The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-09
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE in NETWORK.

the following particulars:
This morning about one o'clock, a fire broke out
In the fur store Of Messrs. s. d. Halsey and Co.,
No $50 Water street, which destroyed over thirty
buildings. There was a fresh wind blowing at the
time, and the destructive element swept through
Water street. Burling Slip Front street and Fletcher
street, and threatened al one time, 10 burn every
building from Water street 10 the East River taking
10 the blocks on Burling slip, Front and South SIS.
Towards morning, however, the 6remen, by great
exertons got the masler-hand, and by o'clock,
had stopped the fire from spreading any further than
il did.
The United States Hotel, lately Hol,'s, marble
building, seven stories high was in imminent danger
Il having taken fire in the cutters and on the dome
twice but il was saved. During the confagration
It presented most splendid scene.
The entire block bordering on Water, Fulton and
Front streets and on Burlng slip, was, with the ex-
ception oflhree or four buildings, destroyed.
ON Water street.
The store occupied BY 8. D. Halsey & Co., No, 1a9,
dealer In fnrs and agents for the American Fur Co.
was entirely destroyed
The building occupied by Jessup & Gilbert, No.
l9l dealers In paints and oils was also destroyed
and paints 10 the value Of $40 900 stored theren all
OF which is burnt, and only partly insured.
The agricultural machine store and warehouse,
No. 1876, was totally destroyed.
The building occupied by Simeon Dunn & Co.,
No. 1913, was wholly burnt up, with its contents.
The store of III. L. Shackerly, No 1873, was burnt,
also that Of J. W. Brodie, No. 1875, dealers in fur
capes, furs, &c, and the hat store Of J.. Hart & Co.
: The stores occupied By ~ z B. Gardrer No. 1884,
dealer in sadlery; Stephen King, No. 1856; James
A. Kissam No. l8S, dealer in tin ware, and A. Me-
gary, No. 100, dealer in mathematical instruments,
were more or less injured by fire and water These
stores were adjoining Hollis Hotel
The drug store Of William Halsey s. Co., on the
corner Of Water street and Burling slip, was much
injured.
on Barling Slip.
The building occupied by General Stormes, No.
Is, was entirely destroyed and the walls are down
fiat. This is the fnh time Mr.. Stormes has been
burnt out IN the past five years
Messrs. Thompson & Mcconnell, Coopers, and
Stephen West master stevedores, who occupied the
building, No u lost every thing and the house level
with the ground
The store Of David Keys, who occupied the whole
as cooperage, No. 49, was entirely destroyed.
Hicks & Sons, in store corner Of Front street. ship
chambers, were burnt out, walls all down.
N Tiebouts, city sealers, who had an office in
building No Is, was also burnt out.
on Front Street.
The building No 1884, occupied by the SAUCER
ties White Lead Co., Jewett, Son g. Co. and George
c. Fowler, dealers in oils was burnt to the ground
with its contents.
P. Ballen & Cos. store, No ls6, with its contents
was also destroyed.
The building No 100, occupied by Mitchell &
MILL No. lSS, agent for the Darien, Geo. packet,
totally destroyed
Messrs. w. E. & J. Graft large grocers, No 1872,
lost every thing, goods and building.
The house, No. 1884, occupied by B. l.. Waite,
spirit dealer, and Polar & Colgate, druggists, was
entirely destroyed.
J. 9. Ashley. No. 1913, was burnt out, and lost
every thing
Son. and N. Comstock, were much damaged by re-
moval and water.
Front Street. " ..t
The Hope Mills Office and building, No. 1913, to-
tally destroyed-Mr. Truesdale provision dealer
on the corner of Fulton, sustained some loss by re-
mova and water-but the building saved. In
the building was also small fruit dealer
On Fulton Street.
The Wooden Ware store, No %, of N. & L.
Bradford, was entirely destroyed-nothing but the
walls OF the building left. Thomson, No. 20, and
the Burgess Eating House were also much damaged.
The back part OF the Fulton street block sustained
good deal Of damage.
Mr.. William Post has lost good deal in the dcs
truction of his buildings Ii is uncertain whether
he is fully insured or not
The wind blowing strong from the Southeast the
embers blew over into carpenters shop in the rear
Of Fletcher street, and sci several buildings fire
there At the same time the roofs of several new
and valuable buildings in Water street. above Bur-
ling slip, were discovered 10 be on fire. Great
fears were entertained that the fire would extend
into Maiden Lane, and in that the destruction
would have been still more dcplorable. The exer-
tons of the fremen were therefore nainly directed
to check the flames in this quarter in which they
happily succeeded, after five buildings had been des-
troyed in Fletcher street, six totally destroyed in
Water street, above Burling slip, and three par
tally injured.
In Fletcher street, No %, owned and occupied BY
- Hawkes., No. 20, by Ross, Duffy & Son, coop
ers No. LOBBY Charles Tallman, cooper, the upper
part occupied by carpenter, whose name we could
not ascertain. The corner of Fletcher and Water
Streets the whole building destroyed, name of the
occupantnot ascertained
On Front street, No. l63 carpenters shop, frame
buildings, apparently Of not much value, in the &C.
cupation OF D. Watkins e. Co., on the west side OF
Water street. The buildings were mostly new, and
built Of brick and granite. No.l7S and l76 are
partially injured in the upper sories and the goods
damaged BY water Nos. TIA, l72, ITO, l6s l66, are
all levelled with the ground. No. l64 not quite
down, but will require 10 be pulled down. The re-
mains Of these houses lay near all across Front ST.,
and il is miracle that we have not TO record the
sacrifice of a vast number Of lives.
From all the accounts, however, that could be
gathered on the spot, we believe that only two ndi
viduals were injured. One Of these got Out by him
SELF after the roof Of l68 fell in, and informed the
bystanders that one man was under the ruins They
instantly set 10 work, and got him out without his
having sustained much injury. We could not as
certain the names Of the firms that occupied the
| west side OF Water streel--they appeared 10 be
| chiefly in the fur trade. From the remains of a
sign board which amid chaotic mass of half burnt
rubbish and tnmbling ruins we could just discover
the words rs. & l.. Brewster, l66, Hat and Fur
Store" OF the others, nothing remained. Two OF
the buildings said TO be only Just finished, and
to have been unoccupied.
So early as nine o'clock this morning the ruins
were viewed by immense crowds of people, OF both
sexes-some searching for their friends who were
employed as clerks portcrs, Sc, and others looking
on from motives OF curiosity the hope of plumber
or this latter class there appears to have been,
usual, pretty good mixture, The fur stores fur
nished good object for plumber in consequence Of
the portability Of the articles they contained. The
watch house of the district at one period so full
that the Captain swore that he could not accommo
date any more loafers unless they had committed
/ some very bad crime