imutb tncia i The City of the Lakes in Ruins. 3ftre and Death Sweeping Everything Before Them. Poor Miles of the City En veloped In Flames. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand People Houseless and Homeless. Fearfbl Loss of Life Apprehended jSomres of People Lost in the Sea of Fire. Hundreds of Families Fleeing Be fore the Waves of Conflagration. (Blocks of Buildings Blown Up to Stay the Progress of Destruction. TAIN ABE THE EFFORTS OF MAN {Frin fifty to One Hundred Millions of Pro perty Said To Be Burned. JUl the Churches, Hotels, Theatres, Banks, lUllway Depots, Telegraph Offices, newspaper Offices, Gas Works, Pahlie Bnlldlngs and Ship ping is Ashes. (The Great Water Works Pro bably Gone Too. feVMrikle to Estimate the Total Low CRT OF IDE SUFFERERS FOR HELP Hoble Response from All Parts of the Union. (Sndnati, St Louis, Milwaukee and All the Cities of tin Bait and Weit Contributing li looey, Provisions and Clothing. fBOCLAIATIOI FROM HATOE HALL Veerings To Be Held Here To-Day. The City of Charities Will be Equal to the Emergency. Intense Excitement All Over the Country. XMtot in Financial and Busi ness Circles. OR* Insurance Companies Here and j ZUsewhere Heavy Losers. As We 60 to Press the Fire is Still Raging and Fears That tin Whole City Will Fall. the Arm M crept fejr the PHMtt-Stattmi mf Am Of?ralw Mtm Oat By ike FI*bm. B0TTALO. N. T., Oct 1171. 1M following particulars of the great fire at Chi tcago Me obtained from Mr. J. N. Crittenden, oper ator of the Western Union Telegraph Company in Cntoago, who has Just arrived at Englewood, 11L, ?even mllea aontheaat of Chicago. Mr. Crittenden left the city oa so engine, at half-paat eight una jaorntnc:? The Ore commenced abont nine o'clock last nighr, feev the corner of Jefferson and Deiavan streets, aM a wept everything before it, ukmg a aorth ?eeterij course through the central part of the city. Vke Court Bonae, Weatern Union Telegraph Office, feoms, banaa, and apparently everything within listf mile weet of the Oonrt Honae, and aa far ^outh aa Pol* street, and probably west of State fecreet, and perhaps eaat of that, are ail destroyed. The Are now rages on the north side, eaat of Wetla street, extending np to Chioago avenue, to nonlieaateriy direction. It la being checked to windward on the aonth and west sides. The wind ?Hpsiohjttw P* shaugiog tto wife. I AW the Are reaches towards the great (MM and that it n probably de stroyed. The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, and the Rock island Railroad depots, the City Water Works, tt>e Tremont House, Sherman Uouae, Crosby Opera Boom, Ac., are among the buildings destroyed. The elevators on Main and River streets most have been burned, as the Are was raging on both aides at two o'clock when I was there. Thou sands of people are houseloss, and the losses were estimated at fifty millions of dollars. TIm Devastation Silll f uilialif Tea Tkea ?oad Baildlans Already Destroyed. Cuicaoo, Oct. 9?10 A. M. The awful conflagration still continues. TBS ENTIRE BUSINESS PORTION of the elty is destroyed. All tbe banks, express and telegraph offloes. all the newspaper offices, except the Tribune, six elevators and tbe waterworks have been burned. There Is no water in the elty. Not less than TXN THOUSAND BUILDINGS have already been destroyed. Tbe fire has burned a distance of Ave miles, and is still raging. The wind is blowing a gale. There Is only one tele, graph wire working and that is to the suburbs. The Fire Movlag Soath aa Wabash A venae. Chicago, Oct. 9-10:80 A. M. There Is no water. Tbe Ore Is now going south on Wabash avenue and endangers tbe temporary telegraph office which has been establlsh6d there. The Area af Destraetloa Fear Silica Leag and One Mile Wide? The Water Work* Destroyed* Chicago, Oct. 9? 5 p. M. Tbe awful work of destruction still goes on with relentless fury. From Harrison Btreet in the south to Division street in the north, and from the river to the lake, AN ABSA OF FOUR WILIS long by one mile wide, the flames have swept every thing before them. It Is estimated that at least one hundred thousand people are homeless and In a suffering condition. The streets In the districts still unburned are lined lor miles with such house hold goods as have been saved from destruotlon. Moat 0KNXBOOS OFFERS OF AB8I8TANCB in money, rood or anything wanted, are coming m irom almost every city and town throughout tbe country by telegraph. The Mayor has responded to several offers asking that cooked food ne provided as soon as possible. Firemen were on their way here from Cincinnati, St. Louis and other cities. TUB WATBR WORKS are entirely destroyed. Buildings are now being blown up on the line of the fire, to attempt to ar rest Its progress. The Baslaess Pertlea af the City la Ash? m HVty Thoaaaad People Hoailia The I*eps of Life Caksowi, Chicago, Oct. ft? Noon, v The whole business portion of the elty is In asbeS, from Harrison street north to Chicago avenue and east of the river to Lake avenue. The flre sweeps a district three miles In length to a mile or a mile and a half in width. Every hotel, bank, express office, telegraph offloe, theatre and newspaper offloe, with all tbe wholesale bouses In tbe city, has been totally destroyed. Many thousand dwellings and the water works have been destroyed. Early this morning tbe wind was blowing n per fect gale from the southwest with a sky of brass. None can tell what the ena will be. The only sal vation for the remainder of the city is in the wind keeping the present direction. Fifty thousand people are houseless and most of tbem In a destitute condition. The unburned streets I for mil ob are lined with household goods. No one dare think what the loss of life maybe. The flames swept through the city with the rapidity or a prairie lire and many most have perished. The Western Union Telegraph has succeeded in getting a new wire from a hastily Improvised offlce in tbe southern part of the city, establishing com* monicatton in nearly all directions. Munificent offers of assistance are coming from every quarter. The Hotel** Theatres and Court Hwue Co Half the Popolotioo Esahinf Poole Stricken Throoah tho Street*? Starvation Three ten loa the Hooseleso People. Emoliwood, Twin Milks ntovi Ohicaoo, Oct. ll A. M. The work or devastation continues, icon than one hair of the city Is already destroyed, and the flames continue their ravages almost unopposed. At about one o*olook this morning tho Ore crossed the river at Adams street oridge and soon destroyed the gasworks and then spread itself In every direction. At una boor almost every building, from Harrison Btreet north to the Chicago River, is destroyed, In cluding all the insurance offices, banks, hotels, tele, graph offices, newspaper establishments, with the single exception of the Tribune office, which la fireproof. The Conrt House, Sherman House. Tremont House, Palmer House, New Paciflo Hotel, New Blgeiow Hotel, and, in bet, everything else, are swept olean. This district embraces all the heavy business houses in the city. Tbe rain of Are and orimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah can hardly be compared to tbe devastat ing rain of the fire fiend on Chicago. More than one-half the population are now rush ing through the streets in vehicles, which are ob tained at enormous pripes, or on foot, and In every other way, with the choicest household treasures in their arms and on their backs, in utter oonfuslon, not knowjttg whither to go. Pearfnl suffering must follow, and almost immediately. Folly on* hundred and fifty thousand people are at this moment home less, not knowing where to lay their beads or get anything to satiny the cravings of hunger, The Spread of the Fire Southward Stayed? The Voter Werhs Still lotoet? The Depots aad All Newspaper Offices Destroyed? The Flames Still Ragtag the Northern Di vision? Tli* Fear re I Seeaee la tho Streets? Apprehensions of a Dreodfal Lose e t Life. Chicago, Oct. 9? P. M. it is now believed that tbe spread of the Are southward has been stayed at Harrison street, but ON TBI WORTH S1DI there Is no diminution of tts fury, and the entire division of the city Is evidently doomed to ntter do* strucuon. There are grave fears that tbe flamea may spread to the west side of the north tvaneh of the river, and tbe inhabitants or the streets nearest tbe river are already moving to plaoea, It is sup posed, of greater safety. The Western Union Telegraph Company have now ?1* wires worUM \m? and bpuih. nurnlqg into temporary offloe at M oorner o t state im ?x MMfeMMM. Tie Northwestern Railroad Company are maniac trains on Dot* lie branches, which are croirded wttb fleeing olu sens. It is now positively asserted by some tbat the Water Works are sail intact, bat the water has been shot off from the Booth and West divisions on ac count of the quantity of water osed on the north side. A reliable gentleman jnst armed from the North Division brings the Joyful intelligence tnat TUB WATHR WORKS ABK UNINJCRBD. God grant that it may prove true. It is impoeslbte now to gtve even an approxi mate!/ correct statement of the losses, but a faint idea may be formed when it 19 stated that erery bank la the city, except two small savings institu tions? one on Twenty-second street, In South divi sion, and one on Jtaadelph street, in West division? are destroyed. All wholesale stores, all retail estab lishments, Post OtJBoe, the Conn House, the Chamber of Commerce, every hotel In South Division except Miohlgaa Avenue Hotel, which, standing on the extreme southern limit, escaped, though it is badly soorobed; every newspaper once (the Tribune building, which was supposed to be fireproof, having finally succumbed), every theatre, the six largest elevators, the immense depots of the Michi gan Southern and of the Illtnois Central Railroads (both the nassenger and freight depots of the lat ter), more tban a score of churches and much of tue shipping in the river? all destroyed. BBOOAIWD. l(en who were mllllonnalres yesterday morning are nearly penniless to-day: but more terrible than all is the awful certainty that many human beings bave perished in the flames? how many no one can teiL THI UNKNOWN DUB, Perhaps no one will ever be able to tell; bnt it Is known that some have perished, and there la only a heart-sickening fear that the victims of the fiery monster may be counted by scores. Hundreds of horses and cows have been burned in stables, and on the north side numbers of animals, though released from con finement, were so bewildered and confused by the sea or fire whloh surrounded them that they rushed wildly to and fro. uttering crles.of i right and pain, until Bcorched and killed. the crrr dbstroykd. Any attempt at a description of the scenes of this appalling calamity would be idle. Tbe simple facts that tbe onoe great city of Chicago is destroyed, that hundreds of millions of active capital here have vanished, and that nearly one-third of Chlcago*s in* habitants are houseless dependants are enough. Any attempt to embellish would be a mockery. HOFK8 and PEARS. As this awful day draws to a close, thousands of anxious eyes w^tch the clouds of smoke which still roil over thalburnt distrlot, with evident dread that a sudden change of wmd may turn the flames upon _^hat portion of the city yet spared. There seems, however, little oause for apprehensions, as reinforce ments of fire men from other cities are constantly arriving; AID FOB TBB 8UKFKRER8. Colonel F. J. Wilson, Superintendent of the Tele graph, Is in receipt of despatches from leading cities announcing that aid is being provided for the suf ferers. Colonel Clowry, of St. Louis, telegraphs that $70,000 have been subscribed by the merchants there. Cincinnati promises $200,000 and Cleveland U proportionately generous. Ail this and a great deal more will be needed to relieve me immediate pressing wants. TUB POSTAL panic. Everything is being done by General Stager and his assistants to Keep op communications for the citlaens ana press with the world outside. Colonel George T. Williams, Superintendent at Cincinnati, reported promptly for duty this morning. ?bout three-fourths ol the United States mall was saved and taken possession of by Colonel Wood, of the Post OfQoe service. The Pthtni of the Fire Honthwnrd Stayed by the Btowtsg Up of DalMlnn-Furihcr list of the Birred Building*? Sheridan to the Reorae- The Streets and Districts Boned Over. Chicago, Oot. 9? P. M. i Via Cincinnati, ll P. M. j The following report was telegraphed from Chicago to Cincinnati before the second interruptions or the wires, which was reported an hour ago. The progressing flames in the South division were finally arrested about one o'clock P. M. This was accomplished by the blowing up and demolishing of several buildings on Wabash avenue and Congress street bjr Lieutenant General Sheridan. The dis trict burned over in the South division embraces everything from the main branch of the Chicago river to the lake, and covering about ONB HUKDBKD BLOCKS. This district contained all the leading business houses, the banks, insurance offices, hotels, *c.; also a large number of churches, Including St. Mary's, Trinity, First Presbyterian, Second Presby terian, St. Paul's, Sweden borglan, Ac. The Methodist church on the corner of Wabash avenue and Congress street is saved. The Mlcnl gan Avenue Ilotel on the corner of Michigan avenne and Congress street, and the Congress Hall directly adjoining on congress street, are saved. MICHIGAN TBRRACK, on Michigan avenue, embracing tbe residences of Governor Bros*, Hon. Job n Young Scanmon, 8. C. Griggs. Peter L. Ross ana other leading citizens, is completely destroyed. All the newspaper establish ments are totally wiped out. The Tribune building resisted tbe Are for several hours, but Anally yielded, when Mc Violet's theatre, Immediately adjoining, which also withstood tbe raging element, finally succumbed. In fact all the buildings in the district whloh claimed to be fire-proof shared tbe fate of thoee which could make no such claims. TBI OBI AT CENTRAL DEPOT, at the foot of Lake street, became a heap of rains. About nine o'clock this morning most of the pas senger cars of the Michigan Central, Burlington and ?Jutncy, and Illinois Central Railroad were moved on the breakwater and saved. West of Clara street, In the Southern Division, the fire extended south as far as Poik street, sweeping everything before It. The distance burned over here la some three blocks wide and over half a mile in length, numbering about twenty blocks. The buildings were generally of the cheaper character, embracing saloons, small shops, poor residences, Ac. TBB DISTRICT SCRNED OVER on tbe west side commences at Taylor street, run ning from Dekoven to Jefferson, the fire ran vbence four or five blocks north, ana then moved diagonally towards the river, and finally tne west limit was established on Clinton street, ana reach ing thence to tho river. tt moved in this line ?Mined onto it reaohsd ma northwestern and Wast aide depots, where U stopped, A DI8TANCB or WBABLY two kilbs tim which u started. The Pittsburg, Foc? Wayne Chicago, aad the Chicago St. Louts Railroad depata were in this district, and are destroyed. Al bm* THB BNTIBB NOBTBBRM DIVISION, (Ton the mala branch or the Chicago Hirer to Un coil Para, nearly two miles In length, and one mtte in width, la completely destroyed, including the w&erworks, a large namber of elegant cnurches, Ac. This district embraces almost the entire bosl noa portion or the city. THB BOOTH DIVISION. rhe territory south or Harrison street. In the S?uth Division, reacblag out many miles, and covered almost entirely with dwellings, mostly or tie better class, is untouched, and may now be re* girded as safe (Tom injury. For miles and mllesi in every direction, the side walks, lawns, vacant lots and trout yards or dwell ings are oiled with people who have escaped from burning houses, taking with them only a scanty amount of tarnlture and clothing. The sight is truly a narrowing one. These people must receive immediate relief or many will perish rrom EXPOSURE AND STARVATION. THB LOSS. As stated in my previous despatch, it la utterly Impossible to make an approximate estimate or the entire loss, but it can scarcely rail below ONB HCNDRKD AND FIFTT MILLIONS of dollars. Ot course, but a fraction or this amount can be recovered rrom insurance. GBNBRAL SHERIDAN has to-day telegraphed to St. Louis, to the Missouri depot there, to send at once 100,000 rations. Be has also telegraphed to Omaha for two companies or soldiers and one hundred tents. He will also order another 100,000 rations. MAYOR MASON has Issued a proclamation calling a meeting to-night in the West Division to see what the citizens can do for the teller or the sufferers. There are at least 100,000 people who know not where they can get enough provisions to sattsty their hunger. A later rumor rrom the North Divis ion saya the devastation is less widespread than heretofore reported. I hear of NO DBATHS REPORTED by the disaster as yet, but undoubted]/ many have perished. The Banks In Rilu-Tha Vaults supposed ta be Fireproof? Depression of Real Estate Scenes la the streets. CHICAGO, Oct. 10?12:30 A. If. All the banks in the city, with one exception, are in rains, but It is confidently believed that the vaults, in most cases, are fire proof and will survive the wreck. Every depot is burned except the I Northwestern. The streets are filled with BXCITBD, HURRYING CROWDS, and every avenue is occupied by a caravan of furni ture-laden wagons, moving towards the suburbs. Every sort of vehlole la put In requisition lor every sort of service even hearsea have been purchased, and I have seen one with two babes sitting between parallel rails, a woman on the driver's seat and a tea kettle, frying pan and rocking chair tied upon her back. RBAL B9TATB has declined flltv per cent since yesterday. The question which Is anxiously asked to-day 14, will the Eastern people who believe in Chicago pot tnelr money In her and give THK CITT ANOTHER CHANCE. With feelings of personal depression, there Is a feeling of oonlldenoe in the destiny of the city, and It Is believed that Chicago will, In ten years, recover what she has lost, even without extraordinary help. The Southern Portion of the City Threat* ened? Communication Again Cat Off. ASSOCIATED PRESS OFFICE, 1 Mew York, Oct. o? il;30 A. M. J The telegraph office Improvised in the Bonthern part or Chicago, as it was supposed beyond the reach of the flames, has been abandoned, and com* municatlon with the city is again suspended. It is expected that another office will be opened dnnng the night at a point two miles south of the last place of refuge. The operators, before leaving their instruments, re ported tnat the wind had veered around to the north and was driving the flames back and south ward. The lire had already reached tne neighbor hood of the office, and the men were compelled to flee*. Their last words were:? "There now ap* pears no hope of saving the southern portion of the city." A private despatch from Chicago states that among the heavy dry goods firms burned out are John Farwell A Co., F. M. Hamlin A Co., Field, Letter A Co., and Brown, Hunt A Winslow. The Hartford Inaaraoce Companies and the Cbleaco Fire. Hartford, Conn., Oct. 0, 1871. Tne fire Insurance companies of Hartford have not yet attempted to mane a definite estimate of tbelr losses; but, doubtless, tne sggregate will be several millions. The directors and other officers of all the leading companies vigorously assert their determination to pay every dollar as rapidly as possible, and they have already begnn their ar rangements to that effect. The life insurance com panies have many millions loaned npon real estate security in Uhicago, but as their rule is to require that the land alone shall more than secure the debt, they apprenend no loss. Relief Forwarded from Baltimore. BALTIMORB, Oct 0, 1871. Mayor Banks has called a mass meeting of citizens at noon to-morrow, at the Masoulo Temple, to devise measures for the relief of the Chicago sufferers. Subscription books were opened to-day. at some of the newspaper offices. Mr. C. C. Fulton to-night forwarded to Chicago $1,000, subscribed at the American counter. A large collection was taken up to-night for Chi cago In Bmannei church. The Bishop of Litchfield preached. Hundreds were unable to get into the church. ______ The Inanrance Malt in B|?rin?fieM. SPRINGFIELD, Oct. 0, 1871. The President of the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company authorises the statement that its solvency Is not affected by tne Chicago fire, as its surplus is sufficient to pay all of its risks in that city. FIRE Ifi 8AKDWICH, OAS ADA. Sandwich, Onu, Oct. 9, 1871. A large Are occurred here yesterday consuming thirteen dwellings, three stores and four barns with tbelr contents. Very little was saved. Lost 160,000, with only trtamg insurance. IK All A FOE EUROPE. The steamship SUeaia will leave this port on Tues day for Plymouth and Hamburg. The mails for Europe will close at the Post Office at half-past eleven o'clock A. M. Tan New York Herald Edition for Europe will be reaay at half-part nine o'clock in the morn ing. single copies, in wrappers lot n*"'ng, 9U oeats. CHABBED CHICAGO Slceteh of the Growth of the Garden City. ITS EARLY HISTORY. The Mushroom Municipality That Grew in a Swamp. Commercial Importance and Wealth of the Burned City. Chicago, the Garden City, cue extraordinary social growth to which we Americans have pointed a tnonsand times in pride, seems In a tew Honrs to hare scorched out Its rapid rise in the rapidity or Its almost extlnotlon. Bat fifty hoars ago and Its citizens would have langhed at any dis count on Its greatness, and now, Heaven help us I their stoat hearts are strung not with the brave striving or golden emulation, but with the agony of self-preservation. To men, not so very old, It seems but yesterday that word came to the East of a new city struggling into life among the marshes south of Lake Michigan. Oood-humored 8NRKRINO MKT TBI PHOrnlCSIKS, people tben called tnem dreams, which were sent out of making this swamp the future emporium of the great West. In i860 there were nearly two thousand short of thirty thousand souls, and men only misjudged the future of the republic in doubting the future of Cntcago. The wide lhnds of Wlnconsin and Minnesota were unde veloped, the fat prarles of Illinois wore until led, and the long, rich, rolling prairies or giant lowa were almost untouched by the plough. The great lumber regions or the West were loved of the hunter alono; the heavy thad of the woodman's axe and the fall ing crash or the monarchs of the forest at the bidding or the demands or commerce were only dreamt of by ardent speculators. ClilCAQO WAS OROWIHO, but, save the stories or those Interested in its wel fare and watching Its progress, tnerewas nothing but the story of an Indian massacre rar back In the century which bronght the word Chicago to the mind. When the war or 1812 broke out, Chicago, great Chicago, oenslsted 01 a wooden rort called Dearborn, erected in 1804, "to supply the Indians' wants and control the Indian policy," just as the rorts in the rar Territories are to-day. The Indians, with all toe ferocity or their nature, awakened by the Impassioned rhetoric or the power* rul leader Tecumseh were pitted against the Ameri cans. There were a few friendly Indians, and some of these were aronud TUB DEAR- BORN FORT, wolch was then in possession or sixty or onr sol diers under Captain Heald. Word was sent to him by a friendly Indian from General Hall, then m command of the Northwestern Army, to evacuate the tort and distribute the arms, ammunition and all United Statea property among the rnendly Indians. The Indian messenger arrived on the 7th or August and urged the captain to comply with the orders without a moment's notice, before the powerful Pottawatomles would have time to harass him onjalsjeuoat He neglected tins for Yve days. When lie did make the proposal to the Indiana they accepted bin offer that they should escort him to Fort Wavne, but he repented -of this and destroyed all the arms, except such as were actually necessary. The Indians declared they had been betrayed, and refused to be bound by their contract. Accordingly, when Captain Heaid, in spite of Hits warning, marched forth on tne lath of August, the Indians who, to the number of 500 warriors, escorted them, suddenly left too road and poured a volley Into their flame, a tight eusued, In which thirty -three soldiers were cut to pieces, the remaining twenty-seven yielding them selves prisoners. The women and children were butchered and the fort PLUNDERED AND BOR.VKD. Such was the sad reminiscence or border warrare which the rising Garden City gradually effaced In prodortion to its swelling importance. As tne West rose wonderfully into life so with Chicago. As it became the emporium of tho rich products or tne Tropics, the cereals or the temperate zone and tne timber ami otner valuable commodities or the colder region of America, the immigrant from older Europe and the oltisen ot the eastern states MINGLED IN HUB TH MOBBING BURT. The coal fleids were developed and added a new impetus to her life. The pineries of Michigan and Wisconsin were sending their Intnber to ner doors. As flue a grain land as the globe can boast was burning Into gold around ner. Hides and tallow were becoming staples of her commerce, snd in beef and pork sho was rivalling the Porkopolis of the Union. She had gathered around her an army of ardent spirits, whose desires or success were on a par with her prospects, and tuo advance of Chicago became a triumphal march. staid old St. Louis, on the Father of Waters, looked on with something of ama2einent at the spick-and-span dash ot her flourishing younsr neighbor. Following the capacities of young Chicago came FACILITIES Of COMMUNICATION. The iron ways spread around her itko a net, connect ing her witn Montreal, Quebec and Portland on the northeast; New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Cincin nati and all the great points on the east; with Chaneston and Savannah on the southeast, and Moolle and New Orleans on the south. Canals were dug that water might carry what steam would not. Never was such a luusiiroom city seen, or the fabulous fortunes which were made in the ad vance of PRICK IN RIAL ESTAT* alone it were impossible to tell in a day. Land farmed or swamp neglected as waste within flfteen years of the present date appreciated so marvel lously in value that It was Itttle wonuer it overshot the mark three or rour years ago and has fluctuated ever Since. Fort Dearborn, which was rebuilt in 1816. was pulled down lu 1857. It stood in what is now tne very heart or the city? at the junction of Michigan avenue with Lake street? and again its site has been licked with the lorked towrue of the fiery element which left its first structure a heap of ashes. In 1*33 the town was first worthy of that name. IN 1837 IT WAS GRANTED A CHARTER. The first vessel unloaded at Its wharf June 11, 1834, and in 18-17 its population outside of hogs, de moralised Indians and dogs was 4,170. lu 1833 there were thirty-five houses, mostly log huts. To give some idea of itshuman advance it is only neces sary to know that in 1*43 it numbered 7,860 souls, in 184 j It was 16.85W, in I860 It tola! led as, 268, in 1855 It counted 80,023; in I860 it rose to 109,263; in 1x65 it embraced 178, 53?, and the census or 1870 allows to the city prober 2w9,370, while including its suburbs It rooted up AT LEAST TUB KB HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND SOULS. All the world cried, "Woil done Chicago," and wherever enterprise, vigor and push wereooupied with success, Chicago had its lull share or glory. Like all Western cities, it was built at ilrst principally ot wood, and indeed Its cotnpar tive cheapness, coupled with the smrcity and dear ness of other building material, made this a neces sity. Built originally in the midst of swampland, it was subject to the periodical overflow irom the nsiug ot the waters of l^ake Michigan, and tne re suit was that much valuable property was thus annually destroyed, Belsdes, its drainage was detective, owing to the low level of the greater part of the land on which the city wu built, in 1x55 this led the City Fathers to take a bold step, and the prooer authorities uavlng been gained, it was ordered that THE ENTIRE CITT BE RAISED, bouses and all, to iroui three to eight and In some cases to Qfleen feet above its then level. The diffi culty of this feat and tbe maimer in which it wss surmounted Is a standing boast among the worthy citlzeus or the lated town, in the outlying dis tricts, where the streets and avenues have not been raised to tbe required level, it is common to see tbe sills o the doors or the houses built here and there along the route raised ten or twelve feet above the pathway, with a wooden stair on eiteer sloe leading to a platform along the front or the store or domicue, as the case may be. This peculiarity and the wooden piles on wuich most or tne build ings were raised help to make the already coinous tlbie material of the town a reauy prey to the de vouring element. It -esmed as if SHRINKING FRO* DEATH ST WATER, it had rushed Into the arms of death by name. The site of the city is a neatly inclined plane, running back for three miles from the lake, and only reach ing an elevation above the lake of from mteeu to elgnteen feet in all tbat extent. Behind it runs through a dilution into pure "country" into the limitless fiat prairie. In length along the lake it extends tor nearly ten miles, and over an that ex. tent is even on the suborns thickly built upon. It is DITID1D INTO TURKS PARTS? tbe North, South aud West? by the Chicago River and Us branches, north and south. South Chicago, the district most terribly visited by tbe fire, lies between the Chicago River, '-he south branch and the lake, and comprises the entire business portion. TBI VERY HEART OP THE CITT. from which its commercial lifeMood flowed, and where its social amenities centred. The Court House, the great hotels, banks, theatres and news paper offices are here. Bute street, the main street or tbe city, was one to be remembered when onee seen, with its great pQes of i I atone, marble auu iron natiac their prww beads above Mi stately width and crowded with Ih* worth, vtt, fashion ui wealth or ik West ?a m wide footways. while the wagons or owmhi ma Mad along tm ptvemeet. Booth OUafc in. trial also In Ka commercial epal*aea was a magnificent sight br night, with its gnat length M dt mrrlad gas uunoa. Dear Horn street waa another. had La Sule street. ending in the Mlehlcaa aaa Southern Railway depot. South Wei* street, mm, waa a grand avenue of trade, aad over along On Lake, where Michigan and wabash avenue ran la t Are miles, ware gathered the taatefut honaea and VILLA* Or TBI "B OUt MB*." or the Oardeo City. Thaaa avennea form a ?aMgh?> ful drive, and were naocn rreqnented by the ciuaena when Tree from their go-ahead loll. To tae eaatofl Central avenue, into which Michigan a venae atood.a few honia ago pernapa TUB LAM4BST UlLBOiS DSTOV on the continent, that of the Iiltnota trai and Michigan central Railroad*. On the lake aide of the square which thla for? and I along the mouth uf tlic Chicago Kiver are moat ot the tall grain elevators, which are or^H each a leature in the city. Their I owl, together the grain they contained, win he very ?aroaal^H the Chicago River, on Water atreat andHB^H the houses or the commission broken, where of the transfer toiHinena of the city la carried Tlie north and west aides near the rlvera are pied by the ?ARIOTTS M ANCr ACTITINO I NT mum Incidental to the features of its trade, such a a HW and planing mlila, pork packing, Ac. Tho re mainder of the cuy, with certain exceptions, aervea aa dwellings for the people and auch businesses as da* ineatlc wants require. To picture all thla wonderful, brilliant, powerful city of yesterday, with lta finan cial, commercial, social and domestic roots atretoheW oat to the remote quarters or the earth, lta quotations and opinions among onraeivea, ita pMcea of grains, hides aud lumber in Europe, ita traaa connections reaching through San Francisco TO CHINA AND JAPAN. and Its personal family ties everywhere, practical!? killed a maddened pauper before the world, laatok enlng to contemplate* It Is a andly ironraal cm meniary on the old emigration aong, which ma, J Brink four foully oat West If kimxI hialtb you would aajoy, Crow over lMioo's (try To Ilia sute or iuiiw. The Prlnetwnl Bwlldlnse PeaWi. Among the bmidings known to be destroyed Car particulars of which holocausts oar news trnlmai l must be read? Is TBI COURT BOCBB, a not very Imposing, but solid structure, of Lectpoig limestone, which standa in the most central squara In the city. It was built in 1856, but since that date it bas had two wings added to It, for, like tfMh city, it needed expansion. This dld*not much Mh? prove its appearance, but It was thought sate treat the ravages of the lire fiend, Pacing the Coast I House stood the sumptously fitted SBBBKAN H0U8B, one or the principal hotels or the city, built ?t Athens marble, and coating $400,000, THB WBSTBBN UNION TBLKORAPU building, two blocks away, waa another of tag doomed edifloes. CROSBY'S OFIBA HOU8B, a finely constructed and costly theatre, on ITaanii^ ton, between State and Dearborn, having a fTimtaga of 140 feet ana running back 179 reet. It pie tod in 1866, at a cost of $450, 000. M' VICAR'S TBBATRB, on Madison, between State and Dearborn. a very imposing edifice, but wUl hold a aea^^^^l remembrance of those who have wuneaai^^^^l plays well played within Its walls. TKKMONT HOUBS, I a large, first class hotel, stands at the corners* Washington and JUearborn streets, and was patroa ized by toe aristocratic circles or the West. I FABBWBLL BALL, one or the largest and moat famous lecture aatt [meeting halls in the country, which will eaaUy seat I SBooo persons, stands on Madison street, between I ?lark end La saiie. I TBB CBAMBBR OP COBKBBOB built of Athens marble, in the modern style, at the oorner or Washington and a beautiful building. In thla is the Board Bail, sumptuously furnished, brtUlaatly lighted mm artistically frescoed, lta loss will he a team, astt was among tiw most flnished speobaens ofirchtteo* tore ta the West. Ct'STOtf AND POST OmCI, on Monroe, corner or Dearborn, was she a flag hniidlng, built of Athens marble. TUB UNION DKFOT, though not handsome, was a solid bonding; and ha the light of its usefulness will be a hindrance to tha resumption of business. iern Italia* La sate, la rd of Train TBI CITY WATEB WOBKfl, I wliinh are probably destroyed, stand at the landen I I meted December, Man. Tue dept of the shore saaft I I is 69 feet, and of tbe lake shaft 04 feet; tbe wtme I I length of the tonael Is l miles. The lake teiflM| I of tlie tunnel, known as Crlli, should be^^H I visited, it is composed of timber securely bou^H I together, ami is fortr feet long, ana pentagonal I form. Upward of uno.ooo feet of timber, 2,000 oolt^H I ana 400 Dales of oakum, costing nearly $MNM?W I were used in its construction. Upon the top of iU? I structure a permanent light house, and the dwelling of the keeper, have been erected. The tunnel is tumtm circular In form, being 5 feet 3 inches In height S feet wide. It is enclosed in brick masonry 8 immv t tliick. Tbe actual excavation was about T feet, requiring tbe removal of lio,ooo cubic yards or earth, principally ctay^ About rour million bricks were ueed tat tho construction of the tunnel. The bot tom of tlie lake shait is sixty -six feet below the ordt? nary level or the lake, aud the bottom surface of UM tunnel descends westward to the shore shaft at tha rate of two feet per mile. The contract prtoe tor tie work was S-11M80. but the whole cost. Inclusive at the ltghtbonse ami Improvements to the n rim silt works, will probably reach $1,000,000. A Heavy Luir. At the Academy of Music last night daring tha entr'actes might oe observed Mr. Crosby, proprletSS of the Opera nonse, Chicago, surrounded by syapa* thizing irlends, bimseir apparently the least morMt of all. tet, even with his calm exterior, one might observe occasionally signs of tho distress or mind tbat preyed upon him. lie said that he had mad* every exertion and spared no expense to have his opera bouse the handsomest sa? tablishment of tbe kind in Ametloa da*? ing the coming season of opera. Thousaada of dollars were spent upon the renovation awt adorn men t of this magnltfcent temple of art, aaA It was to have been formally opened last night by I ilicoilore Thomas' fuil orchestra ami Miss 8Mb Krebs, the pianist. It was engaged for every week, commencing with the present one. right to tho est of the season. The loss t* aimout irreparable to travelling concert and opera troops this winter. A.? The (imsss Aaarlnw Bask, J Broadway, New Fork, October t, I8T1. -This Bank Mil celre any and a' I amount*, large or small, for tbe ine sulTerera by thr Ore In Cbleaco, which shall be tor warded and faithfully applied. O. B.BCHBP.MKR, A*? Herring's Pateat CHAMPION SAFES, ?Jil a road war, oorasr Vnrraf A.? I'bulon'n New PtrfsMa*, "1 LOVE TOU" and "WH1TK BOB 8.* A Chance for Worlcinsr Mw.? Is Ortoja enable tbe rn*>>:henfcal and Industrial classes immfnse anow at West flushing the maaaaer^^^^^^^H tbe price of admission to 50 cents children, A.? The Beet In the Marltet.~U Tss Wsi an Megant, fashionable silk dress HAT CO direct tot manufacturer, E8PENSCHEID, 118 Nassau street. Price I A Lsxsrlsst llrsd mf tlalr ss4 a CmL Ohea scalp are very desirable. CRISTADOBO*8 HA1B PI8 8BRVATIVE win acoompltsh both. Try It A* Water Ouesehes VlK, eo Wswly WW WATTS' NKRVOtJrf ANTIDOTE cure all pala, SSBSS and debllttr. __________________ Aa Eleyant Aaeertmeat mf Lsii?s> Drew Trimmings. Entirely new patterns win be opeaed this Nnar si(. riti end pirn, m iwrnwy. Bafchelar'a Hair Rrs-The world the only perfect dye harmless, reliable, I At all druggists. Cneper*e Maetard Parer Ceevssleeti cleanly anil efficient. Kor sale by all drattaats. Dlnainadn Bou?bt and Maid. OEO. C. ALLEN, Ml Broadway, near Fouftssnth Sua Pall s*ylee Veatleasea'e Preea Hata at popular prloes. BuRKE, 210 Broadway,. corner I Jttsf RfrH??l-As lavalee Jourln h Co's Kid Ulores, two, threes nd PBIEM Hall's Vegetable Mirlltaa Hair Ks an excellent dressing and tonic Qt>r the hair and hair grow thick. "Plkr'n Taarhnrhe l)ron" Car# la Oae I ate. -HILL'S 1IA1B DYE, blsck or brown, oaly fSesa Koval Havaaa Leturry.-TIs Hlaheat paid for Doubloons, ail kintfs of Oold sad fit nr. TAYLOR A CO., Han best and cheapest drat ola?? machine* in tbe wrtl; arts* from (tf to $100 sasy payments. Salesroom 7* ?ililis| The Pall Htylea ta -llh t Hate are iHarvela beautf. K NOX. ihe rtAeran HATTBB, corner of OlMdVSa and Vniloo r and quality and vmion g baajhem in all the parfeeUea aUSpfcjP Call aad examine them before hoy lag am*. Traanra, Kla(?tlc Mtaeklaaw, HE wider In Abdominal itupportef*. Ac., Ac. Dr. OLOVBB, W street, adiomiag Herald oiBoa M