The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-12-26

Franklin market) from Pear! street t
the East River.
North side Of Cosniies Slip, from Pear
street to the river.
Jones's lane, Gourerneurs lane, Csyler's
alley and part of MIL street.
Seventeen blocks of buildings, Of the
largest and most costly description, are
totally destroyed; the large block between
Wall street and Exchange place and
Beaver street, fronting on Broad street,
and that between Beaver and Mill streets
also fronting on Broad, are greatly injur-
cd, aud may almost be said to be destroy
ed-excePt the single range of stores
fronting on Broad street. The number
Of buildings it is impossible 10 ascertain,
but it is estimated between. TOO and 1000
The amount ofproperty destroyed is in
calculable. ---'3s q.
Those acquainted with our city will at
once perceive that nearly the entire seat
OF its greatest. commercial transactions
has been destroyed. 1t Is not probable
that the destruction Of any given section,
of any other city in the world, of equal
extent, would have involved a greater de-
struction Of capital, or ruined the fortunes
of greater number Of men. The de-
struction of goods, of every description
that can be enumerated, has been i'm
mense and yet what farther magnifes
the calamity is the fact, that the potion
Of the city thus destroyed, is one which
has been almost entirely rebuilt within
the last five or six years, and was covered
on every hand with the most noble and
substantial ranges Of mercantile edi6ces
perhaps in the world.
Before the gunpowder was used in
blowing up houses, there were mary loud
reports, from occasional explosions Of pow
der, and casks of spirits. During the
whole night, the scene was one OF awful
terror, and indescribable grandeur. The
drought of the season had contributed to
the combustibility Of the matter, and the
rapidity with which house after house, and
range after range were wrapped in flames,
was truly astonishing. The wind being
high, large flakes Of fire were borne whir-
ling alolt through the dark vault of hea-
ven with fearful splendor. From the d.
rection of the wind-.to which, under Pro-
vidence, the salvation OF perhaps the whole
city is owing-the City of Brooklyn was
considered in danger !; and the fakes Of
fire were borne along in quantities beyond
Flatbush.
The buildings in Exchange Place hay-
ing become involved in the confagration,
the flames communicated to the Merchants
Exchange itself, the exemption Of which
had been SO strongly confided in, that
large amount Of goods was deposited there
for safety. Before these could be remo-
we'd, and the numerous tenants of that ed
ifce 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 persons are said TO have
been buried alive. The splendid dome of
the Exchange, after sending columns Of
flame to an immense height for half an
hour, until it was reduced to body of
fire, fell in with a tremendous crash, bury
ing the elegant statue of Hamilton in the
ruins.
AT the time the fire on Pearl street
reached Hanover square, the large space
Of ground was filled with piece 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 unsuccessful attempt was
made to remove it, for much off was
destroyed in the street, and the residue,
though deposited at still greater distance
in stores and otherwise, was shortly aE-
terwards consumed DR.. Matthews's
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 sus-
tanned loss in the fine arts, which is
greatly to be regretted. We refer to the
statue of Hamilton, erected by the munifi-
cence of our merchants during the present
year, in the centre Of the rotunda of that
building.
The mere amount Of property wasted
and destroyed, not by the flames, but in
the confusion, and hurry, and desperation
Iot the time, is probably equal to the entire
less at ordinary fires. II is lamentable
to see the piles Of costly flrnlture-rich
mahogany tables with marble tops side
boards, sofas, &c. Sc. broken and heaped
up like worthless rubbish T; rich merchan-
dlze-silks, satins, broadclo,hs, fine mus
Inns, and every species OF fancy dry goods,
trampled under foot packages half burnt
boxes Of cutlery and hardware burst O.
pen, and their contents scattered in the
mud--bottles of wine bruke---apd in
short, thousands upon thousands, and