Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1839-06-15
From the Port Gibson Correspondent Extra.


ArtM Corfagration.-It is our melan-
cholly duty to record the total destruction
OF the whole business portion Of our town
by fire. On Saturday morning, Port
Gibson was unqueslonably the most beau.
tiiul town 10 the sfate-and as prosperous
and ilourislring as any in the whole south
west--now it is pile of black and smoky
ruins. The fire broke out on Saturday
morning about eleven O'Clock, in kitchen
in the rear Of the new stores recently erec-
ted by Messrs. III. g. I'll. 0. Anderson.
From The extremely dry situation of every
thing, and the comburtible materials Of
which the building was composed, every
effort to exIinguish the fire proved unavail.
ing, and in few moments the flames
communicated to these beautiful new
stores, which were almost ready to be &C.
cupied from which they rapidly extended
to the store and ware house occupied bv
the Messrs. Anderson's. The building used
by the bank of Port Gibson came next
then the store of Messrs. Moore, Burroughs
s. co., and the splendid corner property
Of j, 0. Pierson & Co., occupied below
by Bush e. Elmer, and Wells g. Person ).
and above stairs by the Port Gibson Insu.
rance Company, and Messrs. Elicit g.
Payson as Offices. The progress of the fire
was stayed in this direction at the corner
of Bank street, but in the mean time it had
made rapid progress in the other direction,
and eventually every house was consumed
on that side Of the town from Bank street
TO the Court House. The court house, too
fell before the devo1ring element, and the
building in the reor Of it, up to the Grand
Gulf Road. The destruction on the west
side Of Maine Street was unsparing and
complete. But the calamity did not end
here. The flames communicated from the
buildings OF the west side Of the street TO
the roof OF the stores on the east side.
known as Lorings Row. and very soon
the whole row from the Washington Hall
TO Bank st. was in full blaze. The Hall
was manfully, and for long time success.
fully, defended, but at lapt fell sacrifice
TO the fury Of the flames. The store of
Messrs. Butler & Forbes, and the Offices
annexed TO it, are the only buildings tha,
escaped the destruction, on the east side
Of the street, from Bank street 10 the mar
ket house. The Jail was with great diff.
Guilty preserved. Between thirt-iiye and
forty buildings are in ashes, and most Of
them brick buildings of the first quality.
A more destructive conf1agration, in pro-
portion to the size and population Of the
town never before occurred. A large quan
tity Of goods was also DESTROYED. The
greater portion Of the stock OF the Messrs.
Andersons was burnt in the street where
it had been removed for safely. All the
mercantile houses suffered considerably-l
and some very severely.
Ii is impossible at present TO form cor
rect estimate OF the amount Of the loss.
A large amount was insured in the Port
Gibson Insurance office, and considera.
BILE insurance was held 10 Grand Gulf and
Natchez Offices. The first named office
will be the heaviest sufferer, but will be
abundant able to sustoid itself. The books
and papers of every house were saved, and
also the entire books and effects Of the |
bank and the Insurance Co. Had the dis
aster occurred in the Right, it would have |
been impossible to havessaved any thing
ofvalue. As it is, nearly every one Of our |
citizens has sustained considerable loss. |
which for a time will seriously cripple the
business, and perhaps weaken the credit oil
our place. The Inconvenience will be-
come Immediately felt from the fact that
no suitable buildings are left for those who |
ara now rendered houseless & homeless to |
occupy, with the remnant Of their property,
Cor the prosecution Of their business. But
we hope soon 10 see onr town rise from the