Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-10-24
lfsom the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, OF ocl u
Terrible COn6agratiOn.
400 uOusEs DEsTROYED.

THIS uay 10 cHTOnicIe uhotncT uost severe
FIRE in the city Of Mobile, and that too
by the hand Of an incendiary. This is
the fifth fire which has occurred in that
afflicted city since the close Of Septem-
ber-a city almost desolated by that
dreadful scourge the yellow fever
From what we have recently seen in
the Mobile papers, we are led to the
belief that a great portion Of the gentle
men who belonged to the fire department Mt
in that city, have either been removed
by death or left the city. Ii is but a
day or two since, that we published a
touching account Of the death of the
chief engineer Of the fire department.
his last death struggle was during the
sounding Of the alarm bell for the dcs-
tructive fire Of the Cd inst. All the par
ticulars that have reached us of the fire
: of the 7th, are contained in the following
letters.
The sufferings and loss must be very
great. We offer our sympathy, and
should it be needed, shall be most happy
to join our fellow citizens in more
substantial expression Of coincidence.
Correspondence Of the Commercial Adver,iser.
JOURNAL OrrIcE, MOBILE,
Oct. 9th, 1889.
write to you hastily, to give you the
first intelligence Of the heaviest disaster
this city has experienced since 1897. We
were nearly all consumed last night by
a dreadful fire, which has laid at least
four hundred houses in ashes. 1t broke
out early in the evening, in an unten-
anted house, in Conception street, door
or two from Dauphin street. 1t was set
on fire by some 81 the incendiary villains
who seem to have sworn the destruction
of the city. A high northeast wind was
spreading it, and no water could be OBJ
tanned until il was utterly hopeless to
contend with the fury Of the flames,
which spread with race-horse velocity,
destroying every thing before them
AT least twelve whole squares-l have
consumed. The North side of Cont,
from Conception street to tho Catholic
squire; both sides of Dauphin, from
Conception to Franklin both sides OF
St. Francis and St. Michael, to nearly
the same points, covering an area Of a
third Of mile square, are utterly des-
troyed. The Episcopal and the small
Catholic Church are burned. Nothing
tended to save the whole city, north and
west, but tho blowing up of many houses,
at intervals, and the providential subsi-
ding of the wind. ! cannot compute, OF
attempt to compute, the loss. Much OF
the property was old, but the most pro-
duclive in the city. The rental des-
troyed was prodigious.
The banks, post Office, &c. bcing to
the windward of the fire, happily escn-
ped, as did the rest OF the town south
of Cont aud eust of Conception street.
MoDlLE, Oct. 8, 1888.
We were aroused again last night
with the cry of fire, which proved to be
on Conception street, between Dauphin
and Cont streets wind blowing
fresh from r.,e south east. II burnt down
Dauphin street to Reid's bake shop, and
continued up town. Tho flames spread
with such rapidity, that at one time it
was thought the whole city would be
destroyed. At last it was checked by
the Methodist Episcopal Church. II
destroyed all the buildings on Cont to
Dauphin street, St. Francis and St. Mi
chael streets. Fourteen squares, contatn-
ing from fre 10 SIR hundred houses, are
now a heap of ruins, and venture to
say that one thousand families are left
destitute, with not shelter to put THEN
heads in. Ii was the work of an incen-
diary, and | understand that four persons
have been taken up on suspicion.
From tie N. Y. Com. Advertiser. ofOct. 81.
MOBILE, Oct. 10.
AND STILL ANOTHER Last evening
the inccndiaries succeeded IN firing the
Governmen mt street Theatre, which, will
the beautiful dwelling of Gov. q. Henry
adjoining, and u number of small build
ings on the square, was totally destroyed
m three hours. The flames ragged fierce
Iy, so that nothing could be done bu
watcl, their progress and prevent them
from spreading Sparks and large Gin
ders were carried in prodigious quaint
ties over the North. cast portion OF the
city, falling on dry roofs and sheds "
such quantities ns to s,artlc every man
in that quarter for the safety OF this rem
- mint of the city. Several roofs took lire
but were all happily cxlingu'shec before
any damage of consequence was done
The rest Of The night was one Of feverlsf
slecplessncss on the part OF the whole
population. Tho streets were paradet
by patrolcs, and from the windows ever,
where streamcd the light Of the nigh
lamps Of trembling watchers, waiting TO
the renewal of the alarm. The night
however, passed without farther attcmp
and this day a hoggard people vii
meet to determine what they must iihall,
do in such an unheared-of emergency
] believe | mentioned to YOU, in my yer!
short letter yesterday, the audac'ty o
the villains who, on that dreadful morn
ing, attempted to Gre the brick row oI
Royul-street, within two hundred feet q
the blazing Mansion House. In TIT
course Of tho day two other inccndiar.
movements were detected and irustrate,
ono in Colonel Halett's brick build
ings en- toynlstrect below Government
and the other in n carpenters shed op
posite MIR. Heard's press Oh Commerc