Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-24

The Gazette of the 12sh gives fuller details of the
confagration. No idea be given on paper Of the
distress that prevails-none formed of the that
has brought upon the city and thousands Of its peo
pie. We suboin the Gazette's account, written on
Friday, the 1lth instant
We have thrown together, under different heads,
the principal incidents, with list of the chief suffer-
ers, of the great and ever memorable fire of last
Thursday. Our readers can rely upon the accuracy
of our statements, and them we have
whit exaggerated. Many things that ought to be
mentioned, are probably overlooked. We have done
the best could under the circumstances.
The effect Of this disaster the business and pros
perity of Pittsburgs
We have carefully inquired of many of our clear
est headed business men, those most thoroughly con-
versant with the resources of the city, as to the pro-
babe effect of this disaster upon prosperity, and
coupled with knowledge of the strength of
the merchants who were burnt out, the position OF
their circumstances &C., fully convinced that
though the commercial prospects of the city ter
riby shaken, yet it as not totally Frustrated, and IN
due time Will rise above II all. Our large ndnGc.
tories are untouched-the only mills of any import
ance which burnt being the Globe Factory which
is the smallest in the city; the Kensington Iron
Works, and Bakewell & Pears's Glass Works. Va
rious other small establishments destroyed, but
it is with great satisfaction announce that the
great leading branches comparatively untouched,
and that business, far they concerned will
90 on as usual
As for our wholesale merchants in the grocery,
queensware, and dry goods branches who were burnt
some of them will commence forthwith. Some are
wholly ruined, many much crippled, but we believe
the majority can go on usual, and yesterday they
busy getting places of business and Offices.
Ii Is with heartfelt pleasure observe the fortl
tude with which they bear their losses There is no
replning, no despair, sullenness but calm, de-
tcrmned spirit which must carry them up again. The
baf bool, h,tx.-o
yer had more confidence of the strength and spirit of
our merchants to overcome il all in time 1t must not
be supposed that all the business portions of the city
are consumed Most OF the dry goods Jobbers I'M
touched. So of the hardware merchants and a num-
Der of the heavy houses are out of the limits of the
burnt district. And it fortunately happens too that
large amount of groceries from the east for the city
had not arrived. We repeat therefore, that though
the city is terribly Shaken it is neither ruined
tally Frustrated.
The Appearance of Things
Yesterday morning walked around the Burnt
district The appearance of things is awful-noth-
ing but an immense forest of walls, and chmneys is
visible, and desoiae heaps Of brick and mortar The
fierce fire licked every combustlble clean up Nothing
that would burn escaped. The wharf covered
with merchandise Of every description, furniture, &c.
and many piles which were rolled out, as 1t
thought beyond the reach of the flames, were
ed. Piles of burnt and partially consumed Coffee,
Sugar, Nails, Iron, Cotton. Paper, Tea, &c. &C.,
scattered along it. OF the Monongahela bridge,
nothing remains but long line of burnt timber
the river between the naked piers, all the hills
piles of furniture, bedding, &c, are scattered.
Along the streets the only valuable things visible
safes which the merchants took the precauton to haul
out of their stores, and it prudent foresight,
inasmuch many of them proved of very little
Among the ruins, crowds of people from other parts
of the city and the country wandering and gaz-
ing upon the For ourselves, we, more than
were lost and had to look around for some well
known landmark to fix the locality.
Incidents Of the Fire.
A fireman had his face burnt so raw that the blood
ran from it.
Mr.. Malcolm Leech was on the top of his ware
house looking at the fire, and when coming down,
injured pretty seyeTly by fall.
The only life lost, that we heard of, was poor
woman in Third street
Amidst all this distress, there were those who add
ed to the calamity by stealing. Among Others the
Rev. George S. Holmes had about $500 stolen which
he had gathered up by economy on a Methodist
preachers salary. He had also large number of
valuable manuscripts, the labor Of twenty years
To show the rapdity of the fire. we may mention
that gentleman of our acquaintance arrived at the
American Hotel about one O'Clock, and leaving his
trunk walked out to the fire, which then
" quarter of NILE off, In short time he return
ed, and found the hotel in flames He lost his trunk
with nearly all his clothing and papers, and consid
cradle of money.
spread, be found in the extraordinary dryness of
the weather for the two weeks past We have not
had shower of rain in that time, with one trifing
exception. Every particle of wood in the houses of
the city, dry as finder.
The First or West Ward
The business part of this ward, is almost entirely
destroyed TIE destruction in this ward extends from
the corner of Wood and Water streets, up Wood
street to Diamond Alley from thence across Fourth
street. to the United States Bank Fourth
up to the Mayors Office across to Third street, and
down the south side of Third street to Ferry, down
Ferry to Front street, up north side of Front to Mar
ket down east side of Market to Water, and up Wa
ter to Wood the place of beginning. In all this vast
space, the only buildings left standing the Third
Presbyterian Church. Johnson & Stockton's, and the
American printing offices, and tie warehouse of the
Globe Cotton Factory.
The Second or South Ward
The destruction in this ward, nearly the Oldest part
of the city, and one Of the most popuous of the five
wards, is complete and overwhelming 1t is left al
most without inhabitants, only two three dwellings
remaining
The Individual Losses
The losses of some individuals and houses are enor
nous, ranging from $1,000 to S200,OO0.
Thus one firm of wholesale grocers the heavies
holders of sugar. molasses &c, in the city, and alsC
owners of the Buildings in which they did business
cannot have lost less taAan from $50 to 100000
There is the Moaongaheia House also which cos
5000, 900 including the furniture. In m-nv lnstan
ces merchants not only lost stocks worth S2C, mo
but also their dwelling houses and every dollar
worth of furniture and clothes they possessed Sai'
one, l have lost $4,000, ard have now but one dol
larin the world.
Tas Insurance Offices