Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-05-10
From the N. Y. Journal OF Commerce.
GREAT FIRE IN CHARLESTON.


From the N. Y. Journal OF Commerce.
GREAT FIRE IN CHARLESTON.
We have news this morning Of a most de-.
structve fire in Charleston, which commenced
on the evening of Friday, April u, and burn
ed with great fury until noon the next day.
The number Of buildings destroyed is estl
mated in the letters at six hundred TO twelve
hundred. The ground burned over Is per-
haps one third of a mile square, including
King and Meeting streets-tbe two great
parallel avenues to the country-the stores
of the principal dealers in dry goods, hard
ware, shoes &C., together with several I'M
portant public buildings and hotels. The
heavy groccrs and shipping merchants esca-
ped. Arrangements have been fol some time
going on with the design of removing the
heavy dry goods trade from King street near
Liberty to position near the harbor.
new street had been opened for this purpose
and named Pearl street, OH which splendid
brick hotel had been erected, covering more
ground than the Astor House. 1t was to
have been opened during the present month
by Colonel Page who recently kept the Ex-
change hotel in Baltimore. The hotel Is
amongst the ruins, but noble block OF ten
granite stores opposite to it stand almost ul'-
harmed. The letters received by our mer'
chants here speak of the fire as ruinous to
the prospects of business for the present.
The most valuable stocks of goods on the
district burned over, were far of from the
point where the fire commenced and ncai
where it terminated, so that a good deal Of
time was had for removals. Most OF the IN
surance on the property was in the Offices al
Charleston. but our offices in Wall street
have more or less of it. The amount Of loss
is not so great probably as at first might be
imarincd. as the space burnt over Is larger
than our own burnt district. The buildings
were most of them of small value and the
time of year is one for the smallest stocks o
goods.
Slips from our correspondents Of the Mcr'
curry and Courier, dated on Monday, give Us
some farther particulars of the recent sad ca
lamiiy in that city.
The fire broke out about o'clock on Fri
day evening, and was first discovered issuing
from small old frame building next to the
corner OF Beresford and King streets, cccu-
pied by colored persons as fruit store the
buildings were wrapped in flames before the
alarm become general. The number ol
stores, dwellings,, &c. destroyed in King
street, were as follows: west side, from
within three doors Of Clifford street 10 Lib
erty street, &c on the east side, from near
Horlbeck's alley to Shelton's, late Myott's,.
Hotel, corner OF Society street, which build
ing was fortunately saved, 46; total in King
street, ll2 On Market street, south side
from near corner of Archdale to State street
AZ; north side Archdale 10 Meeting street.
q; total in Market street, "a.
On Church street, west side, 10 extending
from Market street to one door from the cor.
ner of ofCumberland street.
On Meeting ST., east side, from the Market
street ce-house to corner Of Society street
81; west side, and one house beyond, 3O.-
Total, on Meeting st., 81.
On Society st., north side, from Meeting
street to East Bay. "a; south side from King
st. to near East Bay, 40. Total C7.
On niaz5i ST. south SHE, from King ST. &c
Maiden lane, including Trinity church, IA
north side from King ST. TO East Bay, includ.
ing the Jewish Synagogue, 2l. Total Haze
street, 35.
On Pinckney st. 4.
On Anson st., east side, from Laurens te
Pinckney sts., q west side, from Pinckney
to near George SITS. l7-to,al "A.
On Wentworth st., north side, from KING
st. to East Bay, excepting j dwelling, AZ
south side, from King st. to East Bay, includ
ing the Methodist Protestant church, 30
total 81. -
On East Bay, west side, G; east side, ls
Total, "a.
On Beresford st. both sides, 20.
On Swinton's lane, 20.
Total number Of dwellings and stores, de-
stroycd, including Nor,ons old rice mills
Kerr's wharf, set on fire by flakes falling or
a pile Of light wood and burnt to the ground
$50. The number of out buildings destroyed
estimated at about 506-total number OF
buildings destroyed, l,l5o.
Deaths by blowing up, Fred. Schnierle
John Peart, Col. Steadman and Robef'
Munro.
Messrs. Brown and farley, badly injured
several negroes killed.
Such is the mere arithmetic Of this fright
fol caamity-who shall count the mental suf
fering, the loss Of hope, Of security, Of com
fort? Upon the best estimates which have
been made to us, up to the latest hour, we
SCI uoWu tnc ioSS VI P'oPS'y ~ WV "cb~o"t
900. The whole amount covered by in.
surance, is not far from 81 100000. Ofthis
$4,000 falls upon the Georgia Offices, al
Augusta. The new hotel was insured in this
city for 100000, and $4,000 in Augusta
1t is believed now, that the Offices here will
pay all, or very nearly all Of their liabilities
A meeting Of the City Council Of Charles.
ton was held the day after the fire, at which
sundry resolutions were adopted to aid the
sufferers. Tho mayor had called for de-
tachment Of militia, 10 patrol the city at night
to aid the guard in the protection OF property
Zen thousand dollars were placed ut the
disposal Of the committee, 10 furnish provi.
,ions to the destitute. Another committee
was formed to make arrangements for the re.
ceplion OF the sufferers into the orphan house,
and TO obtain other suitable places. The
Medical College, in Queen street, had been
offered 10 the committee for any necessary
purpose.
Sail Rirtr is crowded at this time with loco
Ioeo craft of every description. Don't loads