South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-12-26

wind--ro which, under Providence The
salvation Of perhaps the whole city is
owing city Of BROOKLYN was
considered 10 danger; and the fakes
Of FIRE were borne along in quantities
beyond Flatbush.
The buildings on Exchange place
having become involved in the confia-
grafton, the flames communicated to
the Merchants' Exchange itself, the
exemption of which had been SO
strongly confded in, that large a.
noun. Of goods was deposited there
for safety. Before these could be re-
moved, and the numerous tenants Of
that ediice 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 several per-
sons are said to have been buried a.
live. The splendid dome Of the Ex-
change, after sending columns Of fame
10 90 immense height for half an hour,
un,il it was reduced to body of fire,
fell in with tremendous crash, bury
ing the elegant statue Of Hamilton 10
the ruins.
AT the time the fire on Pearl street
reached Hanover square, the large
space Of ground was filled with pieces
Of goods promiscuously piled together,
and much Of this property was Of the
most valuable kind. So Unexpectedly
and rapidly did the flames extend on
both sides Of the square, that an un-
successful attempt was made TO re-
move it, for much Of it was destroyed
in the street, and the residue, though
deposited at still greater distance in
stores and otherwise, was shorty after
wards consumed. Dr.. Matshe VS.
church had been mada a depository
for goods in the early par. of the fire,
which were Of course entirely consum
ed with the building, leaving nothing
but the bare walls.
The mere amount Of property vast
ed 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. 1t is lamen,abIe to see the piles
of costly furniture-rich mahogany
tables with marble tops, sideboards,
sofas, &c. broken and heaped up like
| worthless rubbish rich merchaa dies
silks, satins, broadcloths, fine mus
Inns, and every species Of fancy dry
goods, trampled under foot; packages
half burnt, boxes of cutlery and hard
ware 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 ofruined merchandizes.
Carmen end Porters were heaping
goods upon carts, barrows, 10 coaches
and omnibuses +; the Battery and Bow.
ling Green are ,hickly studded with
piles Of goods, some in boxes, others
just as they were snasched from the
shelves /; marines with fixed bayonets
patrolling among them for protection
sgainst maraudsrs /; and all eyes fixed
upon the volumes of dense black
smoke, whirling away before the wind
flames darling and roaring from tie
roofs and windows of whole streets
walls ,umbling to the ground, and the
firemen worn out with their exertions,
and almost discouraged from further
efforts, vainly striving to make head
agains, the flames, which seemed to
mock all human skill and power.
In all cases Of great public or indi--
vidual calami.ies, especially those &C.
casioning loss of property, the first
impressions and frat reports are Of
course greatly exaggerated. And be.
fore concluding this hasty and very
imperfect account, we take leave to
caution the public abroad against CIV
ing credence 10 first reports. The ca
lamity 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
ma amer that it will be borne without
shas ing the credit ofthe city, or chez
king ito prosperity for any con''dera-
BILE length of time. We take y 10! q!
gran.ed--nay, it is admitted o. all
hands-that the FIRE insurance compa-
MES 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 on