THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE.

Chicago, Tuesday, noon, Oct. 9. NEAELY the entire city of Chicago is in flames. It is reported that 7000 or 8000 lives have been lost. The fire is still raging and the wind blowing a hurricauo. Tlio nonresfc wo can get to the city is our office at the stock j'ards, three or four inilea out of the city.

Chicago, Oct. 9.

The whole business portion of the city is in ashes, from Harrison-street north to Chicago avenue, and east of tlio river to the lake.

Tho area of the fire is three mile 3in length to a mile or a mile and a half in width.

Every hotel, bank, express office, telegraph office, with all the wholesale houses in the city, are totally destroyed.

Many thousand dwellings and the Waterworks were destroyed.

Early this morning the wind was blowing a perfect gale from the south-west, with sky of brass. No Olio can toll what the cud will be. The only salvation for the remainder of tho city is with the wind keeping its present direction.

Mauy thousands of people are homeless, and most of them in a destitute condition. The unburned streets for miles are lined with household goods. No one dares to think what the loss of life may be. The flames swept through the city with the rapidity of a prairie fire, and many must have perished.

The Western Union Telegraph Company has succeeded in getting up a few wires from a hastily improvised office in the southern part of the city, establishing communication iv nearly all directions.

Munificent offers of assistance are coming from every quarter.

Everything embraced in the district from Halsted street on the west to Harrison on the south, sfci'aight north to Lincoln Park, and into the woods beyond, is in ashes. Only one building is left standing, the Post oflbo, and that is completely gutted. One huncUod thousand men, women, aud children are hom-jless aud without food.

A lot of prisoners confined in the old jail were burned to death.

The following private despatch was received in answer to inquiries from this city :

Chicago, October 9.—2.30 p. m,

J. V. Far well and Go.'a block, and iv fact everything from Twelfth-street north, and Canal-street, west side, to Lake is burned. All the city banks and and business part of the city gone. In fact, Chicago is all gone, except a small portion of the west side. The firo is now two miles north of the river on tho north side, and is burning again with intense fury. The firemen are exhausted. The loss exceeds 500,000,000 (?)

Engines have arrived from Milwaukee, and are constantly arriving from points within 300 miles.

The highest estimate of the loss of life is 100 ; the lowest, 50.

A great many persons jumped into the river to escape tho flames, only to drown. Hundreds of animals perished in stables and in tho streets. It is estimated that 100,000 people are homeless, a large number of whom are destitute of everything. Cooked foodis in great need, and all townshave been requested to forward provisions and clothing for the hungry and nearly naked women and children, as eai'ly as possible. Nearly every city and town east of here has responded to this demand, and it hoped that the west will not be backward.

It is now believed the spread of the iire southward is stayed at Harrison-street, but on the north side it still rages, and that entire division of the city seems to have been utterly destroyed. It is feared that the west side of the North Branch river also will be burned.

It is now ascertained that tho Waterworks are not destroyed, and there is great joy.

The simple facts that the great city of Chicago is destroyed, that hundreds of millions of active capital have been ruined, and that nearly one-third of the inhabitants are homeless, are enough. Auy attempt to embellish would be but mockery. As this awful day draws to a close thousands with anxious eyes wa'cii the dense clouds of smoke which still roll over the burnt district with evident fear that a sudden change of wind may fan the flames. There is, however, little cause for apprehension, and reinforcements of firemen from other cities aro constantly arriving.

Chicago, October 9,

The progress of the flames in the South Division was finally arrested about ono o'clock p.m. This was accomplished by the blowing up and demolishing of several buildings on Wabash Avenue and Congressstreet by Lieutenant-General Sheridan. The district burned over iv the South Division embraces everything from the main branch of the Chicago River to the lake, including about one hundred blocks. This district contained all the leading business houses, the banks, insurance offices, hotels, and a large number of churches, including St. Mary's Catholic church, the Trinity, First Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian, St. Paul, Swedenborgian, &o.

All the newspaper establishments are completely wiped out. All the buildings in the district, which claimed to be fire-proof, shared the fate of those who could make no such claims.

Tho Great Central Eailroad depot, at the'jfoot of Lake street, became a heap of ruins about nine o'clock.

Most of the passenger cars of the Michigan Central, Burlington and Quincy aud Illinois Central railroads were moved on the breakwater and saved.

West of Clark-street, in the South Division, the fire extended south as far as Polls-street, sweeping everything before it. The distance burned over here is 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, etc. The district burned over on the West side commences at Taylor street, running from De-Kovan to Jefferson. It ran thence four or five blocks north, and then moved diagonally towards the river, and finally the west line was established on Clinton street, and reaching thence to the river. It moved in this line northward until it reached the Northwestern West Side depots, where it stopped a distance of nearly two miles from where it started. The Pittsburg, For! W^yue and Chioago, aad Central and St. Louis, depots.

were in this territory. Both passenger and freight depots are wiped out. Almost the entire Northern Division, from the main branch of the Chicago Eiver to Lincoln Park, nearly two miles in length and one mile wide, is completely destroyed. For miles and miles, in every direction, the sidewalks, lawns, vacant lots and front yards of dwellings are filled with people who have escaped from their burning dwellings taking with them only a scanty amount of their furniture, and clothing. The sight is truly pitiful and harrowing. They must receive immediate relief or many will perish from exposure and starvation.

Of course, it is utterly impossible to make an approximate estimate of the entire loss, but it can scarcely fall below one hundred and fifty millions of dollars. But a fraction of this amount can be realized from the insurance.

Cincinnati, October 9th,

The great fire in Chicago monopolises all attention. Business is totally suspended. The newspaper bulletins kesp people advised of the progress of the flames. The extras by the morning papers are eagerly caught up. The great calamity moves every heart.

The citizens meeting called at the Chamber of Commerce was largely attended. Mayor Davis presided. The Chamber of Commerce gave $5000; many of the leading firms gave §1000 each. At 12 o'clock $25,000 had been subscribed. Liberal subsubscriptions are made all over the mines.

At half-past ten Mayor Davis sent by special train three steam fire engines and all the hose at the command of the the city, together with the men necessary to man them

CeEioago, October 10th,

The railroads east and south are sending no trains out this forenoon, as all the cars in the city stopping over Sunday are consumed. The incoming trains are all behind time, owing to the fires raging in the woods and praries.

The mails at the Post-office being consumed, of course all the accumulation of mail matters for the day's delivery have been consumed.

The Water and Gas Works are both destroyed. All bridges across the Chicago river, from Van Buren street to the Lake, have been burned, and the only moans of getting from one division to another is by the tunnels, the entrances to which are badly blocked

No papersvhave been or will be issued down town to-day. The Sun office is the only one which has escaped conflagration.

The banks have all been destroyed, except the First National, and the upper part of that is gutted. The vaults, however, are intact.

Hotels in the district from Van Buren street to the River, and from the River to the Lake, are all destroyed, aud the guests have sought refuge in hotels in other parts of the city

Chicago, October 10,

This morning, after the excitement had somewhat subsided, the universal questions were: What is to be done ? Will it ever be rebuilt ? Are the insurance companies solvent ? Will the banks resume payment ? The answers, so far, are unsatisfactory. Then the principals themselves do not know anything. The Post-office has been temporarily re-established at Burlington crossing, at State-street. The Board of Trade have a room on the West Side j and.rents are enormous and provisions fearfully scarce. Ninetenths of the valuation of Chicago has been swept away in one short day. Two hundred blocks of the finest portion of the city are destroyed. General Sheridan assumed command in the exigency yesterday, and stopped the fire by the use of gunpowder. It is certain that powder stopped the spread of the fire on the South Side. The Union National Bank was blown up early yesterday with three millions of money in its vaults. Many other buildings were blown up, but it was of no avail. At Harrison-street, where the fire was stopped, the buildings were all blown up for two blocks wide on the direct path of the flames. It is impossible to give any idea of the terrible destruction. Seveuty vessels were burned. The sidewalks are full of houseless people, and was the bed for thousands last night.

A great many persona jumped into the river to escapo the flames, only to drown. Hundreds of animals perished in Btables and streets. It is estimated that 100,000 people are homeless, a large proportion of whom are destitute of everything. Cooked food is in great need, and all tov/ns that can are requested to forward provisions and clothing for the hungry and nearly naked women and children, as early as possible.

Four men were caught setting fire to buildings on the West Side, and were immediately hung on the spot by the enraged populace this morning.

The total loss of property by this most terrible firo, is roughly estimated at one hundred and twenty-five millions of dollars. Insurance companies will suffer severely and some may be ruined. The amount for which the San Francisco companies are liable, is stated at about $4,850,000, while New York and other cities are heavily interested. Relief measures have been promptly taken iv all the principal cities of the Union, and largo amounts of money, clothing and stores would bo forwarded for the sufferers. Banking houses in London, sent £5000 for relief. Chicago, October 10, 3.10 p.m.

Word is just brought that a fierce firo"is raging on Thirty-first street. This street is two miles south of the southern firo limit, on the south side, and a little less distance from its limit on the west side.

This has been set on fire for the purpose evidently of destroying the remaining part of the city, occupied by wealthy residents.

It is also known that two men caught in the act of firing buildings have been shot, and two others led off with ropes round their necks.

As the wind is blowing a perfect gale, the end now cannot be foretold.