The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-02 00:00:00

THE SOUTHERN STATES.

A terrific fire has taken place in Charleston, the
particulars of which may be gleaned from the fol

lowing Southern newspaper accounts :
(From the Richmond Inquirer.)
BRANCHVILLE, S. C., DEC. 12.

About 9 o'clock last night the alarm rang out cal-
ling upon the citizens of Charleston to quell the be-
ginning of a fire, which, in the subsequent extent
and rapidity of its ruinous sweep, will compare witn
the most terrible conflagration which ever visited
the American continent. Before 10 o'clock the fire
was raging at different points in the lower part of
the city. The buildings in the neighbcurhood were
mostly of wood, old and closely built, and surrounded.
by small outbuildings, exceedingly inflammable in
their character. As tenement after tenement was
enveloped in the fast spreading flames the panic
became awful. Thousands of pour bewildered
families were driven suddenly from their homes,
destitute even of their scanty effects. Towards
midnight the fire had assumed proportions of an
appalling magnitude. The regiments at the race-
course came down at double quick to the burning
wards, and cooperated most earnestly in the
labours of the firemen. From the precincts of
Market, east of Bay and State streets, the confla-
gration had now reached Meeting and Queen streets.
The terror of families, in many cases without their
protectors, owing to the military exigencies of the
times, was very great. Contiguous to the fire, and
even much further up into the city, the work of
packing up valuables and getting ready to desert
their homesteads became general, and it is impos-
sible to give anything like a full account of the
results of what will hereafter be known as the great
fire of 1861. The fire began in Russell Old's sash
and blind factory, at the foot of Hazel-street, and
• there are reports that it occurred in three places at
the same time. Crossing to the other side of
Hazel-street, it has burnt Cameron and Co.'s im-
mense machine shops, and, under the impulse
acquired at that point and the stiff breeze from the
north-east, without a sufficient supply of water, it
has become totally unmanageable, and rages with-
out the hope of being able to arrest it, except at
certain points.
11 o'clock.—The outbuildings in the rear of
Institute-hall have been set on fire by the sparks or
flakes of fire. The attention of the firemen has
been directed thither, and they are straining every
nerve to save Meeting-street. The frame buildings
on,Queen-street are smoking, and will presently
blaze forth.

12 o'clock.—Meeting-street, from Market to Queen
streets, is one mass of flame. The Circular Church
and Institute-hall are burning. The Mills-house is
thought to be in imminent danger, while the fire
seems stretching around the Charleston Hotel.
There has been a general desertion of both hotels
by the guests, under the impression that they can-
not be saved.

1 o'clock.—The track of the conflagration begins
to be clearly defined. Leaving Church-street, on
which no block excepting that next to Market-
street has been burnt, the fire is steadily pursuing
its southward course towards the corner of Arch-
dale and Queen-streets. About half an hour ago a
drizzling rain began falling, which may, perhaps
damp the tops of wooden houses exposed to damage
from the sparks. The people now understand how
far the fire has extended. Furniture is being re-
moved from buildings as far up as Massie-street.
2 o'clock.—At this hour the fire is still raging
with violence, and has scarcely been abated. A
splendid effort was made by the fire companies to
save the house of Mr. L. W. Spratt, on East Bay,
which was successful, and with it were saved the
fine line of buildings on Hazel-street, the fate of
which depended on that result. Passing to the
south-westward, the fire has swept the entire track
to the rear of the Charleston Hotel, and to the end
of the Hayne-street range. Thero are no buildings
north of Market-street. None of the Hayne-street
stores are still standing, except, perhaps, those of
Henry Gerdes and the Misses Pinckney. Crossing
Market-street, the fire has extended down East
Bay to Cumberland-street, and thence across to
the Mills-house, taking in its way the Circular
Church, Institute-hall, the Charleston Hotel, and
all the buildings upon King-street, from Clifford-
street to within a few doors of Broad-street. Cross-
ing King-street the flames are approaching the rear
of the Cathedral, the Unitarian, and the English
Lutheran churches. Whether it will cross the area
covered by these churches or pass the Mills-house
down Meeting-street Is still uncertain. The Fire

Department is making incredible exertions, and ihs
men are apparently nearly exhausted, but are
springing
to each occasion with renewed vigour,
and such exhibitions of courage and endurance have
rarely been witnessed.

:3 o'clock--The steeple of the Circular Church has
just toppled and fallen with a heavy crash. Gen.
Ripley, who is moving to and fro superintending
the movements of the troops with characteristic

energy, has ordered, several hours ago, that several
buildings in the track of the conflagration be blown
up, The execution of this order, delayed at first,
has at length been accomplished. Ever and anon
during the past hour, the explosions have rent the
air in the lower part of the city. The fire has done
its work in thorough style. Its path is now burnt
out, and nothing now remains to mark where it has
passed but smouldering piles of cinders and gaunt
and smoking walls and chimneys. The Charleston
Hotel is safe, and Hayne-street also. The wind has
swept the danger off further to the south, although
the fire rages on three sides of the Mills-house.
That fine structure has not caught. The Thtatrc,
Lloyd's coach factory (opposite the Express-office),
the Old Executive building, and all the houses
between that point and Queen-street have been
burnt. The fire seems to be making advances
towards the gaol. Companies of the Reserves have
been ordered out to repress any possible disturbance
among the prisoners confined in that building. The
wind has abated somewhat.
4 o'clock.—A change in the course of the wind
has bent somewhat the course of the fire towards
Broad-street. The Lutheran and Unitarian Churches
are now considered safe. The Cathedral seems now
to be in exceeding danger. The buildings on the
west side of Friend-etreet, near the corner of Queen-