The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-04-19

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! Less Estimated at $lO,OOO,OOO!
Correspondence of the Cecil Wing.
STEAMBOAT CLIPPER,
Ohio River, .AprH 10Th, rs.
DSAR RICKETTS,:
Let the first sentence
of NY letter inform you tina, we are all
well, and have reached This place-Pilts-
burg--in safety. But how shall pro-
coed TO relate what have Witnessed here?
My pencil will fail TO give you even Il
sketch of the devastation and ruin that |
have just beheld. When within Is miles
of Pllsburg, OIL tn Monongabela, we learn
ed from boat that the city was on fire.
When within IL miles we could see the
black smoke rolling in huge volumes to
the sky, and the fragments of burnt shin
giles, clothes, Sc, met US at that distance
the wind blowing gale at the time
We were soon in sight of the devoted city,
which we saw melting before the devoar-
ing element by squares, bidding defiance
as il were at every attempt to ares. its
progress. have travelled considerably
i have seen some ruins, and what would
be termed bad fires, but this bcggars all
description. The loss is ncalculable
The best part-lhe very heart Of the city
is in ruins. TEN MILLIONS would not
replace it-TWENTY SQUARES, and
over ONE THOUSAND houses have
been swept away, now presenting nothing
but their crumbling, falling, jagged and
blackened walls. The scene sickens me
while contemplate it. could almost
exclam with the poet,
"Too much to thee Dear sight owe,
AT intervals would be blindn
The whole Of this awful waste has
been the work of seven hours. Many
lives are said to be lost, although have
heard Of only FOUR certainly; but at this
time few particulars can be known-al is
confusion and distress. So rapid was The
fire, that none, or al least very few, go!
even their goods or furniture out, and
those who did had the misfortune 10 see
them afterwards burnt in the Streets
The Merchandize of every description
burnt, is incalculable
How true the language, eve know not
what day may bring forth" Hundreds
in This city, rolling in luxury wealth and
ease-Possessng fortunes the result of
years of toll and labor-ten hours ago,
are now poor--no!hing let but the clothes
on them, while their ears are panied with
the cries of their distressed families, and
ruined neighbors around them.
Thus is Pittsburg, (our justly termed
Birmingham Of American the product Of
years Of noble and unsurpassed en,er-
prise-lhe very best and wealthesl por,
lion of it, reduced to ruins in the space of
few short heurs-to ruins which twenty
years will scarcely replace.
II. X. r.
From the Pittsburgh Post.
1t is our painful duty to record one Of
the most terrible fires that ever deyasla-
ted any city on this continental grca,
portion of our busy and populous town is
in ruins. More houses have been des-
Iroyed by this single and horrible conlla-
grafton, than have been consumed by ali
the fires that have ever occurred in the
city before.
Those acquainted with the plan of
Pittsburg will realize the extent of the
terrible calamity we have suffered, when
we state that nearly all that part Of the
city extending from Ferry st. up to Mon
river 10 the city line. and thence to the
head OF the entire suburb called "Pipe-
town. ensinglon) has been destroyed
The fire reached up Market street as
far as the south side of Third street, and
up Wood street as far as the south side
vi Diatlouu Ailey. ne boundaries OF
burnt district may be thus described:-
From Water street up Ferry to Third st.
(lhe Sd Presbyterian Church was saved, J
up Third TO Wood; up Wood to Diamond
Alley to Smilhfeld street, and thence
down Smi.hield to Fourth street (bolh
sides, J up Fourth street to Ross street,
and thence to the head Of Pipetown-in-
i Gliding, as we have estimated above, a.
bout ~ squares. and comprising from 10
10 l2OO houses-many OF the warehouses
containing goods of immense value-lhey
were grocery. dry good, and commission
houses, and their spring stocks had been
just laid in.