Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-05-25
DISASTROUS CONFEDERATION

Terrible Loss of Propeytg-Ten Squares Lain
in AsHss-Betlaeen Tue and Three Hun.
dred Holses Buried
We arc called upon to record the ~particu-
laga M one ofthe most extensive and disastrous
fires which has ever occurred ID our city. Be-
tween IL and | o'clock Yesterday afternoon
The flames barst forth IN the carpenters shop
Of hrt Col, near the northwestern corner of
Franklin and Jackson streets, which, before
they could be got under, spread TO the adioin-
lug tenements with frightful rapidly. Every
building was Of wood, and AS dry a. finder it.
self from the long drought, 50 that nothing
could check the onward progress OF the devoug-
ing clement. The iiremen assembled imme.
diately but as no water could be obtained
other than from the cutters, their attempts at
first were rendered utterly unavsiling. Tbs
wind fortunately blew in the direction towards
the swamp had il been otherwise, The flames
would have swept towards the river, in which
case there would have been no bounds 10 the
destruction. IA it was, they were carried
with lightning rapidly down jackson street,
communicating to the houses On either side,
and soon presenting a broad sheet offfe some
hundred yards in width. TO attempt to arrest
them was soon found entirely out of the power
VI bAN W. W Abl1 ACutd bCs piOCuIEAS anu NV
engines were thus rendered useless.
To save their furniture was all that the On
fortunate residents of this section could hope
toachieve, and even in this they were many Of
them disappointed. No sooner did they move
their effects TO some house, which they hoped
was out of reach Of Che deyouriflg element,
than the flames were upon them, and they
could only save themselves by fight. in this
t.rr. Az. 1880 g. IT, 80. e. -ZE-tI.-A
time it kept down Jackson street, burning out
to Canal on the right and Conapon On the left,
and crossing IRENE, Marais, Where and Ro-
bertson, to Claiborne streets, in Ill f~eaaquares,
OF all the buildings which occupied this space
yesterday morning none are now standing save
the Maison De Sante, or DR.. S.one's Hospital,
and a few houses along Common street. At
one time it was feared that the Charity Hospi-
tai would be destroyed, and it was = sorrow-
fui sight to gee lis numerous inmates peering
from the windows at the broad lake Of destruc-
ton raging before them bat fortunately the
flames, although they leaped, reared and crack
led IN every direction, did not cross Common
street. The Mason de Sanet was saved, but
not until its inmates had been removed. At
this point, which is near the corner Of Canal
and Claiborne streets, the iremen directed
their strongest energies, ard fortunately were
successful The only water they could obtain
from the first was drawn from the cutters, the
plugs at the different hydrants being permitted
10 run from the breaking out Of the FIRE.
10 attempt to picture the scene, Wide the
fierce element was raging at its widest, were
HouEeIess u~nfortunates were seen
rushing through smoke and fame, and seek
ing a shelter which only proved temporary,
for the flames were again upon them. Beds
and bedding, furniture, groceries-in short
every thing that could be mDyedin the hurry
was seen piled and thrown together in Canal
and Common streets, the owners sitting upon
the little wreck that was left to them of all
their household store. Many Of the inmates
ofthe houses were laboring under sickness and
infirmity, and their eyes rolled wildly as they
were borne from their homes. Mothers, half
frantic were searching for lost children-chil-
1ren were rushing, with loud screams, amid
The fierce cracking ofthe flames, and seeking
heir parents in every face All was confu-
sion and despair; but the nost distressing
sight of all, perhaps was the removal OF the
,ick from the Maisefr de Sante. God grant
sc nay never be called upon 10 witness such
spectacle again.
4. 21it.fe 5ast 4 o'clock the fire had subsi-
lea paag lsa fa want of farther food to
.ansun9s 70 Temp ID give list Of the suf-
OF be afnaaat OF property destroyed,
would be impossible. Hundreds of citizens
ave been left without shelter; ard the loss
las unfortunately fallen mostly upon poor but
Industrious families, many of whom owned the
mall but comfortable dwellings, in Whichthey
esided. Along Canal street, between Irene
nd Robertson streets. stood a number of Iarge,
legant, and costly brick residences, all If
sheh are destroyed. Their blackeaed walls h
re sone of them still standing fbut as on the
Their parts Of the burnt district the houses
fere mostly Of wood, nothing now greets tie
We Of the behoIder rave an immense forest of
himniss-all else being burnt snaooth with !
he ground. We can liken the appearance Of
biz unfortunate section Of our city TO nothing
ave a new feld,]ust brought into cultivation, {
nd OH whichthe heavy trees have been dead
ned and shorn Of their branches aud tops, but
till left gtanding-sad momentous Of what G
8ey were in their freshness and pride.-Pic. |
ylne Of Sunday.
0UTRkGEs uPov AMERIc ANs.-YTs find in /
be Philadelphia II. States Gazette cf tho 7th d
1stant a statement which ought to stir the &
lood of every man. and which should lead :
ur tardy Government for once to take prompt t
nd decided steps to obtain redress for past
INJURIES, and protection in future for Ar1eri- /
abroad. It appears that Gen. O'Donnell, =
4 his savage mode of Investigating those CON- t
romised in the threatened insnrrection in I