The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-08-02


thus preventing us from moving it. At the same
time the fire was coming out from No. 3s Broad
street at the door nearest to Exchange street, in
In discharges like the broadside of ship Of war;
the flame, resembling Drummond light, went
in straight line nearly across Broad street.
"Some gentlemen near us shouted out, run for
your lives No. %. the building is full Of gunpow
der We started and by the time we had proceed
ed about 80 yards the first explosion took place.
In about two seconds afterwards the second explo-
sion went off. The air was filled with bricks,
rafters, beams, and showers Of fire balls of salt
petre.
"The stores, No, AZ, 40, So, (the buildings
that exploded, occupied by Croker & Warren,)
also Nos 36, "a, 80, 80, 2s, and five or six large
stores on the opposite of Broad street, were all
blown to atoms and set ON fire. 1t literally rained
glass, and our engine was blown across the street
at the first explosion. Mr. Francis Hart, the
MEMBER who took to the roof, was blown from
the corner of Broad and Exchange streets, to the
centre of the block between Broad and New in
Exchange street, and escaped entirely uninjured,
with the exception of sprained ancle."
An explosion throwing down six or seven large
buildings, scattering fire brands, heavy missiles
and death, extinguishing the gas lights in oil the
vicinity; and rocking the houses as il by an earth
quake, driving the terrified inmates into the street,
must, as will be well conceived have paralysed for
some time all the operations of fremen and police
The air was filled with flame for an immense dis
tance, and the fire attached itself to the buildings
on every side-rendering all efforts to arrest the
progress of the flames perfectly futile. From the
point of the great explosion it is impossible to
state the direction in which the fire spread fastest
To the west it leaped on with giant strides to
Broadway, while the circle of flame rapidly en-
iarged on every side.
Between twelve and one o'clock the fire yielded
to The well directed and gallant efforts of the fire.
men,,
lives were lost. Those positively known to have
perished are: Peter A. johnson, Porter of Dwight
johnson, who has left wife and three children
He was found, together with colored man, (name
unknown,) under the ruins OF AZ Broad street. A
married lady, sister, we believe of the wife of
runs of 81 Broad sree: Mr. A. L. Cowdry, a
member Of Engine Company No AZ, pershed in
"a house in New street. Mr.. Cowdry and young
gentleman named Van Winkle of Engine No. 5,
had entered the building with the hose together,
and proceeded with it to the third story. Mr.. Van
Wrinkle was about to return to the street. and had
got to the second story opposite the front windows
when the explosion took place, and he was blown
through the window into the street, having expe-
renced but little injury. 1t Is supposed that Cow
dry was thr own some distance from where he
stood, by the force of the explosion. Mr. Van
Groenen, partner Of Mr.. Pavenstedt, Mr. Ouman
and Mr.. Curt, were killed in the store AZ Broad
street The wife of Michael Roman was c, ushed
to death in the store. 81 Broad.
One of the city officers picked up mans scull
near the place where the explosion occurred The
body of Mr.. Johnson, and that of coored man
have been found, but SO far we believe no others
Nearly or quite all the loss is covered by insur-
ance. 100000 was insured in Paris, much in
New England. and some here, while there was
insurance in N. York to The amount of "a 900 900
at least. Some of the companies have already
paid their losses, aud although some may be sadly
crippled and one or two ruined there is no doubt
that within o fraction of the whole will be paid.
With respect TO the loss, the Courier says :"We
are strongly impressed with the idea that the
amount Of loss by the late fire is greatly overesti-
mated. Assuming that the value OF the buildings
destroyed would average seven thousand dollars
and this is very large estimate considering the
amount of available matter On the ground-the
loss in buildings Is about million and half
Add TO this three millions for the goods destroyed,
and the loss falls short Of fue millions We are
happy to add that probably nine tenhs Of this loss
falls upon men of wealth, who viii in no way suf-
fer from it. The insurance companies can pay,
and their stock since 1885 has not been held by
widows and orphans, but by men of large means
who could afford to risk few thousands in the
hope of getting very large premiums. The effects
of this great fire, therefore, upon ihe business of
the city, will not be perceptbe after 1t has ceased
to be subject of conversation"
The explosion took place from an immense
quantity of saltpetre-2,OOo bags-stored in one
Of the buildings. There were several other ex-
plosions, from spirits sc. SC. The gas reservoir
was said 10 have exploded also, but this has been
dsproved.
The total number of buildings burned was two
hundred and sixty eight
n .s --S----
u FOREIGN lNTELLlGENCE,