Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-24
Dreadful CALAMITY.
.qpd orent lass of ,,ro,,eriD;a N,,, yo,

ind great loss Of property ia .Neto York.
The New York Commercial of Tuesday evening, says
New York has been for fifteen hours in flames i
They are not yet extDguished. large section, and
that the oldest and wealthy portion Of the city is in
ruins and whether the progress of the DESTROYER Is vet
completely arrested, cannot tell Since the conia-
grafton OF Moscow, no calamity by fire, extensive,
and so dreadful, has bcallen any city in the world The
fire broke cut in Merchant street the triangular block
formed by WALL William and Pearl streets at abo ut nine
clock last night fierce wind was blowing from the
northwest, and the weather intensely cold
der the efficient working of the engines impossible
The consequence that the fire held the mastery thro
The night-sprcading with great and destructive rapidi
ty IL was an awful night for New York, and for the
country But we neither describe the grandeur of
the spectacle, terrors nor the dcsoaiion BROUGHT
more distinctly to view by the morning light The arm
of man powerlcss; and many of fellow citizens
who retired TO their pillows in aiuence bunkrups
Seventeen blocks of buildings of the largest and most
costly description 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 iroang Broad street and that be.
tween Beaver and Mill streets, also fronting Broad
are greatly injured, and may almost be said be de-
slroyed-excep the single range of stores fronting on
Broad street The number of buildings it is impossible
to ascerian but it estimated between zoo and OO0
The amount of property destroyed is ncalculable.
Those acquainted with city will once perceive
that nearly the entire seat of its greatest commercial
transactions has been destroyed 1t is probable that
the destruction of given section of any other city i'm
the world, of equal extent, would have involved greater
destruction of capital ruined the fortunes of greater
number OF men The destruction of goods of every
description that be enumerated has been immense
and what farther magnes the calamity fact that
the portion OF the city thus destroyed which has
been almost entirely rebuilt within the last five or six
years. and covered every hand with the most no.
bic and substantial ranges of mercantile edices perhaps
in the world.
The buildings Exchange place having become in
volved in the confagraon, the flames conmu ncaed to
the Merchants Exchange ITSELF the exemption of which
had been strongly cosfded in, that a large amount
OF goods deposited there for safety Before those
could be removed and the numerous tenants of that ed
hce could remove their private property, the fire
muncated TO the roof and this falling in carried
with it the waa the east end of the buildings beneath
which several persons said to have buried alive
The splendid dome of the Exchange, after sending CO.
umns of flame to immense height for half an hour
until 1t was reduced to body of fire. fell in with tre
mendous crash burying the elegant statue of Hamilton
in the ruins
At the time the fire Pearl street reached Hanover
square, the large space of ground filed with piece
goods promiscuously piled together, and much of this
property was of the most valuable kind So unexpect-
eddy and rapidly did the flames extend both sides of
the square, that unsuccessful attempt made to re-
move it; for much of it destroyed the street and
the residue though deposited still greater distance
in and otherwise was shortly afterwards congum
ed. DR. Matthews church had been made a depository
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 loss in
the ine arts which sgreaty to be regretted We refer
70 the statue OF Hamilton, erected by the municcnce of
our Merchants during the present year. in the centre of
the rotunda OF that buildingThat, which design
ed to remain for ages, is in eight months precipitaed
from It's PEDESTAL and mixed with the ruins of i'll
tated structure it was erected TO adorn.
The mere amount of property wasted and destroyed
not by the flames but in the confusion and hurry and
desperation Of the time probably equal 10 The entire loss
at ordinary fires 1t lamenabe the piles of cost
ly furniture-rich mahogany tables with marble tops
sdeboards, soias &c &c. broken and heaped up like
worthless rubbish rich mcrchandizcs-silks, satins
broad-cloths, fine musns and every species of fancy
dry goods, tramped under foot packages half burnt
boxes of cutlery and hardware burst open and their
tents scattered in the mud-bottles of wine broken
and in short thousands upon thousands and of thou
sands of dollars lying wasted around the form of ruin
ed merchandiZes.
In respect the disaster has befalen us at mos,
fortunate period II the season of the wear when le
stocks of goods reduced TO the minimum quantity;
and the autumna sales have this year been great that
general rule, very diminished stocks were on hand
During the night all descriptions Of carriages were in
the immediate vicinity of the fire, either waiting to re-
move books, driving away with merchandise or in at
tendance upon those who watching the progress of
the flames.
" The Post Office, in which every thing was saved
has been removed TO the Custom IouseNo mails have
been delivered as yet to-day but 10 have deiy-
POSTSCRIPT.
One o'eiock p M-Tbe fire has been mastered and
rejoice to learn, did Coencs Slip nor adj.
vance any farther South upon Pearl street
We gratifed that enabled state that the
banks, with one accord, acting in this emergency
upon scale OF the most extended liberalty. To-day
the officers have taken the responsibility, in all ncces
sary cases, OF doing they would be done by"
meeting of bank directors is TO be held tomorrow for
Mr. Leggett, Of the Telegraph, has made arrange
ments to have the Telegraph from Hollis Hotel II will
We are requested to say that there will be meeting
of the citizens this afternoon, o'clock at the May
or s Office for the purpose Of forming patrol.
from tho New Nork Coulter Enqurcfo
The following will be found toerably accurate stale
mcnt Of tho number Of houses and stores now lcveed
with the ground.
90 Water street, 10 on Pearl street, 3 on South
street, 7G Water street. 80 Front street. on Ia
mover street 90 Exchange place. 81 on Exchange st.
III William street, SO Old Slip on Coenties slim
go Stone street, on Hanover square, % on Beaver
street, 20 Governors lane, 10 Jones lane 20 on
Cpyler's alley, 80 on Mill slreet-67l
Six hundred and seventy four Tenemenis By far the
and wholesale dry goods Merchants and 6led with the
richest products Of every portion Of the Globe How
estimate the immense loss sustained or the fearful con-
sequences TO the general prosperity?
OF the Merchants Exchange nothing but its marble
walls remain standing
The passengers in the boat coming down the ri.
YER The flames from The Highlands fofty.fve miles
distant and such the violence Of the gale during
The prevalence Of The fire. that burning embers were car
RED The East river Brooklyn and fire 10 the
roof Of house there, which however speedily cS
Last night strong bodies Of Cavalry and volunteer In.
antry were patfong the streets the fire and pre-.
served perfect order and trust, prevented any fur
her serious depredations.
BANK MEETIso.-A meeting Of the Presidents Of the
Banks Of this city, held this forenoon at e Bank Of
New York. at which il unanimously resolved to ex.
end every possible facility 10 the merchants and traders
md the public generally, in the present emergency.
The New Haven Herald states that Ills ExcelIenoy
Gov Edwards has appointed John NJ. Niles ESD Post. |
master at Hartford TO supply The vacancy in the United
states Senate, occasoned by the death of the Honora
DE Nathan Smith Mr.. Nilesleh New Haven on Mon |
lay evening on bis way 70 Washington.