Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-09
GREAT FIRE AT NEWPORT, (R. i,

Il.
i
II We regret to learn that the fashionable waterins
pace known as the Ocean House, at Newport
Rhode Island was totally DESTROYED by fire OF
sunday last, attended with the loss of at least two
valuable lives The particulars of this sad disase,
are stated IN The subjoined letter. copied from the
New York Tribune 4 @ III,
:, NEWPORT, CIR. ~ susDar, Aususr 8.
arrived here ON the massachusetts this morning al
O'Clock and were very greatly chagrned TO find the Ocean
Rouse iu and overfowing with peopIe-noe than hun
dred being turned away We tried with similar had nck he
enuo and Bellevue Houses, and then spent four or five
hours ~ trying to gain admission to private house At
length we were lodged in tolerabe comfort at Townsends
Hotel.
PROBABLY no watering place the Union was ever so crowd
ed as Newport Is the present There were over three
hundred and fifty strangers the Ocean House alone and
every place in the city full.
But il turned out that regret at being excluded from the
ocean House was foolish and wicked. AT about o'clock
to-day while the fashionable thong were dressing for dinner
the cookhouse, small building adjoining the eastern wing
Of the hotel caught in the ceiling dish Of lard which
TOOK hre and blazed from the floor where the
IN an instant the cry OF fire given, and such OF
CONFUSION and distress ensued could wish
twice. The boaders running from room to room scream
ing Tor their friends brothers, husla and children
and all lnquing with white lips the cause Of the alarm
with fury upon the extremely dry cobusbe materials OF
which the cook house well the whole building was com
posed The bells rang the aarmhe whole city hurried 10
the spot and the opinion already became general that
timber OF the whole of this graceful and airy but light and u
| substantial edifce could be saved.
The work Of carrying baggage began in great
nest and lair asocrac hands, albeit unused to the work
ing mood performed incredible tasks of porerage. The
large and magnificent paro of the hotel occupying the whole
OF The north end stripped Of its costly furniture and
the held directly opposite and the nohward of the hotel
became speedily filed with trunks, boxes furniture &c.,
while the street kned with elegantly atted ladies' lament
| ing the loss ot their dinners their dresses
aier water water |" the unanswered cry OF the
een and the citizens who had rushed the spot render
their assistance but could be procured The fire depart
men appeared to be efficient and well orpanze-ambious
and daring but what good their dozen fire engines
without water II clearly that the building
could NOT be saved, and in two hours the whole pile was
smoking ruin.
The Ocean House was built by the "Ocean House Com
pany the winter before last and finished last winter Il
was valued at 900, and insured in Providence and Boston
ior Sis II was rented by JoHs G. WEAVER of New
port who paid per cent the value. The building was
In the form of L, running north and east,he northern
wing being 226 feet long eastern wing 1875 by 30
Tour stories high II contained 20s Its situation was
beautiful and commanding and its loss is heavy blow
Newport as well as an understandable inconvenience the
boarders, great many Of whom from New York.
But the saddest portion of this calamity is the death Of
SAMUEL Fowler GARDINER, Esq Of the Oldest wealth.
es and most estlmable citizens Of Newport He owned
large amount OF property here, and was the agent and part
proprietor OF the extensive Newport Cotton Mills the Cod
dngton, Perry, and Newport Steam Mills and another Of
which he exclusive He leaves wife and ten
children.
The body Of Mr.. Gardiner found in the ruins more
than hall consumeda key and pencil lying his chest
also fear that THoMAs r. HAzzARn ESQ., residing in the
beautiful country seat Of varceuse has persisted You will
remember him as the author Of political published
IN 1914 lP s. Is certain, | told, that he is dead
GEoRsr BuRRows and RosKar CoxaLL were on the ladde
with Mr. Gardiner when The eastern wing came down. an,
they fell outward while he fell inside the burning walls Th
two former seriously injured and is doubtful whether Mr.
Coxal wl survive.
The furniture Of the house worth SIS 000-two-,hd
saved 900 insured Mr. Weaver the lessee of the Ocea
House. has already taken house which will accommodate
fifty, and which he win open tomorrow There's enterprs
for you
u IS said that there gentleman in the second story
the east wing who i hut Of this nothing certainly
known. Rumor ao gives three four other victims to th
flames,