The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-04-26
From the Pittsburgh Age.
AWFUL CONFEDERATION!
PITTSBURGH IN RUINS!!

ndil past Twelve CLOCK, lire DTOkt
out in frame building on the corner o
Second and Ferry streets, and, although
every exertion w1s made that could be
made, it continued to spread and rage
until one quarter, and the most valua,
bic part too, ofour city was laid in ruins
From third and Ferry to the wharf,
and from thence South East for one
and quarter mile; almost every builc-
ing has been destroyed-Stoles OF ev-
cry description; Insurance Offices; the
Merchants Hotel, the Monongahala
Hotel, and all the Other hotels in that
range; several churches, the University,
school houses, the Monongahala bridge,
all have been swept away.
In third and fourth, from the post
office down to Wood, thence TO Smith
field, from Third TO near Fifth, and
across towards Scotsfelds and the
Fourth street road, nearly all the stores
buildings, &c. have been destroyed in
cluding the Pittsburgh Bank, y. s.
Bank, the Mayors Office, the Exchange
Offices Of Messrs Kramer, VIM. Hill &
co., Sibtet 4 Jones, the Gas Works,
the Printing establishment Of the Chron-
icle, Cooks Literary Depot, the Book
Stores of G. H. Kay, the Printing Of.
flee Of J. B. Butler, Qate A.: JaynesD
McMillen's Job Office, &C., &c.
The Post Office, Duquesne Hall and
the block of buildings in which we have
our office, have been, most miraculous
ly saved-every thing from our office,
excepting the press, having been reno
we'd and scattered about.
1t is impossible to calculate the loss.
Merchants, Mechanics, ,Workingmen--
all, and all have been ruined. Nor do
we believe that the Insurance offices
will ever be able to pay one hundreth
part of the property insured by them.
Ruin ruin starcs hundreds of families
in the face, that Yesterday morning
rose from their beds with plenty Of
this worlds goods, and they have now
no place to lay their heads, or bread Tor
themselves and children. May God
protect and help them!
About eighteen entire squaresa are des-
troyed entirely, and many parts of
squares. The steamboats, on the Mon
ongahala had to move to he saved from
the flames.
The wharf was covered with groce-
ries and all kinds of Pittsburgh manu-
factures. A great portion of these
goods were burned-and vast amount
destroyed by the immense crowd of
drays, &c., working their way among
them.
The P. @. and adjoining buildings,
north east corner of Third and Market.
have been saved. Every thing vaIua-
BILE, however was removed from the
stores, printing offices, &C., in the block.
The letters, &c., were taken from the
Post Office.
From the place where the fire CON-
menced to where it was arrested, is
about mile and quarter.
The IRON safes, upon which business
men depended for the preservation Of
their books papers, &C., and all, so far
as our observation extends, were des-
troyed, except few we notice, having
been rolled out before the destruction
Of the buildings.
We can give no idea, on paper, of
the distress which prevalls--thousandS
are left destitute-men who yesterday
were worth thousands, are now bank
rupt. 1t has been estimated that the
burnt district contains sirty acres!
The total loss, in dollars, cannot be
arrived at with any kind of accuracy.
Say, guess at hoelDe millions!
This is probably near it. The Tnsu-
rance offices are all broken up. They
will not be able TO pay two per cent.
Only about 10000 dollars were taken
On insurance companies in other cities.
We would like to be able to give to
,ur friends abroad list Of the suffer- t
the numbers is so vast that it is
|
he fire originated in Diehl's ice {
ouse, an old frame, corner of Ferry t
nd Cd streets. There was strong b
Wind from the Invest, which was r
he cause of the wide spread desolation. {
70 swift was the progress OF the flames t
hat hundreds who felt secure, but mo- p
lent before, had not time to save a v
ngle article of furniture, books nor
apers. How many valuable lives v
ave been lost We have no idea. The S
tfices in the new court house are full! |,
t books. The rotunda is crammed
Vith the furniture Of the poor, who
ave been driven from their homes. Il
The efforts Of the fremen were baf-
cd for ,ynnt Of IUater Io