Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-01-01
Fearl street TO the river.

Seventeen blocks of buildings, of
the largest and most costly description
are totally destroyed; The large block
between 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, and may almost
be said to be destroyed except the
single range ofstores froningo on Broad
street.-The number of bulldogs it is
impossible TO ascertain, but il is esti
hated between 700 aud 1000. The
amount ofprOperly destroyed is incal
cuIahIe.
Those acquainted with our city will
at once perceive that nearly the entire
seat OF its greatest commercial trans.
action has been destroyed. 1t is not
probable that the construction Of any
given section, of any other city in the
world, of equal size, would have in.
volved greater destruction of capital
or ruined the fortunes of greater
number Of men. The destruction of
goods, of every description that can
be enumerated, has been imm9use;
and what yet farther magnfes the
calamity, is the fact, that the portion
OF the city thus destroyed, Is one
which has been almos 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 10
blowing up houses, there were many
loud reports, from occasional sexplo
sions of powder, aud casks cf spirits.
During the whole night The scene was
one of awful terror, and indescribabe
I grandeur. The drought of the season
! had contributed to The com bustibility
Of the matter, and:the rapidly with
which house after house, and range af
ter range. were wrapped in flames.
was truly astouishg. The wind being
high, large fakes Of fire. were borne
whlrfing alo(t through the dark vault
ofheaVen with feArfuIsplendor From
the direction Of the wind-tos which,
under providence, the salvation of per
hapS The whole city is owing 1.-The ci
ty of BrookIyn was considered IN dan
I ger; and the fakes of fire were borne
/ along in quantities before FIatbush.
The buildings on J xchange place
having become involved in the conHl.
grafton, The flames communicated TO
the Merchants Exchange itself The ex
emptinn of which had been so strong.
/ ly con6ded in, that large amount Of
/ goods was deposited there for safety.
Before these could be removed, and
the numerous tenants of the edhce
could remove their private property,
the fire communicated 10 The roof, and
this soon falling in, carried with it
the wall at The east end of the build
ing, beneath which several persons
are said TO have been buried alive.
The splendid dome of the Exchange,
aGler sending columns of fame TO an
immense height for half an hour, until
it was reduced 10 body Of FIRE, fell
with tremendous crash, burylnk
the elegant statue Of Hamilton in the
ruins.
Al The time the fire on Pearl street
reached Hanover square, the large
space of ground was filled with pie
ces OF goods promiseuously piled to
gelheT, and much Of this property
was the most valuable kind. So un.
expecledly and rapidly did the flames
extend on boIh sides of the square,
thlt an unsuccessful attempt was made
10 remove it, for much of It was de.
s'royed IN Inc street; and the residue
though deposited in still greater dis.
lance in sores and otherwise, was
shorIlytsflergard consumed Mat
\ tkew's Church had been made de
posltory Tor goods 10 the early part of
The fire, which were of course, entire
ly consumed with the building, leav-
ing nothing but the bare walls.
The mere amount Of property was
trd AID destroyed, not by the flames,
hut in confusion and. .hulry, and des.
perarion ofthe time, is probably equal
10 the entire loss at ordinary fires. 1t
is lamentable to see the piles Of cost.
ly fJrniture--rich mahogany tables
with marble tops sdeboards. sofas,
SC &c. broken and heaped up like
III Lee 49,, -, l. -, T. - 4 In %