The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1836-01-09
rE=E STAT.
[From our Correspondent

great Emporium Is falling prey TO the deyonrin
element. Often, its slunbering thousands ar
reused several times in the course Of singl
night by the cry ofFIRh
The late connagraton has thrown deep gloon
over that portion Of the city which was but re
Gently the scene Of the most active business )
martlor the product Of almost every cline :
and depository Of property, Of greater value thai
any other spot of equal area, in the United States
shall not attempt TO define the extent, or de
scribe the progress Of the raging element, on thi
melancholy occasion. | will simply endeavor Il
give a hasty sketch Of the appearance of the cit,
after the fire.
You will recoIect, that the fire commenced
on Wednesday evening, about o o'clock, and was
not subdued until IL NJ. Of the following day 5
on all day Thursday, heavy column Of smoke
rose rom the smouldcring rains, while thick
cloud constantly bovered over the lower part Of
the city. During the conhasration, large quanti-
ties Of goods were removed from the burning
warehouses, and deposited in IIanove: square and
in the Exchange but alas how imperfect is
human Judgement its fruilly is only equalled by
the impotency Of human power. Hardly were
they deposited inthis place, Ito human view,) ol
security than one fatal sweeps the devouring ele
meni, wrapped them instantly in flames. The ra-
girg fire seemed to defy tho poWer Of man, and
mock at his boased sagacify. Places OF dePos-
tie were sought farther removed from the scene o
destruction. Drays, Omnibuses, Coaches, and
Vehicles, Of various description, were employed in
the transportation OF merchandise 10 places OF safe
ty. The side walks were covered with various
descriptions Of goods and in almost every condit-
ion ;--some partially consumed, others soaked
with water, or covered with mud and scattered in
every direction, piled up, as understood, in some
places TO the height Of q three story building
Confusion regned among the chattels, ls,-consterna-
ton among their owners. For the protection Of so
vasta amount Of property, thus exposed to the
depreciation of the band of lawless plunderers who
constantly nfest this city. and who are ever ready
10 improve such opportunities for spol, it was
found necessary TO call the aid Of the U. s. Ma
rines, stationed at the Navy Yard at Brooklyn,
who formed guard during The remainder Of the
night ION the next day, several Independent
Companies were ordered out 10 perform the dutie!
of patrol.
In casting the eye over this melancholy scene
the most prominent: object, which arrested the at
tention, was the Exchange, which, but few hour!
before, was the pride of New York, now heap
of "uUds,inguished ruins ;'-its stately front was
still standing,-its pillars Of marble yet erect, bu
broken and ruined, by excessive beat. 1t re-
minded one Of the descriptions of those mngnf-
cent ruins Of Rome and Greece, which are the
4" monuments ofancent art and glory" Thou
sands of men thronged every street in the vicinity
efthe fire. Sorrow and anxiety was depicted on
many countenance, indicating that they were
numbered among the sufferers these were enga-
ged in gathering the scattered fragments Of their
former fortunes Others were employed in con-
veg ing what the fire had spared, to places Of Sc
cur,y while by far the larger portion were at
trac,ed thither. by curiosity, and were feastng
their love of the marvellous, by gazing upon the
ruins Of noble edficcs and the wreck Of princely
fortunes. Men, ,oomen and children were to be
seen searching for spoil amid the smoking ruins
seizng upon every thing that had the appearance
Of value, some were led by their greediness o.
gain to adventure even under the walls, which
stood tottering above their heads. While by nc
means small number were busily engaged in pill
fering the moro valuable, of what was snatchet
from the flames. II is stated, for fact, that sc
numerous were the arrests the night Of the fire,
that the places Of detention " overfowed" will
roguery so that the police were compelled to set al
liberty, those who had stolen but little, to make
room for those who bad done business on much
larger scale. | understand that four or five hun
dred were arrested, charged with theft, and hun
drcds were discharged aitor being dsburthenedof
their booty, from inability to commit them, a
rising from the difficulty ofnden,ifying of the stoler
property found upon them. Goods to the amount
Of about 800, 900 were thus recovered by the Wig
lance of the police.
Here and there you might see solitary fire
man. leaning upon his engine or hose cart com
pletey exhausted. by the labor and watchings o
the previous night. Amid this motley group o
thousands, the shouldered fireman, the fixed bay.
onet, and the glittering steel, was poor commen
tary on the moral principle of portion Of tht
community as the soldier marched his appoint
cd round, amid fire and smoke, and falling sleet
protecting himself from the piercing winds ol
December, by wrapping closely around him hi
cloak mr. nca. "a and fhus a,I;no hia ricl