Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-19
AN AWFUL CONFEDERATION.

land written, OF course, OIL VIC Pieceulhg nlgn) IL
appears that all the most ancient and coselybuilt
mart of the manufacturing and fourshing city Of
Pittsburg in the State Of Pennsylvania, has been
consumed by fire. The part described as having
been destroyed is the southeastern section Of the
city, extending to and bordering on the Mononga-
hela river. II is not mentioned that the fire had
reached Penn street, taken direction westward
ly towards the Allegheny river, Northern Liber-
ties, Bayardstown, &c. 1t is much to be lamented
that, situated as Pittsburg is between two large
rivers, there should have been SO great scarcity
Of water within the limits Of the city, an oversight
to which, no doubt, must be mainly attributed the
surprising extent of the confagraton, and the i'm
mense losses and suffering which have thus been
inflicted upon its enterprsing and industrious in
habitants
FROM THE PITTsBURG GAZETTE OF FRIDAY.
PITTsBURG IN Ruins We sit down desk with
sad heart record the most fearful calamity which be
any city of the size of Pittsburg While write
awful fire raging consuming the faest portion of city,
and human being tell where it will stay its
1t has been burning for six hours and, amidst the conu
sion which reigns it cannot be expected shall give any
thing like particular statement of calamity extensive
and involving such fearful ruin What general particulars
we can give we lay before our readers.
The fire broke out about twelve o'clock Thursday in an
old frame shed the east side of Ferry street. used smoke
house, Immediately surrounded two sides with old frame
buildings The weather was extremely dry the wind blow
ing almost gale from the west
The houses adjoining on Second street, caught fire
datey The engines at this time began to pas and, had
there been ciency Of water would have subdued the fire.
nc al
Second street the Globe Cotton Factory, which, to-
gether with dwelling adjoining consumed The Third
Presbyterian Church fire. but saved with great
exerion. The fire, also, about the time, extended
Ferry street. to the west side, where it consumed some
six eight dwellings, when stopped in that direction,
the wind being favorable.
But it of Ferry street where the fire ragged with
most fury II Immediately extended towards Market street,
sweeping every house both sides of Second street. and the
whole square bounded by Market Ferry Second, and Front
Streets except building the warehouse of the Cotton Fac
tory In the square bounded by Market Ferry, Second and
Third streets, every building destroyed except the Third
Church. and Johnston g. Stocktons printing Office, and the
American office. The square bounded by Market, Ferry,
Front and Water streets saved, with but little injury
The fire crossed Market Front street, and then began
rage with awful fury. This about two o'clock p M
and the wind had increased perfect gale The fire aso
utey appeared dance from roof TO roof and in an incred
bly, short space of time the three immense squares composed
mostly Of warehouses; bounded by Market and Wood and
tending from Third to the river, sea Of fame.
The heat by this time tremendous. Wood street formed
no barrier ALL The flames kissing if cage
for their prey They also crossed Third street. below the
Post Office and went rushing up Wood street Fourth
and Wood Of fire from the river TO Diamond
alley
But this was not ALL The fire had become ungovernable.
The Of impotent Even the goods removed to
the for safety seized upon and destroyed On
marched the raging element OF fame rolls on from
Wood Smthfeld. The Monongahela House, that
noblest of modern hotels, is surrounded with ames takes
fire Still the ruin rolls on-crossng Smhfeld street and
Grant street, and sweeping Scotch Hill entirely Even the
Canal does not stop it, The Gas Works take fire, and directly
all Kensineon is in flames and the fire rolls and is only
stopped in that direction, about mile from where COM
menced, from the Of food to feed its voacious maw
In the mean time the Monongahela Bridge has taken fire
and is entirely consumed The Pburg Bank supposed to
be re-prosE extending from Third to Fourth streets in
flames The Mayors Office is also fire. and the new Pos
Office is in great danger
Let any who is acquainted with Pittsbug survey this
scene and look the Of ground covered by this vast
consgaon So rapid did the flames pogessh that at one time,
between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the fire
raging WIN undmlnisneu over space
Market street. the Of Third down Market street to
the river the river to the upper end Of Kensngon Pipe
town, opposite to Birmingham, down from Kensington to
Fourth street. down Fourth street to Smhfed, up Smhhed
to Diamond alley, down Diamond alley to the large brick
warehouse on Wood street. Wood extending in d
agoncal direction towards the Bank up Fourth street to the
Mayors Office and Third street. the place of begin
ming In all this space the very heart Of the city, in
GLIDING Of the warehouses Of manufacturers and
principal wholesale grocer and commission merchants there
not one house standing that we know Of
TWENTY SauAnKs entirely destroyed and several parts
Of squares besides all Of Pipctown and all the buildings
around Bakewes Gasswoks, which also consumed.
The loss Of property must be immense We shall not at
tempt compute it, The fire spread rapidly that inn
possible to save property The Front street merchants whose
immense warehouses full of goods groceries, and Pitts
burg manufactures, removed their goods to the wharf, which
covered over its whole extent down to the waters edge
but there they caught fire. and the most Of them were con-
sumed
Among the public buildings destroyed the Ptsburg
Bank, the Monongahea House, the Merchants Hotel the
Mayors Office, known Pho Hail. and all Pittsburg in
surance Offices The Chronicle and Age offices were remov-
The Chronicle lost its presses The Presbyterian Adyo-
cate and Protestant Unionist offices both destroyed
Du Is impossible for attempt to give the particulars
ms dreadful calamity. Pittsburg has received dreadful
dow but we trust she will again rise from her ashes
AT TINS time scven o'clock Thursday EVENING" the fire is
not extending but is yet raging with awful submiy in the
ournt district Hundreds and hundreds Of families house
less and homeless and their goods f the To add
VIII be involved IN darkness the lurd flames die
away. S@4