Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-12-24
PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
NEW.YORK, DEC. IL.
AWFUL CALAMITY.


New.York has been for fifteen hours in
flames! They are not yet extinguished
A large section, and that the Oldest and
most wealthy portion of the city, is in ru-
ms; and whether the progress of the De.
strnyer is yet completely arrested, we
calnot tell. Silce the conflagration of
Moscow, no calamity by fire, So extensive
and so dreadful, has befallen any city in
the world. The fire broke out in Mcr-
chant street, ia the triangular block for
ncd by Wall, William, and Pearl streets,
at about nine o'clock last night. A fierce
wind was blowing from the northwest, land
the weather so intensely cold as to render
the efficient working of the engines inn
possible. The consequence was, the fire
held the mastery through the night
spreading with great and des ructi7e ra-
pidity. 1t was an awful III ght for New
York, and for the country. But We can
neither describe the grandeur of the spec
tacle, nor its terrors, nor the desolation
brought more distinctly to view b. the
mor.ling light. The arm of man was
powerless aud many of our fellow cti-
ence, were bankruptS on awaklag.
The fact of the powercssness Of the
fircmen, from the almost instantaneous
congelation Of the water, and the benum-
bng influence Cf the cold, increasing the
Consideration which prevailed among the
thousands of the agitated multitude who
were witnesses of the calamity many
of them doomed to stand and see the de-
s,ructioa OF their own fortunes, without
being able to lift finger for the rescue.
10 arrest the flames was at once seen to
be impossible, save by the blowing up of
ranges of buiIli,gs in adv nee of the fife,
that its progress might thus be interrupted.
But the difficulty was to obtain powder
none of consequence being allowed in the
city. A sufficient supply, therefore could
not be obtained short otthe Navy Yard
whence, also, the mayor was obliged to
send for strong military force.to preserve
property from the swarms OF robbers who
are ever ready OH such occasions. What
commentary upon the depraV'fy OF
man
Such is the confusion that prevails, and
such the difficulty of working ones way
among the smoke, and fire, and heated
ruins, that it is impossible to detail parti-
culars with any pretension to accuracy.
Below, we have & ivcn the account pre-
pared for the Mercantile Advertiscr-one
of the two surviving morning papers--at
tie late hour at which that paper was put
TO press. The confagration continued to
extend for some hours afterward.
South side of Wall.street from William
street to East river, including the Mer-
chants Exchange, and excepting some
three or four buildings between Merchant
street, formerly Hanover) and Pcarl.--
Also from William to Broad, buildings
no, destro ycd, but injured in the rear.
Exchange. street both sides, from Broad
street, crossing William to Merchant
strcet--the Garden-street church was
embraced in this section.
Merchants street Qormerly Hanover.
both sides, from Wall to Hanover-square
William street, both sides, from Wall
street to Hanovcr.square.
Pearl.street, both sides, from Wall stree
to Coentics slip, including the whole
sweep of Hanover square.
Stone street, from Hanover-square tt
the lane leading to the head Of Coen'ie'
slip.
Exchange street, aid part Of Beave
street, from Peal nearly to Broad.
Water street both sides from Coffee
house slip TO Cocnties slip.
Front street, both sides, from Coffee
house slip to Coentics slip.
South h-sirect from The same to the same
South side of Coffee.house slip, iron
Pcarl.street 10 the East River.
Both sides of Old Slip, (ncluding tn
Franklin.market) from Pearl street to tn
East River.
North side Of Cocniics slip, from Pear
street to the river.
Jones's lane, Gouvcrneur's lane, ,Cylcr'
alley, and part of Mill street.
tssSeventeen blocks of buildings, OF tn
largest and most costly description, ar
totally destroyed the large block be
tween Wall street and Exchange Place
bounded on the west by Broad stree
that between Exchange place ana Bc"ve
street, fro ting on Broad street, and ,lu
between Beaver aud Mill srUets, ais