The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-12-23
NEW.YORk, 9EC. Il.
AWFUL CALAMITY.

New ork has been Tor nlteGn hours III
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-
stroyer is yet completely arrested, we
cannot tell. Since the conilagration of
Moscow, no calamity By fire, So extensive
and SO dreadful, has beiallen any city in
the world. The fire broke out in Mer-
chant street, in the triangular block tor,
med 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 i'm.
possible. The consequence was, the fire
held the mastery through the night
spreading with great and destructive ra-
pIdlty. 1t was an awful night for New
York, and for the country. But we can
neither describe the grandeur of the spec.
tacle, nor It's terrors, nor the desolation
brought more distinctly to view by the
morning light. The arm Of man was
powerless and many of our fellow citi.
zens who retired to ,heir pillows i'll aiilu.
ence, were bankruptS on awaking-
The fact OF the poweressness of the
hremen, from the almost instantaneous
congelatlon of the water, and the benum.
blng influence Of the cold, increasing the
CONSERVATION which prevailed among the
thousands Of the agltated multitude who
were witnesses Of the calamity many
al them doomed TO stand and see the de-
structlOn OF their own fortunes, without
being able to lifl f'S"r :.r !he ::ccSSca:c.
10 arrest the flames was at ouce seen TO
be impossible, save by the blowing up of
ranges oil buildings III advance of the fire,
that IT'S 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 ofthe Navy Yard
whence, also, the mayor was obliged to
send for strong military force, TO preserve
property from the swarns of robbers who
are ever ready on such occasions. What
a commentary upon the deprayity 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 parii-
culars with any pretensioa TO accuracy.
Below, we have given the account pre-
pared for the Mercantile Advertiser-une
OF the Two surviving morning papers-at
tie late hour at which that paper was put
TO press. The cohfigration continued 10
extend iOr some hours aiicrward.
South side of w Wall-street irom William
street to East river, including the Mcr-
chants Exchange, ard excepting some
three or four buiidb Is between Merchant
street, (!Crmerly Hauover) and Pearl.-
Also from William to Broad, buildings
not destroyed, but injured in the rear.
EXchdngo both sides, from Broad
street, Crossing William TO Merchant
street.-the Garden.strcet church was
embraced IN this section.
Merchants street (lormerly Hanover)
both sides, from Wall 10 HauOver-square.
William street, both sides, from Wall
street to Hanoyer-square.
Pear-strcet, both sides, from Wall street
to Coentles slip, including the whole
sweep OF Hanover square.
Stone street, from Hanover-square TO
the lane leading to the head of Coenties
slip.
Exchange street, aud part of Beaver
street, from Peal uearly to Broad.
Wafer street both sides from Coffee
house slip 10 Coenties slip.
Front street, both sides, from Coffee
house slip 10 Coenties sip.
South-street from the same to the same.
South side of Coffee house slip, from
Pearl-street 10 the East River.
Both sides of Old Slip, Gucluding the
FranklIn-markct) from Pearl street to the
Eas, River.
North side of Coenties slip, from Pearl
street to the river.
Jones's lane, Gouverneur's lane, ,Cyler's
alley, aud part of Mill-street.
Seventeen blocks of buildings, of the
largest and most costly description, are
totally destroyed the large block be-
tween Wall street and Exchange Place,
bounded on the west by Broad street,
that between Exchange place and Beaver
street, fronting on Broad street, and that
between Beaver and Mill streets, also
fronting on Broad, are greatly injured,
AID may almost DC said to be destroyed
except the single range Of stores fronting
on Broad street. Tne number of build
Ingslt is impossible TO ascertain. but 1t is
estimated between 700 and 1000. The
amount of property destroyed is incalcu-
liable.
Those acquainted with our City will at
once perceive, that nearly the entire seat
OF Its greatest commercial transactions,
has been destroyed. It is not probable,