1854, February 25th, The Eagle Hotel Fire, Chicago.

The alarm of a fire about 4 o'clock on Saturday morning was caused by the burning of the Eagle Hotel, a three-story frame building. on State Street between Taylor and Polk Streets. A barn immediately adjoining was also destroyed. The two buildings were owned by Mr. John Raber, and occupied by H.A. Caswell, as a Dutch boarding house. The hotel was insured for $800 ($29,000 today) and $250 ($9,000 today) on the barn. The furniture was mostly saved, though in a damaged state. A two-story frame building adjoining on the south, and used for a grocery, was considerably burned about the roof.

The fire caught from the chimney in the kitchen and was first discovered by a watchman, who aroused the guests. But for the difficulty in getting water, the fire might have been stopped. As was the case at the burning of a dwelling in the North Division last Tuesday morning, the hydrant proved entirely useless, and the firemen were obliged to obtain water from other sources. Unless the hydrants can be of some service in cases of fire, they may as well be removed for all the good they have shown themselves capable of doing thus far.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.