The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-10-26


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From the Correspondent at the " YEra,
Dated, Mobile, Oct. 9Th.
right to You hastely 10 give you the frs,
Intelligence of 1he hea' lest disaster this city
has experienced since 1927. We were
nearly all consumed last night by dreadful
fire, which laid at least four h9adrtd hons
es in sshvs. II broke out early in the eve
ming, in aA uatenanled house, in Ocncep-
tion-slrees, door or two from Dauphin-
street. 1t was set on fire by some OF the
incendiary Williams who seem to have sworn
the destruction of the city. high north
east wind was spreading II, and no water
coald be obtained Until il was utterly hope
less 10 contend with the fury OF the flames,
which spread upward with tsce.horse
velocity, destroying every thing before
them, Atieast twelve whole squares-l
have not been 10 eount--haye been utterly
consumed. The north side of Cont, from
ConcepWor-atreet to the Catholic square
both sides Of Dauphin, from Conception TO
franklin; both sides Of ST. Frances and st.
Michael, to nearly the same points, cover
ing an erea Of third of mile square, are
utterly destroyed. The Episcopal and the
small Catholic Church are burned Nothing
tended TO save the whole city, norsh and
west, but the blowing up Of many houses,
at intervals, and the providential subsiding
of the wind. cannot compute the loss.
Much Of the property was old, but the
most productive in the city. The rental
destroyed was predigious,
The banks, pOst-ofTice, &c, being to the
windward OF the fire, happily escaped, as
did she rest of the town south of Cont and
cast Of Conception-street.
Extract Of letter, same dates
"Last night has been a memorable
night for Mobile, for our city is nearly all
in ashes. A FIRE broke out at o'clock,
near the corner of Cont and Conception
streets and made clean sweep, including
the north side Of Cont 10 franklin, up
Franklin to ST. Micliaels, down St. Mi.
chaels TO Conception, and from thence to
Cont. About fifteen blocks have been des-
troyed." The letter states that families
were carried ont Of their houses sick with
fever
Extract Of another, same date.
We were aroused again last night with
the cry Of fire, which proved to be on Con
cep!ion-street, between Dauphin and Cont
Blreets-the wind blowing fresh from tn,
south east 1t burnt down Dauphin stree
10 Reid's bake shop, and continued up towI
The flames spread with such rapidity, ths
at one time il was thought the whole cit,
would be destroyed. At last il was check
ed by the Methodist Episcopal Church
il destroyed all the buildings on Cont t
Dsuphn streets. St. Francis and ST. Mi
chse streets. FOURTEEN SQUARES
CONTAINING FROM FIVE TO SD
HUNDRED HOUSES, are now a hear
Of ruins, and venture TO say that on
thousand families are left destitute, wit
not shelter to put their heads in. 1t wa
the work of an incendiary, and understan
that four persons have been taken up o.
suspicion.
Extract of another, same date.
"a fire occurred last night, which dcs
troyed ten squares, containing six hundre
houses. The fire originated at the corne
Of DauPhin and Conception streets, and il
progress was arrested towards Jackso
street. At the time am writing, the fir
still RACES and the wind blows from tn
eastward, which will blow it away fror
the business part of the town. TIE pal
oi the city on fire consists principally &
wooden houses, occupied principally b
eresls and colorcd people.
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