Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-12-24

except the single range of stores fronting
on Broad street. The number of build
ings it is impossible to ascertain, but il 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. 1t is not probable,
that the destruction of any given section,
of any other city in the world, of equal
extent, would have involved greater
destruction of capital, or ruined the for
tunes Of a greater number ofmen. The
destruction Of goods, of every description
that can be enumerated, has been i'm
mcnse and what yet further magnifies
the calamity, is the fact that the portion
of the city thus destroye is the one
which has been almost entirely rebuilt
within the last five or six years, and was
covered on every hand with the most no.
bic and substantial ranges of mercantile
edifccs perhaps in the world.
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 indescribablc grandeur. The
drought of the season had contributed to
the combustiblity of the matter, and the
rapidity with which house after house,
and range alter range were wrapped in
flames, was truly astonishing. The wind
bi ing high, large fakes of fire were
borne whirling aloft through the dark
vault of heaven with fearful splendor.--
From the direction ofthc wind--to which,
under 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 to the Mer-
chants Exchange itself, the exemption of
which had teen so strongly confded in,
that a large amount of goods was deposit
cd there for safety. Before these could
be removed, and the numerous tenants of
that edifce could remove their private
property, the fire communicated to the
roof, and this soon falling IN, carried
with it the wall ut the east end of the
building, beneath which several persons
arc said to have been buried alive. The
splendid dome of the Exchange, ,aiter send
l ING columns of flame to an immense height
for half an hour, until it was reduced to Il
body of fire, fell in with tremendous
crash, ourying the elegant statue of Ham,
ilton IN the ruins.
Il At the time tire fire OH 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 -of it was
DESTROYED in the street, and the residue,
though deposited at a still greater distance
in stores and otherwise, was shortly af-
forwards consumed. DIR. Matthews's
church had been made 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
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, in the centre Of the rotunda OF
that building.
II The mere amount of property wasted
and destroyed, not by the flames, but IN
the confusion, and hurry, aud desperation
of the time, is probably equal to the en-
tire loss at ordinary fires. 1t is lamenta'
bic to sec the piles of costly furniture
rich mahogany tables with marble tops
sideboards, sofas, &c. &c. broken ant
heaped up like worthless rubbish rlci
merchandizes silks, satins, broadcloths
fine muslins, and every species OF fancy
dry goods, trampled under foot pack
ages half burnt-boxes of cutlery ant
hardware burst open, and their content
scattered in the mud-bottles of wine
} broke--and in short, thousands upor
thousands, and tens of thousands OF dol
lars lying wasted around, in the form o
; ruined merchandiZes.
\ Carmen aud porters were heapins
goods upon carts, barrows, in coaches an'
omnibusses the Battery and Bowling
5 Green are thickly studded with piles o.
goods, some in boxes, Others Just as the,
D were snatched from the shelves; mal inc
q with fixed bayone:s patrolling among
= them for protection against maraudcrs
}, and all eyes fixed upon The volumes o
J., dense black smoke, whirling away beior
II III L.. .,.i Il Qn.nnn I.,liinn nnd RON rim