Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-05-10
AWFUL FIRE IN CHARLESTON.
AUGUSTA, Ga. Saturday Evening, !
6o'clock, p. M. April %.


We learn with the deepest regret, by pas
sengers fromC Charleston, who arrived here this
evening by the Caroline Rail Road, that tn,
city of Charleston has been visited by one OF
the most awful and destructive fires that has
ever visited any city in the United States
ONE THIRD OF THE CITY WAS LAID
IN ASHES at the departure of the cars this
morning at 6 o'clock, and the fire was raging
as if it would consume at least one third
more.
The fire broke out last night at quarter
past o'clock, in paint store on the west.
ern side of King street, corner of Beresford
street. The wind blowing strongly from the
southwest, blew the flames diagonully across
King street, and at the time of The departure
of the cars the whole city above Beresford
street, up to Society street, and East of King
street to the Bay, was burnt down or:burn'ng.
From Beresford to Society, are four streets
from King street to the Bay about as many
more. The fire had also extended four
or five blocks West of King street, and
was still progressing with terrific rapidity up
that street in the direction Of Boundary st.
when the cars left. Our informant believes
II inpossible to calculate what will be the
ultimate extent of the fire, as itseemed in no
way checked at six o'clock this morning.
Among the buildings consumed are num-
Der of churches, the new theatre, the splen-
did new hotel recently erected, and the
whole market except the fish market. Near
ly all the large merchants in the centre of
business on King street were burnt out
among them Parish, Wiley g. Co.. C. & H.
Kesley g. Co.. Boraem g. Co., and all in
that neighborhood and the large storehouse
of Miller, Ripley & Co., on the corner of
King and Society streets was catching the
flames when our informant left. The Mer-
chants Hotel, formerly Miot's had not
to save it. At Norris's Hotel, still higher up
King street, and on the West side, they had
removed all the furniture and bedding, in al
most certain anticipation of being burnt out.
A large number Of houses had been blown
up, but to no purpose. All the powder in the
city was exhausted, and all the water in the
pumps, and the people were exhausted with
q whole nights incessant and unavailing
toll, found themselves, this morning, able to
make but feeble resistance to the still raging
and devouring flames. A number of per-
sons had been killed by the blowing up OF
the houses and throwing the furniture into
the streets. The steamboat Neptune, lying
in the Bay, caught on fire, but it was fortu-
nately extinguished.
This is indeed mournful catastrophe! A
f1ourishing city laid in ashes-her people
burnt out of home and substance, and mill
ions of property destroyed in a single night
The Insurance Companies of Charleston, we
learn, are of small capitals, and will every
one no doubt be ruined, and still be able to
make good but small portion of the losses
Hundreds of families must be utterly ruined
by this general calamity--years cannot make
Charleston what it was.
A virtual injunction ON Male Fzirtdtion-A
case was recently tried before the CO. court
at Rutland, in which Miss Munson recov-
cred $1425 of Mr.. Hastings, for breach
of marriage contract. The principal fea-
ture in the case was the charge of the Judge,
which tends to show that no explicit prom
Use was necessary to bind the parties to a
marriage contract; but that long continued
attentions or intimacy with a female, was
as good evidence of intended marriage as
special contract. Although it is not so set
forth in the charge of the learned functional
ry, we suppose the same legal Interpretation
is to apply to "long continued attentions or
intimacy" on the part OF female as male.
A different application of the principle would
be Numerically the opposite even-handed
justice.-N Y. San.
The Cropping Crops.-We are gratified to
learn, from all quarters, that with the excep-
ion Of two or three instances the growing |
'rops of wheat and rye have come through |
he spring well, and bid fair, unless prevent
d by some unforeseen and untoward cir
unstances, to make handsome yields. We
re pleased too, to learn that the seedlings in
eneral have been large, so that if present
expectations and prospects should be real
ed, very fair average crops may be expect
i. On the Eastern shore of this State, we 8
from several sources, though |
lore grain has been Put in than last year,
till the quantity of wheat is considerably
ess than in 1885. This arises from the fail
ire of the wheat crops since that period, i
having induced most of the wheat growers to
urn their attention more to the cultivation of
rye and oats, they having proved more GER
tain than the former in their yield.
Ball. Farmer.
In view of the glorious results to the wh;p
cause that are pouring in upon us from all |
quarters, we would direct the attention of the |
Sub Treasury men generally, and of the
President in particular, TO the following pass
age from the letter of Mr.. VAN buren, to Sher-
rod Williams. In the press of present disas-
tiers, they will read it with unusual interest
"The supremacy Of the popular will is the
foundation of our government. IF we al
slow it to be Frustrated, either by corruption
"or fraud. the republican principle which
'gives life and character to our system, will
abe broken down. 1t is only by rigidly and
"mantully unfolding that supremacy on all
occasions, that we can hope 10 resist the
"efforts of spirit which is inherent in all
societies; which has never ceased to
maintain a powerful foothold in these
States, and which is ever at work TO sub.