The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-17

DISASTROUS CoNFLAGRATIoN.--Our city, yester-
day afternoons was the scene of most destructive
fire, which destroyed some thirty building II COM
menced about half-past 2 o'clock in the carpenters
shop owned and occupied by Mr.. Charles NOVEL;,
at the foot of South Cedar street, the east side,
on the brink of Back bay The shop was burnt
down in few moments, and the flames spread to
all the adjacent buildings and the devouring element
coursed up both sides of the street. which is quite
narrow, dwelling everything in its way.
The sheds of the buildings on Piedmont street,
which reared on the South Cedar street houses,
took fire and communicated to the buildings on Pied
mont street, and all on the east side of this street
were consumed. The wind was fresh from the
SOUTH and carried the flames up both streets, and
threatened the destruction of the Methodist church,
on Church street, between Piedmont and South Ce-
dar streets. The belfry was pretty much burnt and
the roof somewhat injured. The rear brick wall
of the church undoubtedly prevented the fire
ing Church street, and thereby the destruction of
many more buildings The following are the
particulars of the buildings consumed, and their oc-
cupants, as near as we could ascertain:
On the east side of South Cedar street.-The car
penter's shop of Charles Novel;, and contents. In
the rear of the shop, the wooden dwelling-house,
owned and occupied by widow West, and a barn
and small building used for dressing India rubber.
rington, of Roxbury, formerly known as the stock
ing factory which was fitted up dwelling, and
occupied by nineteen Irish families. Three two
story wooden dwellings, owned by Mrs. Pike, and
tenanted by Mcssrs. Sullivan, Fiske, and Mcclure.
In the rear of these, two wooden tenements, one
owned and occupied by Mrs. futile, the other by S.
Abel A wooden tenement, owned by Mr.. Gould,
and occupied by Daniel Hagn A two-story brick
house, owned by Joshua Bennett, tenants unknown.
On the corner Of Church street and South Cedar
street.--A two-story dwelling house, occupied by
Albert Morgan, printer, was badly injured inside,
and the roof damaged.
On the tcesf side Of South Cedar street.--Two brick
dwellings, directly facing the carpenters shop, own.
ed by Charles NOVEL;, carpenter, and occupied by
Mr.. Merriam, stabler, and Ebenezer Holt, and
Elisha Atwood, oystermen. A block of seven
wooden ienements owned by Messrs. Charles Now
pants were Messrs Davenport Fisher, Whitney,
BODICE, Stearns, Varney, and Fessenden. three
story brick dwelling adjoining the rear of the
Church, owned and occupied by lsaace and Thos.
Adams.
The occupants in the above saved scarcely any
thing, the flames spread with such fury.
On Piedmont street, east side.-A block of six two
and half story dwelling houses, built last season,
one owned by Aaron Breed, two by DR.. Marston,
one by MIR. Wentworth, and two by Charles Nc
Intire. They were each occupied by two families;
the following are some Of the names: Messrs.
Perkins, J. M Fuller, O'Niel, Mrs. Carey, and two
others. Two wooden tenemcnts owned by Jacob
Ulman, one occupied by Mr.. Pilgrim, bookbinder,
occupant of the other unknown. A brick dwelling
adjoining the church occupied by Samuel Haywood,
printer Owner not known.
On the tcesf side of Piedmont siretf.A ten-foot un-
occupied wooden building, owned by Franklin
Smith, was pretty much used up. This was oil that
was entirely burnt on the west SIDE block OF UNI
finished brick buildings this side escaped the fiery
element not being in the range of the wind. A two
story woodcn-bouse, occupied by N. Carr, was
damaged in the roof and upper story.
On the corner of Piedmont and Church streets,
block of two large three-story houses, both owned
by Samuel Curtis, glider, and occupied by five or
six families, was badly burnt in the roof and upper
chambers. The tenants removed most OF their fur
ni,ure. portion of il was, however, thrown from
the upper windows. We understood the tenants to
be Messrs. Martin and Aldrich, in the house the
corner, and Messrs. Andrews and Morrison, and
Mrs Roddan, in the one below.
The roof of the houses surrounding the FIRE we're
on fire at different times but extinguished by
the occupants, they being on hand with plentiful
supply Of water in buckets.
There was very small amount of insurance on
the furniture. We could not ascertain as to the in
surance on the buildings.
The fire was caused by the carelessness Of some
small boys, who built fire, and were roasting some
clans near the carpenters shop, TO which the fire
communicated by means Of shayngs and like COM
bustibes Two Of them-namcd Sullivan and
Maxwell-were arrested by the police, but were
discharged, as there was nothing to warrant their