The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-06-07

Hundred Houses Burned.
We are called upon to record The pariie-
ulars OF one ol the most extensive nnG dis-
astrous fires which has ever occurred IN
our city. Belwecn IL and o'clock yes
leiday afternoon the flames burst forth ~ |.
the carpenters shop OF Mr.: Colt, near the
northwestern corner OF Franklin and Jack
ccn streets, which, before they could be got
under, spread 10 the adjoining lenemen's
with irighliul TapldIty: Every building
was OF wood, and as dry as under itseii
from the long drought, so that nothing
could check the onward progress OF the
devouripg element: The hrcmen assem-
bed Immediately but as no water could |
he obtained other than from the cutters, !
their attempts ut first were rendered utter Z
" unavailng: The Wind fortunately blew
IN the direction towards The swamp; had
il been otherwise, the flames would have
swept towards the river, 10 which case
there would have been no bounds 10 the dc.
slruction: As il was, they we're carried
with Lightning rapidlly down Jackson-strt,
communicating 10 the houses Oh either side,
and soon presenting broad sheet OF fire
some hundred yards IN width: To attempt
TO arrest them was soon found entirely out
of the power OF man; 10 water could be
procured, and the engines were thus rcn.
dercd useless:
10 save their furniture was al that the
unfortunate residents OF this section could
hope to achieve, and even in this they were
many Of them Disappointed; No sooner
dad they move their effects 10 some house,
which they hoped was out Of reach of the
devouring element, than the flames were
upon them. and they could only save them.
selves by flight: La this way the fire ragged
for three hours, during which time II kept
down Jackson.st, burning out TO Canal on
the right ard Common on the lelt, and
crossing Irene, Marais, Niilierc aud Ro-
4 bertson TO Claiborne SIS, III all ten squares;
Of all the buildings which occupied thus
space yesterday morning none are now
standing save the Maison DO Saute, or DIR:
Stones Hospital, and few houses along
I Common.st: At one time " was feared
! that the Charity Hospital would he destroy
cd, and il was a sorrowful sight to see It's
numerous inmates pccpiug from The VIM
dows at the broad lake Of destruction ra-
/ alng before them; but fortunately the
flames, although they lenped, roarcd and
cracked IN every direction, did not cross
Common-st: The Maison dc Saute was
saved, but not until its inmates had been
removed. At this point, which IS near the
corner Of Canal and Claiborne. sis, the fire.
men directed their strongest energies, and
fortunately were successful: The ouly wa
ter they could obtain from the frs, was
drawn from the cutters, The plugs at the
different hydranis beng permitted 10 run
from the breaking GU, Of tho tire:
To attempt 10 picture the scene, while
the fierce element was raging al It's Wild
est, were impossible: Housclcss uniorlu
mates were sceu rushing through smoke
and flame, aud seeking shelter which on.
IS proved temporary, for the flames scrr
again upon thcm. Beds, bedding aud fur.
ullurc, and groceries, short everything
\ that could be moved "a the hurry
seen piled and thrown together ~ Canal
and Common streets, The oNucfs sitting
upon the little wreck that Nas le!. 10 them
I Of al their household store. MANY of rhe
inmates Of the house. were laloring under
sickness and Hhrmity, aud then eyes roll
led wildly as they were borne FROM ihcii
homes. Mothers, half frantic, were search.
ing for lost ch.ldren-ch.ldrcn were rush.
lug With loud screams, amid the fierce
cracking Of the flame, and seeking then
parents m every face. All was confusion
and despair but tho most distressing slgh
Of all, perhaps, was the removal of the slct
from The Mason Dc Sanic. God grant w
may never be called upon to witness suct
a spectacle again.
At llitle pas, o'clock the fire has
subsidized spent itself for want Of larthei
food to consume. To attempt to give I
list Of the sufferers, or the amount Of pro
perry destroyed, would be impossible
Hundreds OF citizens have been left with
out shelter, and the loss has nu!ortuaatel,
fallen mostly upon poor but industriou
families, many Of whom owned the small
but comfortable dwellings IN which thc'
resided. Along Canal street between
IRENE and Robertson streets, stood mum
Der Of large, elegant, aud costly brick resi-
dcnces, all Of winch are destroyed. Thci
: blackoned walls are some Of them stu
standing; but as on the other parts Of III,
burnt districts the houses were mostly o
wood, nothing nov grects the eye Of thu
bchoIder save an immense forest Of chin
nlcs-all else being burnt smooth TO the
ground. We can lkcn the appearance O
this unfortunate section Of our city TO moth
ing save new field, just brought into cul
tlyailon, and on which the heavy tree,
have been deadcncd aud shorn Of then
branches and tops but still left standing
sad mementocs Of what they were in then
freshness and pride.
In our next VIC shall probably be able Il
give some estimate Of The calanitous los.
which has been sustaiucd--ai present il i.
impossible TO make even a rough calcula.
tlon. Not less than two hundred = mnny
say two hundred aud fifty houses have been
. destroyed, besides nh immense amount oil
other property. Some part Of il was i'm.