Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-23
FIRE IN CHARLESTON.
From tho Charleston Evening Post-Extta.
ENGINkER's DkPARTM

Z
Charleston, l7th February. 1888.
To the Hon. Henry H. Pinekney, h,tendant
SIR Auer lapse OF nearly years. our City
visited last evening with connagraon OF than
dHary character. Att O'Clock small wooden building
occupied by HeLiy Love, dealer in old iron aud rags
situated on EastB Bay, iew doors North OF Markei-sree
was discovered to be in flames. The wind this time
blowing ON n directed tn. tire tow ards
aud from thence the lower or small mea Market long
brick arched building covered With shingles The fire
this tne began rapid aud alarming progress ard
towards Meetings. rect, and from the nature OF the mate
Halls which orms tue buildings in that street. great APP
prehen IONS ~ele entertained that the on each
SIDE oil tie Market would be involved in one general
hagra ion' The prompt aud efficient lions OF the
AAeeh soon brought the long wooden vegetable stalls
ached To ths lower market 10 the ground aud arrested the
progress OF the aes, tar market
TO extend them IN that quarter The fire, however, on
the south side oi the street. making rapid strides in
westwardly dire c,ion. In mean time three Iai ge
wooden buildings the south side OF the street. took fire,
and threatened TO lay the whole southern section OF that
part OF the city in ashes At this the wind
naely changed to y l.. and drove the flames back and
confined them TO the buildings already fire TO the
North and by the vigorous exerions displayed by those
who were aiding, the front of the houses fire
ven out and the flames entirely arrested. But for this
fortunate circumstance is impossible 10 where
the destruction would have ended that section of the
city, although composed Of many large buildings yet
still occupied by many ordinary sized wooden ones that
would have afforded combusbe material for very
sive conagration. The shifting the wind destruc-
lion oil the vegetable stalls having secured the safety by
ordinary vigilance, OF the south side OF Market the
attention OF sll directed TO its
The buildings the south side of the street from the
Bay nearly TO Arson street, being built almost entirely OF
WOOL presented single unbroken sheet of flame, bearing
away every thing down beiorei 1t appeared inevitable
that the fire would reach Meeting unless speedily
quered Orders therefore given make breach by
blowing the large story wooden building corner
OF Arson St, occupied by Martin Munro grain Store
In order TO prevent the re crossing this
der was promptly executed (aho the whole roof Of tbs
building was enveoped in Ames) and certainly had the
tendency OF arrestng he hre in that direction, and
Inning TO the Eastern side oil the street, al no Mr. John
sons Corn Store and Mill the Western side of the
street. were several times FIRE, and compo ed
ttrely OF woodyet the remen succeeded in saving it
Al this point the fire stopped IL progressed shOr
distance up Arson aud destroyed very fine larg,
three story brick building occupied by Mrs. Lusher al
Boarding House, and owned by the Misses Ross; ar
attempt was made 10 this house by blowing up
Two story building IL, occupied by Mrs. Hutchin
son; but this latter building completely envelop
ed by fame that although twas levellod to the ground
yet the object in view not obtained. At this pon
the hre may be said TO have been arrested. Severs
buildings at great distance from the conhagration
we've set on fire by the flakes but the vigilance thu
neighbors prevented sny disasters from this source
Upon the whole, great merit is due all whom duty o
inclination prompted TO exerion, and it from The ju
dlcous dec ions OF the fire Masters and the willing an
prompt execution OF their orders by those upon whom thu
du'y devoved, that have been saved from desruc
i've coniagralon, the extent OF which cannot be cacua
ted.
Connected with this subject it affords me much pleas
nre to con municate TO the important aid rendered
on this occasion Col Bankhead of the army and Capt
Zanznger Of the Nalchez As soon as il was discover
ed that our city in flames, the former officer will
Major Hellman and Capt. Rnggod, manned their boat
with 100 men, and repaired TO the spot. detachmen
from the Natchez, with buckets and their officers ais
made THEIR appearance and exerled themselves manfu
and efficiently Thee gentlemen deserve our gratitude
Tor repairing TO succour With such prom ptlude,
rendering services that cannot be highly appre
No lives were lost MIR. MIn'yre was injured in thu
thigh by the falling OF part of OF buildings
black man belonging 10 Mr.. John Howard, was severel
injured by an Engine passing him, and acturng tn
bones of his shoulders
The number OF Buildings DESTROYED are bewe en- thrt
and forty, and the value estimated at $4,000.
MARTIN STROBtL, Principal Engineer