The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-10
From the Wilmington Chronicle, May ,, Isl
GREAT FIRE.

We issued hastily prepared slip from this Of
fee on Sunday afternoon, giving as full an ac-
count as could then be made up ofthe awful fire
which has laid an extensive and valuable portion
of our town in ashes. 1t is doubtless, all things
considered the most calamitous event that has ev-
er befallen Wilmington, ravaged as it has a num-
Der Of times been by fire. once before, to fright
full extent within little more than three years
The part laid waste by the fire of January 1910,
was almost built up again. and our town presented
cheerful aspect; but alas forthe cherished hopes
of exemption from a similar visitation, we have
now another large space occupied but BY black
ened walls and heaps acknowledging ruins. The
fire of Sunday last, destroyed, we think, at least
two hundred buildings, ofevery kind, besides an
immense deal of other species ofproperty.
Between 1 1 and IL of that day, whilst the wind
was blowing almost hurricane from the South,
the greater part of the inhabitants being at the
time engaged in religious services at the,various
Churches, blaze was discovered issuing from
the roof of the old brick warehouse known as
McKay's, on the alley next North Of the Bank OF
Cape Fear. Almost Immediately, the flames took
hold of several adjacent wooden buildings on the
Northeast, and sweeping in a few minutes across
Princess STREET.-THE the dwellings of Mrs. Robson,
MIR Anderson, Mrs. Noyes Mr.. Calder, and 9th
ers cut off nearly every hope of saving any of the
Northern part ofthe town above those points, be-
Streets
Onward and onward the flames thence .progres-
sed, driven by the violence of the wind, Ieaping
from building to building with appalling activity
Burning fakes were hurled off at incredible dis
tances, lgniting roofs ana other combustibIe mat
ter in a moment, every thing being like tinder
from the long spell ofdry weather Flames were
seen rising up in numerous places at the same
time, and all exertions to stay their force were in
vain. Not hundred engines at work would have
availed any thing. In less than two hours from
the time the alarm was given, the Rail Road De
pot buildings, of brick, at distance Of three
eighths of a mile from where the fire commenced,
had been reached by it, and were soon destroyed.
Long before these took fire however, wooden
buildings in their immediate 1neighborhood were
consumed Indeed, buildings more than three
hundred yards from where the fire originated,
were in blaze in fifteen minutes after it was first
discovered Hilton Bridge, a mile from town,
was set on fire by a flake carried thither by the
wind. North fsthe Depot, but one building was
burnt, there being but a few scattering and small
tenements in that direction.
Between Princess Street and the Rail Road
land Second Street and the river embracing more
than eight squares, not morethan ffleenor twenty
buildings are left standing. On thelipper wharves
there was an. immense quantity of country pro-
Iduce such as naval stores lumber, &c, all OF
which was burnt We do not understand that
there was great value in merchandise destroyed
the most part being got out, the stores were not
so directly In the first range taken by the fire as
the dwelling houses. -
Many families lost all their furniture, clothing,
/ and other household goods; nearly all part oI
each, and several whose circumstances were com.