The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-01
From the New NeIk Journal of Commerce.
Great Fire in New Yo,ku

PtoStoH-.fHOthtT tdN 'DUTm Dis
friciw
The extent of this calamity has exceed
ed even the excited apprehension Of those
WHO Witnessed its whole progress from
the commencement. Happily lis pro-
gress is now STAYED, so that We are ena-
bile TO define the limits of lis ravagcs.-
On the east side of Broadway, every
building from Exchange Place, commed-
cling with the Waycrly House, to Mark
eilield street, is utterly consumed; also
three Oh -four dwellings below Markellicld.
The houses on the corner Of Stone and
Whitehall street, remain comparatively
uniplurcd Thence TO Broad street,
Stone street is the boundary. Through
Broad from Stone street To the public
stores, within two or three doors of Wall
street, the buildings on both sides are
destroyed. A line drawn from the pub
lie stores 10 the Waverly House is the
limit on HE northwest. In Beaver street,
all the buildings on both sides are des-
uoyed, from the Bowling Green 10 with.
in five or six doors Of William street.
On the west side OF Broadway, the build
ings are all destroyed, from Morris street
10 No. ID, occupied by Mrs. Barker as
boarding house-ihis last included. The
buildings on Broadway, north of Morris
street, were saved by incredible exerlions
in which The inmates rendered themselves
especially conspicuous. They were COW
cred with carpets and blankets constant
! ly wettcd with water carried UP by hand
to the roofs.
The explosion which set his most dis
asrous conilagralion in motion, we have
no doubt was from he reservoir gasome-
ter of The Manhattan Company, situated
in New street, caused by the heat of the
nelghboring fire. There was nothing
else which could have made it, and that
could.-ln confederation of this, the gas
lights in our Office went out instantly up
on the explosion. was a quantity
of salipeIe in the store OF Croker &
Warren; but store of it was burned ten
years ago. and there was no explosion.
Gunpowder is spoken Of, but without ev-
idence that any was present.
The explosion was tremendous, and
produced the umos, CONSERVATION lhto'-
out the lower part Of the city. Nearly
every building in Wall St., and in fact in
all the streets contiguous TO the burnt
district, had lis windows more or less in
iured. and in some instances whole sashes
were dashed in, and the large massive
doors Of the stores either swung open,
or were detached wholly from hinge and
bolt, and thrown into the centre Of the
buildings. Such was the effect of The ex-
ploson on the Merchants Exchange, as
10 burst in The windows, breaking large
quantities Of lie thickest plate glass.
Even the interior doors we've burst open.
The explosion occurred in successive
shocks, previous 10 which The atmosphere
was irradaied with brilliant flashes of
light Hinged with every variety Of color.
The air was Immediately after filled with
balls Of fire and burning beams, some Of
which OF huge size were thrown 10 an
incredible height and distance. A heavy
burning rafter struck on the roof Of Bum
ker's Mansion House.
The explosion was heard on board the
steamboat Champion while seven miles
from the city, and startled the passengers
from their berlhs. 1t was also heard a,
Hampstead and at Newark.
York, Of the brig Milton, as well as the
captain and passengers Of the brig Sa-
vonnah, off the Highlands, heard the re-
port and felt conclusion.
The total loss is perhaps five millions,
or one quarter the amount loss in the great
fire ten years ago.
The whole quantity of goods was but
a small fraction Of The entire stocks of the
city, and will not interfere at all with The
full supply Of all the demands of trade.
1t will be understood that the losses by
the various insurance companies do not
extend necessarily to the amount of their
policies. In general it is much less, and
the universal opinion seems to be that
all the insurance is good, with perhaps
the exception Of one Office. There was
good deal of insurance in Offices out of
the city, so that our merchants were in
general fully insured, and will find their
policies on this occasion an adequate Sc
curity.
The whole amount of insurance is four
10 four and half millions.
The number Of buildings burned up is
about $50 street numbers, as many Of
them had two fronts. Many other build
ings have been more or less scorched and
damaged.
The stencil was so great, caused by the
burning of spirits, oil, and every combus-
tible matter, that il was offensive TO those
approaching the city, Tor many miles be-