The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-04-23
DREADFUL CoNfL EGRATI0N
at PITTSBURGH!
MORE THAN 1000 Buildings Destroy cd
Loss of LIFE & Property.


Loss OF LIFE & Property
By the Piusburg Post OF Friday, we have
al account OF one o. the most disastrous con-
fiagraions that ever devastated any city on
this continent. A great por;i On OF that busy
and populous town IS in ruins More hous-
es have been destroyed in Ibis horrible con-
n,ara;ion. than have been consumed by all
tho fires that have ever occarred N that city
before. We copy the details OF this dread
ful CALAMITY from the Post:
Tho fire originated in Franc building
over an ice house, belonging TO VIM. Diehi,
pear the corner ofSecoud and Ferry-sts.
The wind was blowing stif;iy from the North
west. though it frequeuriy veered to other
poiuts. and owing TO its variztions, the hire
extended W Weod-st. farther Than il could
otherwise have done. II was discovered at
- o'clock, and was not materially checked
Ill in tho afternoon. Even while we write,
.t 9 O'Clock p. NJ. the engines are playing
vigorously in Wood-st.
We can give no Adequate idea oflhe dis
tresswhich pervades our strlcaen community.
The progress of the flames was so iearfuily
rapid, that many persons had not TINA to re-
move heir goods-olhers, again.. had got
. tl,.irprupsrty ilto the street, when The flames
scizsd il there before il could be removed to
place Of safety. Others, sill, would not
believe the devouring element would reach
their dwellings, and did not think OF remov-
;nr uutil il was too late to save their furni-
sI-o. And VIC saw many persons who es-
capcd with nothing but tho apparel they had
u1on their perssas. At dark you might see,
In every tirsstion, families sitting without
shelter. guarding such portions OF their house
h.,I furniture Is they were able 10 save from
the flames. aud not knowing where they
would lay iheir heads. or procure moTsel oil
food. OfcsuIse tho kindness of their more
fortunate fellow citizess did much to alleyi-
,,e their suflcrincs, and We believe all were
provided for as well as the melancholy nature
Of affairs would allow,
There is abundant reascn for ihank!uiness'
that SO few I;yes were lost. There nre many
runors Of men being killed. and burnt and
wounded, but they are not authenticated.
One woman is certainly burned, and we saw
poor old man totIeriDg along with the help
o; two friends, his face badly burned. The
loss of life, however, Cannot be ascertained,
pmid the awful confusion which prevails.
The merchants found it impossible to at
tenptto save any thing: whole blocks ofbuii-
ding we're Destroyed in a few minutes, and the
most thsy could do was to make an effort to
save their books. and but few Of them sue
cseded even in that.
1t will be many years hefore our city can
recover from the effects of this dreadful ca
tas,ropFe: IL has cast blight over the com
rnercial and manufacturing enterprise ofhuu-
ereds of our most worthy eitizens,snd in a.
hour has swept FROM them all the profits Of
wars of toll aud Industry. To their fellow
citizens who have been fortunate enough tC
escape this wide spread destruction, they
must look FOR aid TO commence the world
anew" and we are confident they. will ne
look in vain.
Since the foregoing was in type we have
received slip Of the Philadelphia Ledger
carering one from the Pittsburgh Advocate
from which wa copy the following para
apis:
I'm lie SQUARE bounded by Market. Ferry
Second and Third streets, every building va,
DESTROYED except the Third Church, and
Jahnstou s. Stockton's printing Office, and
the American.
The Chronicle and Ago Offices were re-
moved. Thu Chronicle lost its presses.
The Presbyterian Advocate and the Protes-
ta1t Unienist Offices were both destroyed.
Butts impossible for us to attempt TO give
tie particulars of tkisdreadful event. Pitts
burgh has received dreadful blow, but we
trust size will again arise from her ashes.
At this lime, seven o'clock April IL, the
fi-e is not extending. but it is raging with aw-
ful sublimity in the burnt districts. Hun
d-eds and hundreds Of families are houseles,
aud homeless, and their goods fill the streets
TO add to the distress. the Gas Works
wore destroyed. and our city wall be involve;
Il darkness as soon as the lurid flames die
away.