Sunshine & Shadows written by Evangeline H. Wright (d. 1960 at 92 yrs 8mo 18 days.) CHAPTER THREE Fire, fire, fire, Nathan heard over the telegraph wires. Coming home as fast as his team could bring him, he jumped out of the wagon, running into the house calling. "Fire, fire, the whole city of Chicago is on fire." Jacob said, "How does thee know Nathan?" It came over telegraph wires from Chicago while I was in town. Jacob counted the days from the shipment of their goods in the chartered car. "Yes, Mother, it will get our goods. Mother Cook said, "Goodness, Jacob, don't cross the bridge before thee gets to it." But Jacob felt he was right. He sat down in a mute spirit. The following day Nathan brought in the mail. "Here, Jacob, thee has a letter from Chicago." It was as follows: Oct. 7-71 Our Dear Mr Cook: We, your respective police Bill and Bob most assuredly hate to relate your chartered car of goods came into Chicago during the hottest part of our recent fire. The rush of thousands of people running here and there to save their lives was like cattle before a tornado with loss of presence of minds. Your care of household goods was burned to the ground. We did all in our power to save it but to no avail. We regret to have to relate this -- Bad news. Your friendly police, Bill and Bob. Father Cook laments over this loss. "Oh, why did this befall us?" Now, he cries out, "Anna Jane, we are lost, ruined. Don't thee care?" Mother answered, "Yes, Jacob, I surely do care. "Our money, clothes, bedding were gone. Why did it come to us?" A dark picture to those around him like unto that of old Job. None spoke, but sat with sad faces. He looked up, saying, "Mother, don't thee care a whit?" She said, "Yes, Jacob, I care very much. But I see a picture, I hear screams, and see helpless babies and children being trampled to death under the foot of men. Souls are crying to God for mercy. Wealthy people through whom the city of Chicago had been built burned to death. Hundreds that are left--and what have they left? "We are here in they Father's house, safe and well and I am sure he will not put us out until other arrangements can be made. "Fire, fire, fire comes again over the telegraph wires -- the the whole city of Chicago is on fire. Just in a few years she had grown to be a mammoth city. Wealthy people from foreign countries heard of the great promising America's merits of enterprise and came with their money. She promised to be and now is one of the greatest shipping points of America. She is great with her water courses, great railway system, and enterprises of all kinds. Unless it is her sister Boston, Mass. there are few that could outshine her. In Chicago, a light sprang up in the southwest portion with a strong wind that always happens in a fire. Many strange things took place the evening of Oct 7, 1871 with the excited people of Chicago trying to escape the fire to save their lives. An old Irish lady was found carrying a sewing machine to safety while her house was burning to the ground. A strange man seeing her rushed to her saying, "My Madam, if you wish to live, save your life. You have no time to waste trying to carry that burden." She hotly replied, "Sir, and what is the use to escape without it, sir? It is the only way I have to make my living." He lifted the machine to his shoulders, saying, "Come quick, this way." Through fire, smoke, heat, water, steam, he took her to safety at lake side. When he set the machine down she said, "Oh, sir, how will I ever pay you for your kindness?" He replied, "Madam, I have no time for words -- just take care of yourself." People from all directions came running for the Washington Street tunnel -- a vast throng of humanity running for their lives. Children were calling, "Mamma, mamma, where are you?" "Oh mamma, I can't find you." Mothers with small infants in their arms were running they knew not where but must save their lives if possible. Some were carrying all kinds of furniture rushing both ways at the same time -- hither and thither a surging mass of people with the cry of children being trampled to death. What could be more heart breaking than this? There seemed no stop. The heat was so intense. People were rushing through the Washington tunnel street both ways at the same time -- rushing, crowding, pushing both ways. Then a voice of consternation's rang through the tunnel, "Keep to your right, our lights are out." A wail of despair went through the tunnel. The voice called again, "Keep to your right." Two living streams of humanity with a tramp, tramp only to meet worse conditions than they had already gone through. What a hot seething heat, a sea of burning fire. Fire with no escape unless they could reach the lake shore out in the water to wade or in boats. This was the wonderful city of our Chicago of 1871 fire. The Cook family passed through just a few days back -- Oct 7, 1871. I was there. Father Cook gave up his loss as it was no worse than the rest of the sufferers. The city of Chicago was like unto that of Sodam and Gomorra in ashes with the screams of babies, children, and people crying out against the sou's distress with none to help. :) Anita ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anita (nee: Merlo) Gauld Anita_Gauld@Hotmail.Com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have over 20,000 individuals in my database. Willing to do quick look-ups. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracing surnames: Bellisario..Berardo..Blake..Bonner Carpenter..Chromie..Cook..Cucco..Cunningham..Dey..Eovaldi..Gauld Gianella..Gnoli..Loomis..Marek..Marlow..Merlo..Mitrovich.. 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