The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-05-30

0llLiS VI OtAOohDe w u v sA~
Picayune of the Doth, containing the follow
ING account of a most devasting fire in that
city:
DISASTROUS CONFEDERATION!
Terrible Loss of Property-Ien Squares
Laid in Ashes-Betreen Tao and Three
Hundred Houses Burned!
We are called upon to record the p%artlcu-
lars of one OF the most extensive and disas-
trous fires which has ever occurred in our
city. Between 10 and l o'clock yesterday
afternoon the flames burst forth in the carpen-
ter's shop of Mr.. Colt, near the northwestern
corner of franklin and Jackson streets, which
before they could be got under, spread to the
adjoining tenements with frightful rapidity.-
Every building was of wood. and as dry as
finder itself from the long drought, so that
nothing could check the onward progress of
the devouring element. The fremen assem-
bled Immediately; but as no water could be
obtained other than from the cutters, their at
ltempts at first were rendered uttery unavail-
ing. The wind fortunately blew in the d.
~rection towards the swamp; had it been other
wise, the flames would have swept towards
the river, in which case there would have
been no bounds to the destruction. AS it
was they were carried with lightning rapidly
S down Jackson street, communicating to the
houses on either side, and soon presenting a
broad sheet of fire some hundred rods IN
r width. To attempt to arrest them was soon
found entirely out of the power of man; no
r water could be procured, and the engines
we're thus rendered useless.
To save their furniture was all that the I'M
fortunate residents of this section could hope
G to achieve, and even in this they were many
of them disappointed. No sooner did they
= move their effects to some house, which they
i hoped was out of reach of the devouring ell
to ement, than the flames were upon them, and
le they could only save themselves by flight
In this way the fire ragged for three hours
during which time it kept down Jackson st.
burning out TO Canal on the right and Com
mon on the left, and crossing IRENE, Marais
on villere and Robertson, 10 Claiborne streets
Nv in all ten squares. OF all the building
,et which occupied this space yesterday mornln
lie none are now standing save the Maison d
les Sante, or DR.. Stones Hospital, and a fe'
lot houses along Common street. At one tim
he it was feared that the Charity Hospital woul
of be destroyed, and it was a sorrowful sight {
of see its numerous inmates peerlng from tn
my windows at the broad lake of destruction II
po- ging before them; but fortunately the flame
zen although they leaped, roared and cracked
my every direction, did not cross Common
ent til its inmates had beer removed. At ii
hi point, which is near the corner of Canal al
re- Claiborne streets, the fremen directed the
ion strongest energies, and fortunately were su
ote c%essful. The only water they could obta
Who from the first was drawn from the gutteI
ort- the plugs at the different hydrants beg
ned permitted to run from the breaking out of
ere fire.
ina To attempt to picture the scene, while t
fierce element was raging at its wildest,we
V q impossible. Houseless unfortunates we
Irm, seen rushing through smoke and flame, a
nor seeking a shelter which only proved tenn
,ver rary, for the flames were again upon the
a Beds and bedding, furniture, Groceries
nng short every thing that could be moved in
ion. hurry-was seen piled and thrown togetl
in Canal and Common streets, the own,
side sitting upon the little wreck that was left
;. as them of all their household store. Many
He the inmates of the houses were laboring
Re- der sickness and inirmity, and their e,
cas- rolled wildly as they were borne from tn
and homes. Mothers, half frantic, were scar
CLAW ing for lost children-children were rushi
with loud screams, amid the fierce crack
, for of the flames, and seeking their parents
every FACE. All was confusion and desp
but the most distressing sight of all, |
osing haps, was the removal of the sick from
i an Maison de Safe. God grant we may ne
e of be called upon to witness such a specta
we again.
Balti- At a little past 4 O'Clock the fire had
'rtant sided-spent itself for want of fuIther t