Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-10-25


i Deal on the 23d Of September
From the Lre-pool Papers, Of September 2i,l J,
Yesterday morning witnessed the most awiuliy &c
structive fire, whether regards life or properly ina
has taken place in this ncaliiy-nore destructive
indeed, than the memorable fire in 1902, which de
stroyed the Goree warehouses.
| On that occasion, the estimated damage wss-ware
houses, f44 $50 grain, fl20 G00-sugar, f5o o0u-
coffee, f. oG0-coiton, f30 600 suncres, Ebo,cuu-
total e}23 GG0-whereas the present occasion, ons
article nl.ne -coon-has been destroyed 10 an exsen
exceeding the whole of the loss by that memorable
/ fire.
1t has been ascertained BY the brokers' returns
| that 31,114 bales of cotton have been consumed
by the coIfagration Of yesterday, which, averaging
each bale at E9-not above the mark-gives the
enormous sum Of f337, 266 If 10 this be added tie
of warehouses and sheds destroyed together vita
the valuable colonial and foreign produce CONSUMED
therein the actual destruction of property by the ierr
(ul visitation WILL we fear, be found 10 exceed hve
| hundred thousand pounds
In the existing state of uncertainty ard alarm, very
near approach 10 correctness cannot, we know, b.
made or expected; but the sum we have named viii
not in The estimate of competent persons, be iound
very far wide Forty years have eapsed since VIVA
used to be called the great fire in the Gorce occurred
and what is what remarkable, that event, like The
present. occurred in the same month, September.
The distressing calamity we are now recording has
however been far rag!cul in its results than the
Only event The history of the town with which It can
be compared The loss Of life, from the peculiar crcuG
stances attending H. be saiisfacto rily aacsr
tancd bu, we should not be surprised it, including the
unfortunate persons al present IN the Northern Hosp-
tai and those buried beneath the ruins, all traces OF
whom will be forever swept away before Inc removal Of
the burning materials, the number exceeded thirty.
Under The ruins there are, it is believed eighteen 10
twenty men, and from the dangerous state OF many IN
the hospital half that number, it is feared, will not
| survive In the hospital there are now seventeen
dreadruly mu,ated exclusive ofthree who died there
I Yesterday.
The fire originated in Crompton street, formerly
Wood street. at the North end Of the town. near the
docks The three principal streets atfected-namely,
Crompton street, Formby street, and Neptune street
all nearly opposite the Borough Gaol-run East ano
West between Great Howard street I'm which the
prison stands) and Waterloo road close TO the docks
The three streets and their boundaries East and
West occupy an area'of from six TO seven acres.
The boa;.bnilders yards, sail lofts &c, facing Wa
eroo road saved over the whole frontage 10 tha'
street. as we'll ireproof warehouse and others near
the end and at the bottom of Formby street The same
may be said Of several Of the premises extending up
Neptune street from the bottom, including Messrs
Grayson ard Dannisier and McDowelrs snhy.
shed at the top Of the street, as well as the
wall and the premises facing the Jail, and extending to
Mrs Batks house. South corner OF Cronlpton street,
we're also unscathed though damaged; so that the he
may be said to have bee confined chiefly TO the centre
of the area sweeping from North TO South.
Several dwelling houses were included IN the de-
s,ruction in the North but the greatest portion oil the
havoc was in the CENTRE namely, Fromoy street; IN
and which, on both sides, were the larger ware
houses the burning contents Of which Chiefly cotton)
vet form immense piles CT hills in red-hot state oil
combustion.
It appears that a Waterman named Barnard Coyle'
who WAS employed to guard the premises OF MT fens
ton, bone grinder and dryealter, during the nsht,
found that the FIRE had broken out in the engine house
precisely at o'clock the FIRE having been Kept IN all
nuht 10 keep up the steam.
The alarm was Immediately given TO police oitcer
No 81 who exerted himself TO the utmost; but before
the engines could be brought up immense quantity
of warehouses; and three yards were on fire IN Cromp'
ton street.
The combustibe nature Of the premises was such,
together with strong breeze from the Northwest nat
Mrs saacs oil and color store soon took re as wen us
many small crowded workshops OF millwrghs, smitns
&c. in the immediate locality.
The fire next got 10 Pooes bonded cotton sheds IN
Great Howard street, and finally swept TO Forniby
street The whole Of the warehouses in that street
were successfully gnited, and burnt to the ground
with vast destruction of property, and we lament 10
saw several lives.
Great c1ertons were made TO save the houses N
Formby street. bu, those the North side, Dwelling
housps caught fire chiefly by the intensity OF the re
JUS, below the burning warehouses, the RUNS ana
burning materials of which were piled to The he'ghl
Of eighty or ninety fect-throwing up immense w.
Iumes nf fame and smoke.
From time TO time, the high walls of the warehouses
r,ll with a laundering crash, and shortly alter nine
clock one was killed outright by the falling ma
lerals The wall of large warehouse IN formoy
street. which had been on fire some time, ana mao
reached with the cotton within, almost white neat,
al length fell upon of the sheds on the Souh IN
Neptune street. The consequence, IN snort 'lme
was that the whole range of sheds at the top part Of
that street, used for bonding cotton, and os cooper
ages, were ignited. !,
IMMUNE street was the Southern boundary of the
fire. the sheds at the top OF the North sde-wllh the
exception Of the one just opposite the borough
Dil-were oil burned out al noon. Some slaves hoops,
&c. were saved from the cooPerages and yards oooVe
but great deal Of in other sheds was consumed,
many of the bags retaining their shape, though red hot
and reduced 10 finder.
Inward Of three thousand bags of rice were saved
from Mr. Meningitis warehouse in Neptune street,
During The removal of this rice two men lost their Ves
by the 70 ling of the gable end
Up TO the latest hour last night, at which we coo''
obtain Information TO the casualties we found It n
possible TO ascertain the number OF uniortunales VINO
have lost their lives On this point all syel conJ C.
tura but we lament say, that the general opinion 49,
Thai nrt less than thirty have persisted. We sincerely
home this estimate is beyond the reality Two engines
were also smashed, and fear considerable NUMBER
Of the 6remen and others were killed. Several men
were carried to the hospital badly burnt or hurt-some
Of them MORALLY.
vessels working up the Channel, as well as by The
guards on the mail train from Birmingham.
The following is an account of the buildings destroy
ed: Four warehouses (Grays) burnt; one do cray,
lors) do two do (Reyner's) do; two Co. (poole =
do; four do (Maws do one Go. Roger . hle psod,'
partially On fire, but subsequently extingusre; two DO
(Rcyners) South burnt; one shed, do do Two sheds
iHo9seeys) Neptune street, do one large shed, (Mc-
Knigh,'s) West of the above do Taylo1,s cooperage
Molvneuxs lumber yard cart houses stables. row OF
sx,sen houses, ard large Of property Of various
descriptions, burnt. g, zoo
The whole is assessed at an annual value Of t,5oo
TIE value Of the buildings, exclusive of the land pro
baby from $4,000 to 100000 The property When nen
they contained may be estimated at the value OIL 'Ooo'o
TO 100000 a.,
The principal contents cotton turpentinf, hour'
&c The brokers add up 10 So goo bales bot oh e
must be more. The following is IN estimate;
in cotton Els 0G0 other goods; t3o,UoO IN ou'lc-
nes total s435,o00.
TEN DAYS LATER.
We received this morning, on he evr Of gong 10
press, intelligence of the arrival Of The Mai steamer
0rto