Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-11-07
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.


to record the occurrence of another destructive
fire with which orr town was visited on Tues
dav morning last. At about half-past twelve
o'clock our citizens were aroused from their
sincinieut sInmbers. We FASTENED to the
scene of the fire in, perhaps, five minutes al
Ter the first alarm was given, and then, strange
10 say, some three or four buildings were
WRAPPED in flames. The fire broke out In pre-
cisely the same spot, in an old wooden bull
ding in an Ally in the rear of Market street,
where. some short time ago we noticed the
attempt that was made to FIRE the square. The
origin of the fire being in the midst of num-
Der of old frame buildings, which were as
combustible as finder, it spread with fearful
rapiditv. The whole of the square lying be-
tween market, Front, Water and Dock streets,
is now mass of smouldering ruins, with the
exception Of new building of A. V. W.
Hewlett's, and one owned by ]. A. Slntas.
which, singularly enough, escaped the other
wise total destruction of the square. When
the fire commenced, the wind was blowing
rentle breeze from the North, which carried
the flames rapidly towards Dock street. Be-
fore the devourng element reached the latter
street. however, the breeze veered to the North
East, which, in all human probability, saved
a large amount Of property, as had 1t confln-
ued due North, there is little doubt but that
the South side of Dock street must have shar-
ed the fate of the North side. 1le flames, In
deed, did cross, and house occupied by the
Messrs. Bakers, together with Warehouse
in their rear, were at one time on Rre at do
zen different points. At this point, however,
its further progress was happily arrested thEo'
the heroic exertions of the fire department.
In about three hours from the commencement
of the fire. the work of destruction was COM
pleted: the whole square was in ruins.
The burned square comprised in all. as near
" as we can estimate, about fifty buildings:
some of these, especially those located on the
allevs. were Of very little intrinsic Value
About thirty of them were brick tenements.
All of them were, comparatively speaking, olo
tenements. the total value OF the real estate
DESTROYED. we estimate, after the most careful
enquiries. at 100000 or $4,000. Of this
amount, at least two thirds will be covered by
insurance. The amount of persona! esti:e,
consisting of furniture and merchandize-prn-
cipallv of the latter, as there were but few
families living on the square, we estimate at
about 1886 900. Of course. this is only an ap-
proximate estimate to exactness, as the lndl-
viduaI losers cannot yet, themselves, know
their losses with precision. We feel conf
dent however, that we are not far from the
mark. Of the personal property destroyed,
three.f ourths is covered by insurance. The
whole destruction Of property by the fire of
Tuesday morning, then, we estimate at about
100000, of which loss, some S65,O0O OF
$4,000, will fall on the insurance companies,
and the balance on individuals. No one has
suffered heavily, the loss being distributed over
large number.
1t is with extreme pain that we have to re-
cord the occurrence of a dreadful accident
which took place on the morning of the fire.
nv which, two of our most worthy citizens,
Col. John McRae and Col. James T. Miller
were seriously injured. Whilst heroically at
temptinp to save some erchandize-M olas-
ses. we beIieve-in front of Messrs. Barry &
Bryant's store on the wharf, they were borne
TO the earth by the falling of a wall. Col.
McRae had his left leg very badly fractured.
His head and shoulders also, we learn. are
badly bruised. We are glad 10 learn, hoWev-
er, that his wounds are not dangerous, and
that he is recovering. Col. Miller had his
right foot badly cut and bruised, but we are
happy to learn that he is not seriously manned.
In common with our contemporary of the
Chronicle, we cannot but comment upon the
inefficient organization OF our fire department.
We do not hesitate to say, that had our fire
department been organized in such way as
town like Wilmington demands, and can
we'll afford, the fire could have been arrested
at Mr. Hewletts new building, and a large
amount Of property saved. We learn that the
militia officers think that the members of fire
companies in the town of Wilmington, under
a recent Act of Assembly, are liable TO do mil
itary duty, and have notified them according
Nv, in consequence of which, the white COM
panies have disbanded. We hope the Com
missioners will take, and that speedily, the
most efficient steps which the authority with
which they are clothed, will permit them, to
remedy this evil, Surely, in place like Will
mington, containing nearly 5000 inhabitants,
we ought to have three OF four good efficient
fire companies. There is no town in the State.
where such organization is so much needed,
end at present there is none in which it is less
aficient. We look and hope for timely re-
form in this department.
We believe not doubt remains on the pub
lie mind, but that the fire on Tuesday morning
was the work of the midnight felon. Within
the last twelve months, five or six attempts
have been madet to destroy this Inflated square
Al last has the fiendish incendiary done his
work. Would that he could be brought to
light. Suspicion has rested as yet on no one
Ill organized as the fire department was, tc
it we owe the saving of large amount o.
properly; for, had it not been for its instru
mentality, there is no telling where the fire
would have stopped, after crossing Dock street
We have not attempted to give the individ
ual losses. Indeed we coald not do so with
any thing like exactness, as the sufferers dc
not know their precise losses themselves yet
In the Chronicle of Wednesday last, we find
the following list ofthe names of the sufferers
which we copy. as unlocking over it we think