Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-06-01
From the New Orleans Bee ofthe o..
Appalling and Destructive -
Migration. ~,

AoAn sAe -,e" 0'''e'S pee o. The 2lA&
Appalling and Destructive 80
Migration. NOh-
On Saturday last cur city was visitea,
the most distressing and destructive !.
fiagration we have ever been called NJ.
to record. At about half past twelve \,
clock in the afternoon, flames were obs.,.
cd issuing from carpenters shor. ~.
pied by F. d. Colt, on the east Nj. !,
IRENE, between Jackson and Canal s,r,.,.
1t appears from tie most authentic inibsn.
! ton we have been enabled to obtain. H..
one Of the workmen employed in the es,.S
lishment, in using lucifer match to T,t
a segar, Inadvertently threw it yet ups,:
tinguished, on a pile Of shavings. A bh,.
almost Immediately broke forth, and desn;,.
the exertions Of the people around, con-.
mnnicated nearly instantaneously "a n.
building itself. The wind at the time M
blowing freshly from the east, and was \
course almost converted into hurricap
by the fierccness of the flames. Addh
this the fact that a long continued and ds.
tressing spell Of dry weather, accompanied
by intense heat, had caused every atom 4
moisture in the buildings to evaporate, and
render the woodwork as combusiable a
finder. 1t must likewise be borne in MIND
that all around the neighborhood stood liph,
frame dwellings, packed together, and cen.
mun;cating by wooden fences. aWith
these appliances and aids to boot" ii is no
matter OF astcnishmentthat the flames spread
with fearful and irresistible rapidity, lean.
| ing almost with tie velocity Of lightning
from house 10 house, and involving at oncs
such an immense quantity Of wood-workin
destruction, as absolutely for some time d
bid utter defiance to tie most desperatees q.
ertions of our firemen. As If to render
perfectly certain the progress of des,ne.
ton. the hydrants laid by tie Commercal
Water Works Company, did not extend
beyond Ramrart street-two squares Dis
tant from the scene Of conflagration. A
violent east wind, closely conerecaf.a
mass Of frame buildings, and a total absence
of water-such were the adjuncts Of this
appalling catastrophe.
From Mr.. Colts house, where the Gre
oripinated, the flames spread in every d.
rection. They crossed the street on tie
ore hand, consuming Mr.. Strirgcr's resi-.
dence with such frightful rapidly that The
occupants had not time to save their wear.
ing apparel. Trey extended on each sid.
Of Colts, up and down and in The rear,
completing the work Of destruction in about
three hours, and causing scene Of devas.
tation, ruin and misery, which the most
callous cannot look upon without emotion.
The limits of the eonhagration are briefly
these: From the corner of Canal and Frank.
lin streets down Canal street to Claiborne,
and through the FIVE squares between
Franklin and Claiborne to jackson. From
the corner Of Jackson and Franklin like.
wise to Claiborne, and through the five
squares within that space 10 Common
Thence all along Common as far ss Chf
borne, the only buildings saved on Com
mon beng one or two dwellings owned BY
Messrs. Seebrfght, ]. w. Zacharic, "A. Ds
Crossman, and the house occupied IS tht
public school, corner Of IRENE and Com.
mon streets. On canal street, the only
building saved was Stone and Kcnnedys
Hospital, at tie further extremity Of he
confaeraiion, the main building. being res
cued from the flames through the indckti'
gable and desperate efforts of the firemen-
conspicuous among whom was our late
Mayor, VIM. Freret. who tciled at The
brakes with the most laudable zeal and en-.
erev.
The Charity Hospital was several times
in great danger-thc roof being Of shingles
It was saved in consc uencc Of large mum.
bers Of persons mounting the roof, and
keeping it well covered with wet blankets
The number of persons left houselcssby
this distressing calamity, cannot fall shon
Of two thousand, great portion Of WHOM
are of the poorer class of society. 1t isa-
most unnecessary to state that a public
meeting of our citizens will be immediate
" called for the purpose Of affording asst
ance to the sufferers, and we doubt not oul
sister cities will not be backward in res
ponding to the call Of the afflicted and dr.
tressed.
There follows list Of the number 4
main and out buildings destroyed, withtk
estimated value thereof. The numbers
main buildings burnt is stated to be l7o,
and out buildings 100. Estimated tosa
loss, $2a9, 6oo.l.
The Picayune, Of the 22d, says:
The Bee and other papers Of YESTERDAY,
contain long lists Of the sufferers, but nceh-
ing like the actual number has been given.
A column of solid names wouhs hardy
comprise the whole Of them, and we can
not, therefore, undertake an enumersticn.
1t is reported that little girl, some 81
years Of age, was buried beneath the ialle.
ruins Of a house in jackson street, an
burnt to death. 1t is certainly . wondef'
with such rapidly did the flames leap iron
house to house, that many lives were ~
lost. The entire loss Of property j. CO.
mated as being inthe neighborhood Of $4oo'
COO. II
We rejoice to see that contributions ~
being made by our citizens, for the rene.
Of those leffdes;itute by the great FIRE, "a
the Wing meeting, on Saturday night, $l.a
was collected, and on Sunday, at NJ
Clapp's church, after warm appeal froa
the worthy pastor, the sum Of $500 W.
taken. From the Age Of last evening. -
also learn that, Maj. Gally has sent ~
Recorder $500, a sum presented BY nm