"Chicago, October 11, 1871,"Dear Father, I am not burned out neither is Horace. Some of our books were destroyed but the most important saved. Tim Chandler lost about all his goods & chattels. The Wrights are suffering they have saved comparatively nothing / Geo Bailey saved a good load of things...none of my acquaintances have lost their lives.Night before last I had 32 persons under my roof...it has been the roughest time our indomitable city ever experienced. (it's) reckoned to be in the millions, all the North side to the river...is almost destroyed.

Come here expecting to see Chicago and you will see desolation.

 The disaster makes it uncertain when I shall visit you. Uncle Homer's doctors establishment is burned...We keep a patrol...during the night...Once in awhile they catch a man and hang him in the city, usually for trying to set a fire... I have no expectation of any bread riots….the disaster of course disturbs some of my calculations for a freer life…the misfortunes of others are so much greater that I can only feel for them. This feeling will soon wear off & we shall all of us (some are doing it now) be searching how to make most money of the misfortunes of others – I have even so much to do, In haste, Sam. B. Chase"

Included is an Original Harpers Weekly, November 4, 1871; "Chicago in Ruins" it’s main focus, profusely illustrated with large woodcut engravings and numerous stories about the disaster. 16pp. Also noted in the paper is an article on the newly formed Ku-Klux Klan, The Tammany Ring and Boss Tweed.

Other letters from the Samuel Chase, Chicago & Lake View in 1872, 10 pp. during the reconstruction. He writes to his father with good detail of how business is going, what to do with the remains of "Uncle Homer," the typhoid losses and a note that: "if we sell our books, I shall hope to take a long vacation…" In addition, a 4pp. letter from Manchester, NH to "Father Chase," Dec 4, 1871 from C.F. Livingston, a NH printer who discusses a publication Mr. Chase had endeavored him to print: "Look the proof over and mark it where needed…"

A total of 18 pages, light age wear, mostly Fine. Harper’s Weekly has a few nibble marks to inner and middle crease, light dampstaining to some pages, most woodcuts still very framable.