Incendie

1871 · 38735 — Chicago 1871. Broadside newspaper extra printed recto only approx. 12 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. With a matted period hand colored map of Chicago by Rufus Blanchard showing the burnt district. Incredible broadside newspaper extra printed during the Chicago fire.<br/> <br/>This very rare newspaper extra -- believed to be the only newspaper published in Chicago on that day -- was printed sometime during the afternoon or early evening of Monday October 9. The fire had begun the night prior at approximately 9pm which was according to the paper "caused by a cow kicking over a lamp in a stable in which a woman i.e. Mrs. O'Leary was milking." This unsubstantiated myth blaming a poor Irish Catholic immigrant would persist for decades. The newspaper gives an account of the areas under flame detailing many of the buildings already destroyed including the City Water Works the Armory Gas Works Post Offices newspaper offices court houses breweries churches and more: "The scene of ruin and devastation is beyond power of words to describe. Never in the history of the world has such a scene extended terrible and complete destruction by conflagration been recorded; and never has a more frightful scene of panic distress and horror been witnessed among a helpless sorrowing suffering population." The damage to the city would prove extraordinary: the fire killed approximately 300 people burned roughly 3.3 square miles of the central portion of the city destroyed over 17000 buildings and left more than 100000 residents homeless about one third of the population. The final paragraph of the extra notes the exigencies caused by the fire of printing the paper on a borrowed press: "We are under great obligation to the Interior Printing Company 15 and 18 Canal street for accomodations by which are are enabled to issue this extra." OCLC cites but three extant examples Newberry Library i.e. the Graff copy Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Knox College; an additional example is located at the Chicago History Museum.<br/> <br/>Graff 1271. unknown books