The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-22 00:00:00

"FOURTH DISPATCH.

" THE FIRE STILL RAGING—DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE.
" The fire broke out in the store, 78, North Delaware-
avenue, at half-past four o'clock. The building was occu-
pied for storage purposes, and when discovered the fire had
already wade considerable headway„ with the flames
spreading in every direction. But a short time
elapsed before that large building through Water-
street was enveloped in flames; the one ad-
joining north, No. 80, was on fire, as well
as the one south, No. 76. Before the devouring element
had reached the ground-floor of the building in which
(he fire originated, two terrific explosions of saltpetre
rent the walls asunder, throwing the flames of the com-
bustible matter in all directions, by which the fire was
communicated to a large number of houses, which will
be detailed hereafter.
" Delaware Avenue was filled with a mass of human
beings, among whom were severel hundreds of our re-
solute and noble firemen. The first explosion did not
seem to cause much excitement or fear with the people
present; nor did the second, except some slight fears of
their safety, when they moved towards the eastern side
of the wharfs.
" The third t xplosion was fatal i❑ many cases, and
proved the death of a number of men, women, and
children. On Delaware Avenue and Water street the
scene presents d was appalling in the extreme, and such
as we cannot and will not attempt a description of.
" O❑ the eastern front of the stores, when the third
and last explosion of the saltpetre occurred, the rush for
life was terrific; men and boys, firemen and bystanders,
rushed away from the cnflagration, and as they endea-
voured to get beyond the reach of danger hundreds
were knocked down and eon over, causing their legs and
arms to he broken, and injuries infheted of a very serious
character.

" In the fright some wore thrown into the Delaware,
while a large number voluntarily threw themselves in to
shield themselves from the bricks and cinders thrown
from the burning stores.
" The fire then entered through Front-street, near
Race, to above Cullenhill, then through Nine to Second,
through Newmarket, up to Cullenhill streets, destroying
at least 400 houses, as far as we have been able to learn.
" We give the following list of killed and wounded:—
" Daniel Milford, a member of the Northern Liberties
House, killed in Wuter-street, at the time of the third.
explosion. Mortimer Morris, a fireman, a young girl,
three men, acid two boys were drowned in the Delaware
at the time of the third explosion in attempting to jump
on board a schooner. __ _

" A young man named Martin, aged 16, was carried
to the hospital awfully burnt, and he died almost as soon
as he entered that institution. A fireman was burnt to
a crisp in Water-street. David May, a young man, was
instantly killed by being struck on the head by a brick.
William V. Buckman had both legs broken. Thomas
Stuz, a member of the Vigilant Engine Company, was
very seriously injured by being crushed bnween the
engine and falling bricks at the explosion. A long list
is given of those taken to the hospital, of fractured arms
and other wounds, many of which will prove fatal. •
" At my present writing, eleven o'clock, the fire en-
compasses two squares round, extending from Race- ,
street to Callon-hill, and from the river to Second-street, )
certainly not less than 250 houses, all destroyed. On
Water-street, from Race to Vine, all old fashioned dwel-
lings, occupied generally by poor people, 20 to 30 fami-
lies in scme of the houses. Their sufferings cannot be

imagined. It is reported that in one of the houses a
woman was found dead, and by her side her infant alive;
and another woman and five children were found burned
to death. This, I believe, is true.
" The loss is roughly estimated at upwards of
1,000,000 dollars.
" The flames are still raging with unabated fury. God
preserve the poor women and children."
At Brooklyn there was another terrific conflagration.
by which property to the extent of a million of dollars
had been destroyed. The fire broke out on ihe 7th, and
raged fearfully. The affair is thus reported in the New
York papers of the Bth:
" At about tour o'clock yesterday morning a fire
broke out in the attic story or roof cf the large building
in Forman-street, occupied by Messrs. R. V. W. Thorn
and Co., as a bonded warehouse. In the attic story was
stowed a quantity of mp, and on the lower floors
heavy stocks. of other combustible materials, with which
the flames soon communicated, and in a very short time
animmense volume of gaseous smoke was evolved, that
gave promise, which was painfully realised, of an exten-
sive and dangerous conflagration.
" With great promptitude the fire companies of Brook-
lyn hastened to the spot, but at a very early stage of the
calamity a series of violent explosions took place, that
not only disccyncerted their movements, but spread the
tire. The roof of Mersrs. Thorn and Co.'s buildings was
blown off. and the gable end fell upon the adjoining
building, occupied by Messrs. Tapscott, as a storage for
shipping stores, camphine, tar, turpentine, &c. Thence
it spread, and finally wrought the following mischief.
We have neither room nor time to describe the awful
appearance of the conflagration during the first hours of
its ravages, of which, however, the reader will form
some conception from the following details. At a late
hour last night the light of the still burning embers could
be very distinctly seen above Thirtieth-street, New York,
on the west side of the city.
"The explosions involved the firemen in very im-
minent peril. Two companies, Nos. 17 and 13, who
were working their engine from the docks, were almost
cut off by the immediate spread of the flames. No.
17 bad no alternative but to run their engine off
the dock into the river to save it from the conflagra-
tion, and some of the men swam round the dock
to save themselvm No. 13 fought their way through
the flames at great risk, but lost a large portion of their
hose. These explosions continued for a long time, and
necessarily made the firemen cautious of approaching
too near. Tee location of the buildings, to, was un-
favourable to the efficient action which the' combined
forces of the two cities would otherwise have brought
to bear upon them.
explosions
in New Jersey.
oasnid wre felt as a
ons
ewereof aveiryr
as East Brooklyn and Bergen Point,
' violentA b Aboual t h a lt- a-
destructivedoz c n
character,o fh
t e
Timbers and fragments of buildings were thrown many
hundred feet, damaging some of the buildings upon which
they fell.
" The premises of Messrs. Thorn arid Co. contained,
in addition to the contents already enumerated, heavy
quantities of corn, flour, sugar, molasses, &c., and a large
stock, it is said nearly 300 hogsheads, of the latter
article were stored on the dock, a portion of which was
burned. We have heard their loss in stock estimated
at 200,000 dollars, covered, we understand, by insurance.
64 From the store of Alessrs. Tepsoott awl Co. the is.

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