When  the  doubt  of  her  calamity  was  removed,  and  the  horrid  fact
was  accepted,  there  went  a  shudder  over  all  cities,  and  a  quiver  over  all
lands.  There  was  scarcely  a  town  in  the  civilized  world  that  did  not
shake  on  the  brink  of  this  opening  chasm.  The  flames  of  our  homes  red-
dened all  skies.  The  city  was  set  upon  a  hill,  and  could  not  be  hid.  All
eyes  were  turned  upon  it.  To  have  struggled  and  suffered  amid  the
scenes  of  its  fall  is  as  distinguishing  as  to  have  fought  at  Thermopylae,  or
Salamis,  or  Hastings,  or  Waterloo,  or  Bunker  Hill.
Its  calamity  amazed  the  world,  because  it  was  felt  to  be  the  commoa
property  of  mankind.
The  early  history  of  the  city  is  full  of  interest,  just  as  the  early  his-
tory of  such  a  man  as  Washington  or  Lincoln  becomes  public  property,
and  is  cherished  by  every  patriot.
Starting  with  560  acres  in  1833,  it  embraced  and  occupied  28,000
acres  in  1869,  and,  having  now  a  population  of  more  than  500,000,  it  com-
mands general  attention.
The  first  settler — Jean  Baptiste  Pointe  au  Sable,  a  mulatto  from  the
West  Indies — came  and  began  trade  with  the  Indians  in  1796.  John
Kinzie  became  his  successor  in  1804,  in  which  year  Fort  Dearborn  was
erected.
