New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-08-05
BY SPECIAL EXPRESS FOR THE TRIBUNE.
Great Fire In Newport-fhe Ocean House
burnt TO the ground-Death Of samuel r.
Gardner, Esq. and probable Loss Of seve-
raj other Lives.

r,re., Pre- In Newport-fhe Ocean House ,
burus IN the ground-Death Of samuel i.
Gardiner. Esq. and probable Loss Of seve-
raj other Lives.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
NxwroHr x. l. Sunday, O'Clock ?. NJ Aug. 3.
Dear Sir We arrived here on the Massachu-
sets this morning at O'Clock, and were very
greatly chagrined to find the Ocean House full
and overlooking with people-more than hundred
being turned away We tried with similar bad
luck the Atlantic and Bellevue House, and then
spent four or five hours in trying to gain admission
10 private house. At length We were lodged III
tolerable comfort AT Townsends Hotel
Probably no watering place in the Union was
ever 20 crowded as Newport is the present season.
There were over three hundred and fifty strangers
in the Ocean House alone, and every place In the
City full
But il turned out that our regret at being excluded
from the Ocean House was foolish and wicked. Al
about o'clock today, while the fashionable throng
wcrc dressing for dinner the cook house, a small
building adjoining the Eastern wing of the Hotel,
caught in the ceiling from dish of lard which took
fire and blazcd from the floor where it fell, to the
roof
In an instant the cry Of fire was given, and such &
scene Of confusion and distress ensued as no man
could wish to see twice. The boardcrs were run
ming from room to room screaming for their friends
brothers, husbands wives and children and all H.
quiring with white lips the cause Of the alarm.
There was a most pi,iless lack of water and the
flames seized with fury upon the extremely dry and
combustible material Of which the cook house a.
well as the whole building was composed. The
bells rang the aarm-ihc whole city hurried TO the
spot and the opinion already became general thai
not timber Of the whole Of this graceful and airy
but light and unsubstantial edfce could be saved.
The work of carrying out baggage now began il
great earnest and fair aristocratic hands, albeit
unused to the working mood performed incrcdi-
BILE tasks of porierage The large and magnificent
Psrlor of the Hotel. occupying the whole of the
North end was now stripped of its costly furniture
and the field directly opposite and to the Norhward
Of the Hotel became speedily filled with trunks
boxes furniture, &c &C. while the street was lined
with elegantly alfred ladies lamenting the loss OF
their dinners or their dresses.
Water! water water was the unanswered
cry of the Fremen and the citizens who had rushed
to the spot render their assistance but none could
be procured The Fire Department appeared TO bc
efficient and well organzed-ambitous and daring
but what good were their halfdozen fire engines
without water 1t was now clearly seen that the
building could not be saved, and in two hours the
whole pile was smoking ruin.
The Ocean House was built by the Ocean House
Company winter before last, and finished last win
Of s2c OOo a,I insnroJ IL, proy;
dence and Boston for $4,000. Ii was rented BY
John g. Weaver of Newport, who paid per cent.
ON the value The building was in the form of an l..
running North and East-thc Northern wing being
226 feet long, and the Eastern wing 1875 by 3O-four
stories high Ii contained pos rooms. Its situation
was beautiful and commanding, and its loss is
heavy blow to Newport, as well as an Undesirable
Inconvenience to the boarders-a great many of
whom were from NcwYork.
But the saddest portion of this calamity is the
death of SAMuEL FOWLER GARDINER. Esq. one Of
the Oldest wealthiest and most estimable citizens of
Newport. He owned large amount of property
here. and was the agent and part proprietor of the
extensive Ne wport Cotton Mills the Coddington,
Perry and Newport Steam Mills, and another Of
Of which he was exclusive owner He leaves wife
and ten children.
The body Of Mr.. Gardner was found in the ruins,
more than half consumed-a key and pencil lying on
his chest. l also fear that THOMAS II. HAZARD,
ESQ. residing in the beautiful country seat of Var.
cleuse, has persisted You will remember him as
the author of some political tracts published in 1874
PS 1t is certain, am told, that he is dead.
George Burrows and Robert Coxa were on the
ladder with Mr.. Gardiner when the Eastern wing
came down, and they fell outward, while he fell in
aide the burning walls The two former are seri-
ously injured, and it is doubtful whether Mr. Coxal
will survive.
The Furniture Of the House was worth SOS 1000
two-thirds saved; 50 600 insured. Mr. Weaver the
lessec of the Ocean House, has already taken a
house which will accommodate fifty, and which he
will open tomorrow. There = enterprise for you
Ii is said that there was a gentleman in the "a
story Of the East wing, who was lost-but OF this
nothing is certainly known. Rumor also gives three
or four other victims to the flames.
An Express sent to Providence for the Mas
sschuscs to come here and take of the passengers
10 night. We are now waiting for her Meantime |
despatch an Express to youwho viii come through
Il he 10 alive.
p. So o'clock-The steamer Massachusetts, has
lust arrived at the pier, and will furnish about 500
houseless sufferers with lodging for the night and
also food. Yours. in haste, q. q. +.
1--WE published the above in our Extra yesterday
afternoon Al 5 O'Clock.
MATHEW L. DAVIS we hear has been reinsiaicd
By the Collector in the Deputy Colecorshp from which
- was removed on Thursday News.
Hal ha! ha! The old boy in specs is game to
he backbone, and hard to catch at disadvantage.
He was forty years ardent politician for other
sake we hope he will end his days a quiet com
Portable ofhce-holdcr for his own.
But Why don't the News tell us when Capt
Rysders 10 to DO removed as i, assured us he would
bel
y The Morning News very fairly copie. our
reply to it on the Tariff interpreted with comments
Of its own which ii fsnces invalidste our argument,
We do not see that they shake them al a single