I was able to find this question online as well as the two articles necessary to answer it. I cannot post them here because of their length, but I can answer the question.
Answer and Explanation:
In the first article's sub-headline, the tone is poetic but tragic. The fire and its consequences are described in a devastating manner, and even figurative language (simile) is used to convey the idea that the flames are consuming everything with unstoppable fury:
City was Tossed Like a Feather as Shock Came
Great Buildings Rose into the Air, Then Collapsed.
Earth Seemed to Sink
Walls Rocked and Wobbled Like Frail Things in a Storm.
On the other hand, the second article's sub-headline has a more optimistic but less poetic tone. The author is not concerned about comparing houses to feathers to convey their frailty in face of the fire. The purpose is to convey facts and, in some cases opinions. Below, for example, we see a fact - that the fire has been stopped - as well as opinions on the progress of relief work and on the financial outlook. When the author uses words such as "favorably" and "bright", he is giving others a chance to disagree with him (opinion). Still, his is much more of a matter-of-fact tone than the other author's:
The fire has been stopped. Relief work is progressing favorably. The financial outlook is bright.