The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-12-23

before the gunpoWder was used IN
blowing up houses, there were many loud
reports, from occasional explosions Of
powder, and casks of spirits. During the
whole night, the scene was one of awful
terror, and indescribable grandeur. The
drought ofthe season had contributed to
the cembustibility 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 whirling alott through the dark
vault of heaven with fearful splendor.-
From the direction ofthe wind--to which.
nnder Providence, the salvation of per.
haps the whole city is owing--the City
OF Brooklyn was considered in danger
and the flakes of fire were borne along in
quantities beyond Flatbush.
The buildings in Exchange Place hav-
ing become involved in the conflagration,
the flames communicated 10 the Mer-
chants Exchange itself, the exemption of
which had been so strongly confded in,
that a large amount of goods was deposit
ed there for safety. Before these could
be removed, and the numerous tenants of
that edlfice could remove their private
property, the fire communicated to the
root, and this soon falling IN, carried
with it the wall at the east end of the
building, beneath which several persons
are said 10 have been buried alive. The
splendid dome olihe Exchange, ,after send
ing columns of flame TO an immense height
for half an hour, until it was reduced 10
hndn Of fire, e.! i. i; vii. TREMENDOUS
crash, burying the elegant statue of Ham.
ilton IN the ruins.
At the time the fire on Pearl street
reached Hanover square, the large space
ofgIound was filed with piece goods
promiscuously piled together, and much
OF this property was of the uIost 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, fer much of it was
destroyed i'll the street, and the residue.
though deposited at still greater distance
ia stores a;:d otherwise, was sh.;3rr,,,,;; g.
forwards consumed. DIR. Matthews's
church had been made depository for
goods In the carly part of the fire, which
were of course entirely--eeas, -.--isi,.
the building, leaving nothing but the bare
walls.
With the Exchange, the public has
sustained loss iu 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 pre-
sent year. ia 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
OF the time, is probably equal to the en-
tire loss at ordinary fires. 1t is lamenta-
bic to see the piles of costly furniture
rich mahogany tables with marble tops
sldeboards, sofas, &c. &c. broken and
heaped up like worthless rubbish rich
meichandizcs silks, satins, broadcloths,
iiue muslins, and every species Of fancy
dry goods, trampled under foot /; pack
ages half burnt--boxcs of cutlery and
hare DHre burst open, and their contents
scattered IN the uud--bottles of wine
broke--and in short, thousands upon
thousands, and tens Of thousands Of dol
lars Iying wasted around, in the form of
ruined merchandzes.
Carmen aud porters were heaping
goods upon carts, barrows, in coaches and
omnlbusses the Battery and Bowling
Green are thickly studded with piles Of
goods, some in boxes, others Just as they
were snatched from the shelves marines
viii fixed bayoncts patroIIing among
them for protection against marauders
and all eyes fixed upon the volumes of
dense black smoke, whiring away before
the wmd-6ames darling and roaring
from the roofs and windows Of whole
streets walls tumbling to the ground,
and the tiremen worn out with their ex-
ertlons and almost discouraged from
farther efforts, vainly striving to make
head against the flames, which seemed
to mock all human skill and power.
Amidst this dreadful destruction, we
arc happy to announce that the shipping
have not sustained any material injury.
A vast many of them were lying ~ the
docks between Murray's wharf and
Coc0tle's slip, and at one time VIC had
our fears that the whole would have
been destroyed. The water was very
low, aud they could not, for some time,
get away. The brig Powhatan was on
fire, but 1t was soon extiuguishcd, and all,
except one Br. brig in Coentie's slip,
finally got into the stream where they are
now at anchor.
We take it for granted, may, it is ad.
mI,ted on all bands--'hat the Fire insu-
rance companies are all ruined. Some
viii not be able to pay fifty cents on the
dollar on their policies. and others. per.