1858, August 20th, Disastrous Fire on South Clark Street, Chicago. $25,000 Loss!

The № 1, Long John Steamer, was put into service in Chicago in 1858. It was the first steam fire engine in the city, and it helped to revolutionize the way that fires were fought. It was a 40-foot long, 14-foot high, and 8-foot wide vehicle. It weighed 10 tons and was powered by a 100-horsepower steam engine. The Long John could pump 500 gallons of water per minute.

At about 3½ o'clock Saturday morning, a fire broke out in the rear part of a wooden structure № 244 South Clark Street, occupied as a bakery establishment by Louis Grossman. The flames spread rapidly in all directions, the wooden building being closely adjoining on all sides, and the conflagration only stayed after extending northward to the corner of Van Buren Street and south to the alley.

The following buildings were consumed: South of the bakery, Johnson's saloon and Rees' paint shop, ad north, Bonn's saloon and the long wooden block extending to van Buren Street.

The losses, as near as we can ascertain them, are as follows: № 298. paint shop of James C Rees, loss $200; no insurance. The building was owned by Osborn & Newhall, and was worth about $1,500. It was insured.

№ 296, a small saloon occupied by G. Johnson, loss $300. The building was owned by a widow lady living on the West Side, and was worth, probably, about $500.

№ 294, Louis Grossman's bakery and a stable in the rear. Loss $800; insured for $500. The building wqas owned by J.Busch, and was values at $1,500; insured for $800.

№ 292, a two-story building, occupied below by A. Bonn as a lager b eer saloon, and above by his family. Bonn's loss is about $300. The building was owned by Michael M. Gellan, and valued at $1,500; insured for $800 by the Merchant's insurance company.

The next building was the long block, № 282 to 290 inclusive, extending to Van Buren Street. It was owned by Boone & Larmon, and valued at $10,000, with an insurance of $7,000. The upper floor was occupied entirely by families, the lower part as follows: № 282, Mrs Pinkerton's millinery establichment. The stock was all saved. № 284 and 286, vacant. № 288, Beishoff's furniture store; stock mostly removed. № 290, A. Alexander's ice cream saloon, loss of $500; insured for $300 at Merchant's Insurance i Philadelphia. № 290½, P. Power's seconf hand clothing and furniture store, loss $500; No Insurance.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.