The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-07-24

of missiles on the roof of buildings the crash O
glass upon the pavements, added to the tumbline
of buildings from the force of the explosion, anC
the viRid glare of the flames, assaulted the numer
GUS -mulutudes now out to see the fire, and gave
the impression that great CONFUSION of nature
had taken place. The windows of the City Ho-
tel and the buildings near us, were in moment
filled with the tenantry Of the houses, who, until
the great explosion, had remained quiet in bed
thinking the fire an ordinary matter but not I'M
tilnow thoroughly reused by this awful shock.
The conclusion in the Courier office was so
severe that the substantial stone walls of the
building shook to their foundations, and the peo-
pie there thought for one moment that they were
tumbling to their base. The workmen in the
composing room in the fifth story found the stone
on which the form was making up, rise several
inches from its resting place; the gas all went
out instantly and during the darkness that follow
Il, the scene was, to say the least of it, an excl
ting one. The workmen employed in the Press
and Engine rooms in the basement story fully be-
eving that the entire building was about to fall
upon them in mass, flew with rapid steps into the
street.
The same occurrences took place with the
workmen in our office. In moment they were
in darkness and astounded by the shock, they
flew as if an earthquake were tumbling the walls
upon their heads. All soon recovered however,
and went to work to give our readers, in a second
edition, the details Of the progress of the fire.
AT the time ofthe explosion, Protector Engine
Co. No. % was in Broad street, having its hose
extended and pipe on the top of one of the build
ings destroyed. The pipe was in the hands of Mr.
Francis Hart, one of the company, who endeavor-
ed to escape by the scuttle, but finding such i'm
possible, sat down, freman-lke, awaiting with
resignation, whatever might come, but determin-
ed1to do his duty.
The main avnIneinn I'm m occ,,rrod
and he was landed on top of a piece of the roof,
in New street He was missing for about an
hour, and it was feared he had persisted, but he
appeared again among his companions, with but
slight injury in of his ankles, which had, in
the interim, been bound up. The engine, and
the men working her, were blown by the explo-
sion, nearly across the street, and she finally
burnt up Report stated that some of the COM
pany had been killed, but we are glad to state
that none appear to be missing. There were a
large number ofstrangers and others, on the spot,
and it is feared some of them have been buried
beneath the ruins.
melancholy, and truly distressing scene took
place at No 10 Greenwich street. NJ Henry,
SOFA of John Carey, died of consumption while the
hire was raging and while the flames ere spread
ing to such an extent that it was supposed that
the house in which he was might be consumed.
Death, however came, and his body wrapped in
place of safety.
Mr. Moore, of the Croton Hotel, hearing that
there were some poor families made houseless by
the ire. loaded cart with provisions, and sent
the grateful and timely relief to hundreds, who,
exhausted and fasting, would but for this have
suffered from hunger, perhaps starvation.
- Tfe Battery and parts Of lower Broadway are
literally flledand piled up with goods and furni-
ture. 1t is most extraordinary spectacle to see
seven acres covered with goods.
Col Bankhead has sent over detachment of
marines from Governors Island, who, under the
direction Of the Chief of Police, were placed on
guard over the property piled up in and around
some Of the most crowded portions Of the city.
A letter nearly perfect, was picked up on Stat
en- Island, although somewhat charred. 1t was
signed by Caspar Meyer & Co. and must have
come from Broad street, a distance of miles.
The Philadelphia Hotel, at the corner of Bea-
yer and Broad streets, presented a sublime sight.
The whole seven stories were wrapped in flames
at one moment. The sides being Stone, it pre-
the appearance of a volcano The flames, as
cending upwards, from the centre to an immense
height, while the fire pouring out from every
window on its four sides, gave it a grand and ma
jestic appearance.
From the Journal of Commerce
The extent of this calamity has exceeded even
the excited apprehensions of those who witnessed
It's whole progress from the commencement. On
the East side of Broadway, every building from
Exchange Place, commencing with the Waver-
ley House, to Marketfeld street, is utterly con-
sumed, also three or four dwellings below Mar
ketfed. The house on the corner OF Stone and
Whitehall SITS, and two Or three dwellings North
OF Stone ST., remain comparatively uniniured.-
Thence to Broad st. Stone st. is the boundary
Through Broad from Stone, to the public stores
within two Or three doors of Wall ST., the build
ings on both sides are all destroyed
The explosion which set this most disastrous
conhagraton in motion, we have no doubt was
from the reservoir gasometer of the Manhattan
Company, situated in New Street, caused by the
heat fthe neighboring fire. There was nothing
else which could have made it, and that could
In corroboraion of this the gas-lights in our Of
flee went out instantly upon the explosion
There was quantity Of salt-petre in the store
of Croker & Warren but a store full OF 1t was
burneden years ago without any explosion -
Gunpowder is spoken of, but without evidence
that any was present.
The explosion was tremendous and produced
the utmost CONSERVATION throughout the lower
part Of the city. The Office OF this paper seemed
as If topping to its base. The printers sticks
were thrown from their hands; and the gas-lights
suddenly extinguished in part OF the building
added TO the terror and confusion OF the scene
We experienced no damage, however, except In
49, h.oaIrsr,r AZ xutndnVv. plass. Nearly every