The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-12-23
From the Mercantile iduertiser.
Destructive COnfla grafton (.

destructive COnfla grafton
MILLIONS OF PROPERTY DESTROYED
A little before 9 o'clock, last evening,
fire broke out in the store of Comstock
q Andrews, IN Merchant street, which
threatened extensive destruction. The
street is narrow, and built on both sides
with high stores, principally occupied by
dry goods jobbers and importers. The
wind blowing a gale at n. W., the ther-
mometer at or below zero, the hydrunts
mostly frozen, and the engines, almost
unit for service in consequence of the
freezing of the hose from their exposure
the preceding night, great fears OF extern
sive damage were expressed at the COM
mencement of the fire and these fears
have been more than realzed.-Neyer
has such a conflagration been Witnessed
In this city. The amount of property de-
stroyed must be MANY MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
In the course Of twenty minutes from
the commencement of the fire, not only
the building in which ii originated, but
the whole on both sides of the street to
Pearl street were in blaze. Neyor was
a more rapid extension of the flames.
The stores on Pearl street aud Oh each
side of Merchant street, were soon en-
.veloped III the devouring element. Soon
the fiames extended across to the south
side OF Pearl street, and at this time, cley-
en- o'clock, have DESTROYED nearly the
whole block, on that side of the street,
! from and including the store Of Arthur
Tappen n CO., to Wall street. Thence
they have already extended ito Water ST.,
iu s,re"sti,-nrfc violence, aud
now threaten the destruction 'of all the
| property on Water, Front, and South
street from Pearl street to the river, and
from the west side of Wall street nearly
to Old slip. Some vessels in Coffee
House slip are already on lire--the night
Is intensely cold-and The scene of dcs-
tructon Is most sublime and awful IL
is just reported that the stores in Ex-
change place, IN the rear of the Exchange
have taken fire. There is now "A loud
explosion of powder or the bursting of
casks OF spIrlIuous liquors in store in
Water or Front street. The engines
can do nothing to stop the progress of
the flames.
nay past 1.-THE flames are now ra-
gIng IN every direction from the place
where they iginuled.-All the buildings
IN Exchange street, below the Exchange,
are destroyed-thrce or four of the build
Ings IN Exchange Place, are on fire, and
the whole block TO William street, as well
as the Exchange, is in danger The
wind has somewhat subsided.
It's impossible TO calculate the amount
OF damage already sustained-such
goods as could be hastily saved, are
strewed in the streets. We shall annex
list Of such of the occupants of the
stores and sufferers, as we can gather ia
the confusion that prevails. Many i'm
mense stocks of goods are consumed. II
is believed that more than one hundred
stores and warehouses, including many
of the most valuable in the city, are al
ready destroyed.
IVeiye o'eiOck.-The rear of the TX.
change is now on fire, which is extend
ing into the Post Office. A strong force
of firemen is placed there, and hopes are
entertained that this building will be saw
cd. The fire is still extending to South
sireet-some Of the vessels between Cof-
fee House and Old Slips have taken fire.
One o'eiOck.-The Exchange still on
fire in the rear. The letters have been
removed from the Post Office. There is
now no knowing where the flames will
be s;opped-the hydrants are exhausted
the hose of many of the engines are
frozen, and useless, and the flames ex-
tending. Never was more awful sight
than is now presented. The fire Is yet
extending west in Pearl sireet-and will
probably extend to Old Slip, and sweep
off all the valuable buildings onthc three
squares bounded by Pearl, South and
Wall streets, and Old Slip. The build
ings on the west side Of Wall street be-
tween the Exchange and Pearl street,
are yet standing, some Of them much
damaged in the rears. Nearly the whole
block, bounded by Merchant ST., Ex-
change Place, William street, and Pearl
street, an immense pile Of new and val
liable warehouses, is now on fire and
many Of them already reduced to ashes.
The scene grows worse ard worsc--tbe
Exchange, It is said cannot be saved. If
this is destroyed, all Wall street below
William street must share the same fate,
and expose TO destruction the buildings
east to an incalculable extent. 4.
The stores Of Rowland d Aspinwall,
Moses Taylor, Smith & Town, Osborn