panies, and How They are Organized.—The Officers and the Policy.—