American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-21
from the N. Y Herald extra of Saturday morning
TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATI0N IN N
YORK.

tohh.
OVER ONE HUNDRED BUILDINGS BURNED
Sl0OOO,O0O OF PROPERTY DEsTROYED-sE-
RIoUs LOSS OF LIFE-TREMENDoUs EN-
PLOSION.
The greatest, the most terrible fire that has
occurred in this city since the great ccnhagra-
ton of December, 1885, is now spreading de-
vastaton throughout the lower part of the city
Over one hundred buildings, according TO the best
calculation are nO,U oss fire, or haze beer epeLLed
with The 81 ound' Most of them were large
three, four and five story houses, and occupied
principally by importing and other merchants.
1t is close estimate to set the loss, thus far,
at ten millions ofdoltars.
This dreadful fire broke out at halfpast three
o'clock this morning in New street, about three
doors from the corner Of Exchange Place, in
sperm oil store. 1t then spread to chair fac
tory, the next door towards Exchange Places
then through to Broad at. and to the corner of
Exchange Place, where it communicated to
building occupied by some persons who either
had large quantity of saltpetre on storage, or
else were manufacturers of fireworks for in Is
minutes after it caught fire the whole blew up
with tremendous explosion, carrying six or
seven buildings with it, and shaking the whole
city like an earthquake. The conclusion was
panes of g lass in the neighborhood Immedi-
ately after the explosion, fire was discovered at
four different points showing that the entire
block in the rear was in a complete blaze.
After this the fire spread down on both sides
of Broad street; thence through to Broadway,
taking both sides of York street, including the
Waverley House, which is destroyed then
down Broadway towards the Bowling Green.
On the other side it is extending to Wall st.,
and it was expected to reach the magnificent
Merchants Exchange before it could be stopped
Both sides of Exchange Place between Broad
and William streets, and half way down to
William, are on fire. The fire in Broad street
extends to Beaver, through the latter to New
street, both sides of which are in ruins
We learn that Francis Hart of Engine Co.
No. %, standing on the roof of the store next
to the corner of Broad st. and Exchange Place,
when the explosion occurred was thrown over
the building to the opposite side of the street,
from the very roof on which he had been stand
ing and escaped on his feet scarcely injured. Pre-
vious to the above explosion, the foreman of
22, foreseeingt the perlous condition of the men,
surrounded by fire SO that no human frame
could withstand the heat, and with danger
from which escape appeared impossible, order
ed them to retire, and before they had time to
move their engine the walls fell. They left Just
in time to escape with their lives. As far as
can be at this moment known no other mem
Der of that company was seriously injured
The engine was buried under the wall This
is one of the most narrow escapes we ever
heard of,
1t is supposed that many lives have been lost
by this terrible explosion. As the streets and
houses, near by, were filled with firemen and
citizens, it is painfully expected that many have
been sacrificed to the wickedness of storing
large quantities of saltpetre, or some other
explosive matter, in buildings in the heart of
the city
We annex recapitulation of the fire:
New st., both sides, from Exchange Place to
Beaver st.
Broad ST., both sides, near Wall to Beaver
street.
Exchange Place, both sides, from near Will |
liam TO Broadway.
Beaver street, both sides, from Broad st. to
Broadway.
The destruction of other property than build
ings, has been enormous. The stores burnt be-
ing principally occupied by merchants, their
contents were Of great value. The flames
spread with such rapidity and the panic created |
among all classes by the exploeon was SO great
that very little property was saved And in !