The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-08-11

rprAT FIRE IN NEWPORT-TIiE OCEAN
HOUSE BURNT TO THE GRoUND-DEATH
OP SAMUEL +. GARDINER, esq. AND
PROBABLE LOSS OF SEVERAL OTHER
LIVES
NEWPORT, r. l., Sunday, o'clock p NJ, Aug 8.
At about o'clock TO day, while the fashionable
brong were dressing for dinner, Tho cook
boo,e, small building adjoining the Eastern
wing of the Hotel, caught in the ceiling from dish
,fad which took fire and bazed from the floor
where it fell to the roof.
IN an instant the cry of fire was given, and such n
acme of confusion and distress ensued as no man
amid wish to see twice, The borders were rum
,ior from room to screaming. for their friends
holhers husbands wives and children, and all in
ourns with white lips the cause of tho alarm
There was most Pililess lack of water and the
times seized with fury upon the extremely dry and
ambusibo material of which the whole building WINS
composed The bells rang the alarm-the whole
city hurried TO the spot; and the opinion already be-
came general that not timber of the whole of this
r,erul and airy but light and unsubstanlia edifce
could be saved.
The work of carrying out baggage now began in
Nh Hotel, occupying the whole Of the North end.
va, now stripped Of its costly furniture and the field
directly opposite aud to the Northward Of the Hotel
became speedily filed with trunks boxes, rurpiture.
&c. &C., while the street was lined with elegantly
stirred ladies' lanenting the loss of their dinners and
bsrdresses'
Water water! waterP was the answered g ~ Of
ID. Firomen and the citizens who had rushed TO the
spot render their assistance but none could be pro-
cured The Fire Department appeared TO be efficient
and well organized ambitious and daring--but what
good were their halEdozen fire engines without wa
teri lw" now clearly seen that the building could
not be saved, and in two hours the whole pile was a
smoking ruin
The Ocean House was built by the Ocean House
Company winter before last, and finished last winter.
was valued at $50, OcO, ,insuredin Providence s.
Boston for Sls, OOO.It was rented by G. Weaver Of
Newport, who paid per cent. on the value. The |
building was in the form Of an L. running North and
E'-'he Northern wing being 226 feet long and the |
Eastern wing l25 by 30-four stories high. 1t con-
Ined 2OS rooms. Its situation was beautiful and |
'onmading, and its loss is heavy blow to Newport, |
swell as an indescrbable Inconvenience to the
o'ders--a great many Of whom were from New
York.
Bot the saddes portion of this calamity is tho
hath Of SAMUEL FOWLER GARDINER, Esq one
the Oldest, weaIthiest and most estimabe citi-
'm of Newport. lie owned n large amount of
mperiy here, and was the agent and part proprietor
the extensive Newport Cotton Mills the Codding-
IN, pevey and Newport Steam Mills, and another of
shich he was exclusive owner lie leaves a wife
nd ten children.
The body Of Mr. Gardiner was found in the ruins,
more than half consumed "A key and pencil lying on
is chest ! also fear that THOMAS II UAzzARp,
il residing in the beautiful country seat of Var
dense has persisted. You will remember him as
beaahor of some political tracts, published in 1914.
P,S. II is certain | am told that he is dead.
George Burrows and Robert Coxall were on the
adder with Mr. Gardiner when the Eastern wing
zane down, and they fell outward, while he fell in
i'd, the burning walls The two former are serious
Il injured, and it is doubtful whether Mr. CoxaIl will
,rtvYe.
The furniture Of the House worth $25 900
vo.thitds saved; SO, 900 insured.
1t is said that there was gentleman in the I'd
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 Correspondence
9he Tribune.