Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1903 — INDIANS AND “A BIG FIRE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANS AND “A BIG FIRE.

To Be Among the Spectacular Pant* urea of Chicago's Centennial. A replica of the great fire of 1871, which swept over nearly all of the business district and a large part of the residence section and left a trail of ruin and desolation in its trail, is to be one of the sensational features of Chicago’s centennial jubilee week celebration this fall. The spectacle, which will far surpass any like production ever witnessed except in realism, will be called “The Burning of Chicago.” One thousand tons of Roman fire will be put on the roofs of aii the skyscrapers of the city, and many other building?, ns well, in the various divisions of the city, until the area covered by the fire is represented. The red fire will be ignited simultaneously and it will burn for two hours. From the O’Leary home in DeKoven street, where the fire etarted, a long flight of bombs will memorialize the famous cow which kicked over the lamp which ignited the straw which communicated to the building Which spread the fire all over the town. Extensive plans are being made for the celebration, and during the week the city will be in gala attire and businees generally suspended. There will be at least two full holidays, on one of which there will be a big military and civic parade. Another of the special features now being worked out is an Indian village and a reproduction of the old Fort Dearborn, including the famous attack on the fort by Indians, the flight of the handful of men and women and children under the escort of Indians supposed to be friendly and the consequent massacre on the lake front Old and wealthy Chicagoans will take part In this extravaganza. The celebration will take the place of the regular fall festival. Arrangements are now being made with the railroads for reduced fares, and the week will be the most spectacular in the city’s history since the World’s Fair. Many of the statues and arches used in the street decorations will be permanently located in the parks and other prominent places when the celebration is ended.