Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-26
From the Pittsburgh Gazette, April II.
Awful COnflagratiOn---D full
Calamity..Pittsburgl in Ruins.

Awful COnnagratiOm--.Dr ful
Calamity.-Pittsburgll ia Ruins:
Ate o'clock, p. NJ, Thursday evening,
we sit down to our desk with sad heart,
to record the most fearful calamity which
ever befel any city the size Of Pittsburgh.
While we now write, an awful fire is rag.
ing, consuming the fairest portion of our
city, and no human being can tell where
it will stay its savages. 1t has now been
burning for six hours, and confusion reiens
extreme, and it cannot be expected we shall
give any thing like particular statement
Of a calamity so extensive, and involving
such fearful ruins. What general partic-
ulars we can give We lay before our rea-
ders.
The FIRE broke out about IL o'clock, M.
to-day, in an old frame shed on the east
side Of Ferry street, used, we believe, for
smoke house, Immediately surrounded on
two sides with old frame buildings. The
weather was extremely dry, and wind high,
almost gale blowing from the west.
The houses adjoining, on Second street,
caught fire Immediately. The engines at
this time began to play, and had there been
q suficiency Of water, would have subdued
the FIRE. But from want Of water, and
high wind, the fire extended across Sec-
ond street to the Globe Cotton Factory,
which, together with dwelling ad;oining,
was consumed. The I'd Presbyterian
church was on FIRE, but was saved with
great exertion. T
The FIRE, also, about the same time, et-
tended across Ferry street, to the west
side, where it consumed some 6 or dwell
lings, when It was stopped in that direction,
the wind being favorable. F
But it was east Of Ferry street where
the fire ragged with most fury. 1t imme-
diately extendedtowards Market ST., sweep
ing every house on both sides Of Second
street, and the whole square bounded by
Market, Ferry, Second and Front streets,
except one building, the warehouse Of the
Cotton Factory. In the square bounded
BY Market, Ferry, Second and Third
streets, every building was destroyed ex-
cept the Sd church, and Johnston s. Stock
tons printing Office, and the American Of
fee. t1ss So IS le
The fire crossed Market at Front street,
and then began to rage with awful fury
This was about two o'clock, r. M. and the
wind had increased to perfect gale. The
fire absolutely appeared TO dance from rool
to roof, and in an incredible short space Of
time the three immense squares, composed
mostly Of warehouses, bounded by Market
and Wood, and extending from Third to
the river, were q sea Of flame. -
The heat by this time was tremendous,
and the wind blowing gale. Wood st.,
formed no barrier at all. The flames went
kissing across as if eager for their prey,
They also crossed Third street below he
new post Office, and went rushing up Wood
street across Fourth-and Wood street
was sea Of fire from the river TO Diamond
alley. seas''' s's 49,. 81.
But this was not all; the FIRE had become
ungovernable. The arm of man was i'm
potent. Event the goods removed to streets
for safety, were seized upon and destroyed.
On, on, marched the raging element. "A
sea Of flame rolls on from Wood street 70
Smithland. The Monongahela House, that
noblest Of modern hotels, is surrounded
with flames, it takes Gre! Sill the ruin