The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-01-12 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

( From the New York Transcript of Dec. 18.)
In mentioning in our paper of yesterday, the breaking out of
an awful conflagration in Merchant-street, and its extension
front thence to the East River, sweeping everything into wide
ruin before it, we expressed our apprehension that it would not
be stayed until the devastation was still more extensive, and
until it had numbered among the wrecks which it had made nu-
merous large and splendid edifices, besides those included in
the range of buildings which we described as having already
been levelled with the ground.
Our apprehensions, we lament to say, were too fearfully re-
alised. To the blocks of buildings and streets which we repre-
sented as then being in flames, many, very many others were
added, the particulars of which, as far as we are able, with the
assistance- of some of our contemporaries, to gather them, we
now proceed to state.
The fire broke out in Merchant-street on the lsth of Decem-
ber, in the triangular block formed by Wall, William, and
Pearl-streets, at about nine o'clock. A fierce wind was blow-
ing from the N-W., and the weather so intensely cold as to
render the efficient working of the engines impossible. The
consequence, was that the fire held the mastery through th'
night, spreading with great and destructive rapidity. The arm
of man was powerless, and many of our fellow-citizens who re-
tired to their pillow in affluence were bankrupts on awaking.
The fact of the powerlessness of the firemen, from the almost
instantaneous congelation of the water, and the benumbing in-
fluence of the cold, incleased the consternation which prevailed
among the thousands of the agitated multitude who were wit-
nesses of the calamity—many of them doomed to stand and see
the destruction of their own fortunes, without being able to lift
a finger for their rescue.
To arrest the flames at one time seemed to us impossible,
save by the blowing-up of ranges of building in advance of the
fire, that its progress might thus be interrupted. .But the diffi-
culty was to obta►n powder, none of consequence being allowed
in the city. A sufficient supply, therefore, could not be ob-
tained short of the Navy-yard—whence, also, the mayor was
obliged to send for a strong military force, to preserve property
from the swarm of robbers who are ever ready on such oc•
casions.

Such is the confusion that prevailed, and such the difficulty
of working one's ifisy among the smoke, and fire, and heated
ruins, that it is impossible to detail particulars with any preten-
sion to accuracy. We give the following as the best result that
we could arrive at from personal observations and by consult-
ing the map:—
South side of Wall-street, from William-street to East River,
including the Merchants' Exchange, and excepting some three
or four buildings between Merchant-street (formerly Hanover)
and Pearl. Also from William to Broad, buildings not de-
stroyed, but injured in the rear.
Exchange-street, both sider, from Broad-street, crossing
William to Merchant-street; the Garden-stieet church was
embraced in this section.
Merchant-street (formerly Hanover) both tides, from Wall
to Hanover-square.
Pearl-street, both sides, from Wall-street to Coenties-slip,
including the whole sweep of Hanover-square.
Stone-street, from Hanover-square to the lane leading to the
end ofCoenties-slip.
Exchange-street and part of Beaver-street, from Pearl nearly
to Broad.

Water-street, both sides, from Coffeehouse-slip to Coenties-
slip.
South-street, from Coffee-house,slip to Coenties-slip.
South side of Coffee-house-slip, from Peari-street to the
East River.

Both sides of Old slip (including the Franklin;market), from
Pearl-street to the East River.

North side of Coenties-slip, from Pearl-street to the river.
Jones's-lane, Gouverneur's-lane, Cuyler's-alley, and part of
Mill-street.

Seventeen blocks of buildings, of the largest and most costly
description, are totally destroyed; the large block between
Wall-street and Exchange-place, bounded on the west by
Broad-street, that between Exchange-place and Beaver-street,
frtuting on Broad-street, and that between Beaver and Mills-
street, also fronting on Broad, are greatly injured, and may
almost be said to be destroyed—except the single range of
stores fronting on Broad-street. The number of buildings it is
impossible to ascertain, but it is estimated between 700 and
1,000. The amount of property destroyed is incalculable.
Those acquainted with our city will at once perceive that
nearly the entire seat of its greatest commercial transactions has
been destroyed. It is not probable that the destruction of any
given section of any other city in the world, of equal extent,
would have involved a greater destruction of capital, or ruined
the fortunes of a greater number of men. The destruction of
goods of every description that can be enumerated, has been
immense; and what yet further magnifies the calamity is the
fact, that the portion of the city thus destroyed, is one which
has been almost entirely rehuilt within the last five or six years.,
and was covered on every hand with the most noble and sub-
stantial ranges of mercantile edifices perhaps in the world.
Before the gunpowder was used in blowing up houses, there
were many loud reports from occasional explosions of powder
and casks of spirits. During the whole night the scene was one
of awful terror and indescribable grandeur. The drought of
the season had contributed to the combustibility of the matter,
and the rapidity with which house after house, and range after
range, were wrapped in flames was truly astonishing. The wind
being high, largo flakes of fire wee e borne whirling aloft'
through the dark vault of heaven with fearfufsplendour. From,
the direction of the wind—to which, under Providence, the sa
yation of, perhaps, the whole city is owing—the city of Brook-
lyn was considered in danger, and the flakes of fire were borne
along in quantities beyond the Flatbush.
The buildings on Exchange-place having become involved in
the conflagration, the flames communicated to the Merchants'
Exchange itself, the e4cemption of which had been so strongly
confided in that a largoaismount of goods was deposited there for
safety. Before these could be removed, and the numerous te-
nants of the edifice could remove their private property, the fire
communicated to the roof, and this soon falling in, carried with
it the wall at the east end of the building, beneath which seve-
ral ,persons are said to have been buried alive. The splendid
dome of the Exchange, after sending clolums of flame to an im-
mense height for half an hour, until it was reduced to a body of
fire, fell in with a tremendous crash, burying the elegant statue
of Hamilton in the ruins.

At the time the fire in Pearl-street reached Hanover-square,
the large space of ground was filled with piece goods prowls-
cously piled together, and much of this property was of the most
valuable kind. So unexpectedly and rapidly did the flames ex-
tend on both sides of the square, that an unsuccessful attempt
was made to remove it, for much of it was destroyed in the street,
and the residue, though deposited at a still greater distance in
stores and otherwise, was shortly afterwards consumed. Dr.
Matthew's church had been made a depositary for goods in the
early part of the fire, which were of course entirely consumed
with the building, leaving nothing but the bare walls.
With the Exchange, the public has .sustained a loss in the
Fine Arts which is greatly to be regretted. We refer to the
statue of Hamilton, erected by the munificence of our mer-
chants during the presept year, in the centre of the rotunda of
that building. That, Which was designed to remain for ages,
is in eight months precipitated from its pedestal, and is mixed
with the ruins of that ill-fated structure it was erected to adorn.

The mere amount of pr(4iertY wasted and destroyed, not by
the flames, but in the confusion, and hurry, and desperation of
the time, is probably equal to the entire loss at ordinary fires.
It is lamentable to see the piles of costly furniture—rich ma-
hogany tables with marble tops, sideboards, sofas, &c. &c., bro-
ken and heaped up like worthless rubbish; rich merchandises,
silks, satins, broadcloths, fine muslins, and every species of
fancy goods, trampled under foot; packages half brunt; boxes
of cutlery and hardware burst open, and their contents scattered
in the mud ; bottles of wine broken; and, in short, thousands
upon thousands and tens of thousands of dollars lying wasted
around, in the form of ruined merchandise.
Carmen and porters were heaping goods upon carts, barrows,
in coaches and omnibuses. The Battery and Bowling Green
were thickly studded with piles of goods, some in boxes, others
just as they were snatched from the shelves. Marines with
fixed bayonets patrolling amongst them for protection against
marauders, and all eyes fixed upon the volumes of dense black
smoke, whirling away before the wind—flames darting and roar-
ing from the roofs and windows of whole streets—walls tumbling
to the ground, and the -firemen worn out with their exertions
and almost discouraged from further efforts, vainly striving to
make head against the flames, which seemed to mock all human
skill and power.
Amidst this dreadful destruction, we are happy to announce
that the shipping have not sustained any material injury. A
vat t many of them were lying at the docks, between Murray's
Wharf and Coenties Slip; and at one time we had our fears
that the whole would have been destroyed. The water was
very low, and they could not for some time get away. The brig
Powhatan was on fire, but it was soon extinguished, and all,
except one British brig in Coenties Slip, finally got into the
stream, where they are now at anchor.
In all cases of great public or individual calamities, especially
those occasioning loss of property, the first impressions, and
first reports, are, of course, greatly exaggerated. And before
concluding this hasty and imperfect account, we take leave to
caution the public abroad against giving credence to first re-
ports. The -calamity is indeed a terrible one, and the losses
will be immense. But still we are warranted in the belief that
the burden will principally fall in such a manner that it will be
borne without shaking the credit of the city, checking its pros-
perity for any length of time. We take it for granted—nay, it
is admitted on all hands—that the Fire Insurance Companies
are all ruined. Some will not be able to pay fifty cents. on the
dollar of their policies, and others, perhaps, not more than
twenty-five—while others may be rather more fortunate.
But yet the condition of things is not by far so bad as many
who are not on the spot imagine, and not by any means as de-
plorable as will be represented abroad. A number of gentle-
men, well known as able and cool calculators, estimate the
amount of loss to be not more than twenty-five millions of dol-
lars:— The total "amount lAcapital held-by diet whole of the Fire
Insurance Companies in this city does not amount to more than
ten millions. The calculation is that about six hundred stores

have been consumed, the insurance of which does not average
more than six or seven thousand dollars upon each.
The loss, thereupon, in real estate, is not by far so great as
will at first be supposed, inasmuch as the lots themselves. con-
stitute the chief value, being often worth three or four times
more than the buildings on them. Whatever amount, there-
fore, the Insurance Companies may be able to pay, the holders
of real estate will be able to sustain and bear up under the loss.
The losses most severely to be felt and deplored will be those
of widows and orphans, whose property has been invested in
stocks.
Some of our contemporaries are of opinion that the disaster
could not have occurred at a more fortunate period, because,
as they allege, the autumnal sales will have materially reduced
the stock of the different dry good stores. On this subject we
differ from them in foto, believing that, in anticipation of a war
with France, the importers have made much more extensive
purchases of late than they have previously been accustomed
to do, and had, consequently, at the breaking out of the fire, a
larger amount of goods than usual.
During the night, all descriptions of carriages were in the
immediate vicinity of the fire, either waiting to remove books,
driving, away with merchandise, or in attendance upon those
who were watching the progress of the flames.
Pearl-street, from 111 ano ver-scivare to Broad-street, was made
a depository for piece goods; and piles, valued perhaps at half
a million, were burned.
Old Slip was also filled with every species of valuable pro-
perty, which was destroyed.
A large number of the militia were ordered ont last evening
to protect property through the night; we have not been able
to ascertain how many, hut we understand that the orders em-
braced several regiments ; among them, the Washington Greys,
under the command of Colonel George P. Morris.
None of the numeions banking houses in Wall-street have
received any serious injury.
Among the rumours which were afloat yesterday morning,
was one that the fire was the work of an incendiary. There was
another, that a fellow was seen early in the morning to set fire
to a house in Broad-street.
The columns and front of the Exchange, which yet stand
present a magnificent but melancholy spectacle.
We have heard, as yet, but of one person actually being
killed, upon whose body, as will be seen from our report, the
coroner held an inquest.
The fire'Vas not effectually checked until about three o'clock
yesterday afternoon, it having continued to burn up to that
lime from its commencement (eighteen hours) with the most
fierce and fatal rapidity.