BOTANICAL. INDEX, 
:i7 
boat intending to cross the lake to their former home, Saint Joseph, Michigan. Mrs. 
Kinzie and party returned, however, after proceeding a short distance and were 
taken captives, but afterward were ransomed and sent to Detroit. 
After reaching a point near what is now the corner of Twelfth street and Mich- 
igan avenue (represented by the crossed sword in figure 173) the Americans were at- 
tacked by a force of about five hundred Indians who killed twenty-six soldiers and 
twelve militiamen, at the same time murdering two women and twelve children in 
the baggage wagon. Seeing further resistance useless Capt. Heald surrendered and 
was taken back to the fort which was now burned. The entire party were afterward 
ransomed, including John Kinzie, who acted as surgeon during the fight, Mrs. 
Heald, Mrs. Helm and the surviving officers and soldiers of the garrison. The fort 
was rebuilt in 1816, near Rush street bridge, and the last of it was burned during the 
great fire of 1871. In 1820, the settlement consisted of eight white (including 
French) families, including Col. Beaudien who had bought the rebuilt American Fur 
Company’s Warehouse, and converted it into his residence called the Wigwam. 
In 1830, Chicago contained only one hundred inhabitants, composed of whites, 
blacks, Indians and half breeds; but during the following decade much progress 
was made in the settlement. The settlement contained nothing but log huts and In- 
dian wigwams. In 1832, the first frame house was built by John Kinzie on the north 
side of the river. In 1833, the first brick house was built. In 1834, the first vessel 
entered the harbor. In 1837, Chicago was incorporated as a city with 4,170 inhabi- 
tants. In 1840, the population was 4,470. In 1850, it was 29,964; in 1860, 112,1 72 ; 
in 1870, 298,977 ; in 1874, 395,408; in 1876, 407,661. As there is no definite means of 
knowing the exact population on the first of January, 1880, we must give the ap- 
proximate numbers, obtained in the usual manner, viz: by the enumeration as given 
by the school board and city directory, which, by competent authorities, is estimated 
at over 500,000. The Great Fire of October, 1871, is also one of the memorial as well 
Fig. 177. Chicago in 1880. 
as historical events of Chicago, of which we can only briefly notice. That portion 
of the city destroyed by fire of 1871 is represented on the map by the great dark 
space (1-3). 
So much for the past history of Chicago, but as we wish to deal with Chicago of 
to-day we will take up our quarters at the finest and best hotel in the country, the 
Palmer House, and from here visit the places of special interest to the botanist or 
plant lover. Before we leave the hotel, however, let us know something of our tem- 
porary home. First, we will say that the building is literally fire-proof; that not 
only are the walls built of iron, stone, brick, marble and mortar, but every joist, 
tloor and partition is also of the same indestructible material; that there is nothing 
combustible about the house, except the furniture, and if, by any chance, the furni- 
ture or clothing in the room adjoining ours was to take tire we need not tremble for 
our own safety, for after burning the contents out of the room where it originated, 
if the doors are kept shut, the fire must cease for want of fuel. This is a great con- 
sideration with a tired and weary traveler, for who has ever visited a large city and 
closed the door of his room in the hotel at night without contemplating the chances 
of escape in case of fire? Ic is the last thought as we close our eyes in sleep as well 
, the first one to present itself if we chance to hear an unusual sound or even a hur- 
ried footstep through the hall during the night. It is built after the modern orna- 
mental style of architecture, very beautiful and elaborate in design and finish, with 
large and spacious rooms, halls and parlors. The dining-hall is a marvel of beauty. 
It is sixty-four by seventy-six feet square, and contains some of the finest fresco 
painting in the West. But what adds much interest to the place is the fact that im- 
mediately over the dining-room, and of the same size (sixty-four by seventy-six), is 
a beautiful glass structure for a conservatory, in which are grown the many choice 
plants used every day in decorating the house and table. The illustration' (figure 
176) really fails to do the conservatory full justice; in fact, it would be difficult to 
