Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-24
DREADFUL CALAMITY,

New York las been for fifteen hours in flames -
They are not yet exlinguislrd large section, and
that the oldest and most wealthy portion OF Inc city, Is III
ruins and whether the progress oi Tie destroyer Is YET
comolctely arrested we cannot tell Since the conii-
qrnon Of Moscow, Calamity by hrc; SO extensive
aud so dreadful, has bcfarn any city in the world The
fire broke cut in Merchant street IN line triangular pock
formed by WALL William and Pearl streets at aEonl nine
o clock las night. fierce wind was blowing lroI the
northwest and The weather SO intensely cold as TO rem
der the efficient working; OF the engines imp"ssI1c.-
The consequence that the fire held The mastery tnro
the nekt-sprcadng with great ani destructive rapd!-
". ]. awful night for New York, and Tor the
country. Bat neither describe the grandeur OF
The spectacle, lis errors tho dcsoation brought
more distinctly view by the morning light The arm
Of powrr!css and many oil our fellow citizens
who retired their pillows in aluencc, were bankrupIs
| on awaking.
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 fronting Broad street and that be-
tween Beaver ana Mi! Streets also fronting Broad,
are greatly Injured and may almost be said to be de-
stroyed-exccp the SIM range OF stores fronting on
l.road street The number of buildings it is impossible
to ascertain but it is estimated between 100 and lOCO
The amount Of property destroyed Is lncalcuabe.
Those acquainted with city will at once perceive
that nearly Ike entire seal of lis greatest commercial
transactions has been destroyed 1t is not probable that
the world of equal extent would have involved greater
obstruction Of capital ruined The fortunes of greater
number of men. The destruction of goods, OF every
description that can be ennneratcd has been immense
and what farther nagnifcs the calamity is the fact, that
the portion of the city thus destroyed, is one which has
Dccn almost entirely rebuilt within the last five six
years. and covered every hand with the mos. no.
BE and substantial ranges Of mercantile cdltces perhaps
in the world.
The buildings on Exchange place having become in
volvcd in the conar -ation the flames communicated to
tie Merchants Exchange ITSELF the exemption Of which
had been so strongly corlidcd in: that large amount
&c ihcrI
could he removed and the numerous tenants I'll that ct
flee could remove their private property the lire com
municatrd TO the roof and this falling in, carried
with il the wall at the east end OF the building, beneath
which several persons said to have been buried alive
The sprnLd dome OF the Exchange, after sending
lunns of fame TO immense heg ht for halt hour,
until was reduced 10 body Of fire. fell i'll with ire
mendous crash, buryns The elegant statue Of Hamilton
in the ruins.
At the time the fire Pearl street reached Hanover
square, the large space Of ground was filled with piece
goods promscuousy piled together, and much Of this
property Of the most valuable kind So uneXpcct-
edly and rapidly did the flames extend both sides OF
the square, that unsuccessful attempt made 10
move it, tor much of it destroyed the street, and
the residue though eposed at still greater distance
+ cd Dr. Matthew'S church had been made depository
for goods in the early part Of the fire, which were Of
course entirely consumed with tile building, leaving
nothing but the bare walls.
With the Exchange. the public has sustained loss in
the fine which greatly to be regretted. We refer
To the statue OF Huion, cEcCteu OV the !nunllCcncc
merchants during the present year. in the centre OF
the rounGa OF that buildng.-That which was design
ed TO remain for ages. is in eight months prccpitaed
from its pedestal, and is mixed with the rains OF the Ill
fatrd structure it was erected to adorn.
The mere amount OF property wasted and destroyed,
not bv the flames but in the conlusion and hurry, and
desperation Of the time probably equal 10 the entire loss
ordinary fires 1t lamentabc 10 see the piles OF cost
" furuilurc-rich mahogany tables with marble tops
sdcboards, sofas &c &c. broken and heapcd up like
worthless rubbish; rich merchandzcs-silks, satins,
broad cloths fine nusins and every species Of fancy
dry goods tramplcd under foot packages half burnt
boxes of cutlery and hardware burst open; and their
tents scattered in the mud-botllcs OF wine broken
and in short thousands upon thousands and lens OF thou
sands Of dollars lying wasted around in the form oil ruin
cd mercllandzes
In one zespact the disaster has beallcn at most
fortunate pei od II is the Of the year when the
stocks of goods reduced to tile minimum quantity;
and the auumna sales have this year been SO great that
as a general rule. very diminished stocks on hand
During the light all desert ptions 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 were watching The progress OF
the flames.
IT The Post Office, in which every thing saved,
has been removed to the Ilouse-No mails have
been delivered yet to-day, but we arc TO have dev-
cry this afternoon.
One o'clOck p. .h-Thc fire has been mastered, and
we rejnice to learn did Cocncs Slip, nor adj
vance any farther South upon Pearl street.
We are gratcd that enabled 10 state that the
banks, with accord acting in this emergency
upon scale Of the most extended librraty. To-day,
the officers have taken the responsibility, In all neces-
sary cases, of " doing they would be done by"
meeting of bank directors is TO be held Tomorrow Tor
further consultation.
Mr. Lcegclt, of the Telegraph, has made arrange
mems to have the Telegraph from Hollis Hotel 1t will
bc ready in Il few days.
We are requested 10 say that there will be meeting
Of the citizens this afternoon, at o'clock, at the May
or's Office fer lie purpose of forming patrol.
FROM Courier and Enquirer of Friday mOnnG.l
The following will be found toleraby accurate stale
ment of the number Of houses and stores now crcled
| with the ground.
&c on Waller street 20 on Pearl street, on South
street. &c Water street. 80 On Front street, 1G on la-
mover street. 81 Exchange place 81 on Exchange ST.,
a. on William street. 33 Old Slip, IL on Coentcs slip,
80 on Stone street, Hanover square, q on Beaver
street. 20 Gnuvernours lane 10 on Jones lane 20
Cuylrr alley, IS on Mill street-G7i.
Six hundred and seventy four Tencmcnts! By far the
greater part in the occupancy of largest shipping
and wholesale dry goods Merchants, and filled with the
richest products of every portion OF the Globe How
estimate the immense loss sustained, or the fearful! con-
sequences 10 the general prosperity?
/ Of the Merchants Exchange nothing but its marble
walls remain standing.
The passengers in the boat coming down the ri
rer saw the flames from the Highlands, fortyfve miles
distant, and such the violence of the gale, during
the prevalence of the fire. that burning embers
rcd the East river 10 Brooklyn and set fire 10 the
roof Of house there, which however speedily
tinguis!'cd.
Last night strcng bodies of Cavalry and volunteer IN
fantry patroing the streets the fire and pre-
served perfect order and, trust prevented any fur
tkcr serious depredatioRs
| BANK MEErIyG.-A meeting of Tie Presidents Of the
Banks of this city, held this forenoon the Bank Of
New York, at which il unanimously resolved to ex-
tend every possible facility 10 tie merchants and traders,
and the public generally: in the prcscn; emergency.
The New Haven Herald states that His Excellency
Gov Edwards has appointed John Nj. Niles, Esq, Post.
master at Hartford 10 supply the vacancy in the United
States Senate, occasioned by the death of the Honcra