The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-04-25
GREAT FIRE in PITTSBIJRG,
From the Pittsburgh Gazette Of Friday, April IL.
Awful ConnagrafiOnI--NEo Dread
finl NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in Ruimsi

Awful COnnagrattOm!--WO Dre1d-
ful lCaInHmity!--Pittsbur in Ruins!
AT 9 o'clock, P. M, Thursday evening,
we sit down 10 our desk with sad heart, to
record the most fearful calamity which ever
befel any city the size of Pittsburgh. While
we now write, an awful fire is raging, con-
suming the fairest portion Of our city, and nc
human being can tell where it will stay its
ravages. 1t has now been burning for six
hours, and confusion reigns extreme, and il
cannot be expected we shall give any thing
like particular statement Of calamity Sc
extensive and involving such fearful ruins
What general particulars we can give we lay
before our readers
The fire broke our about twelve o'clock
M, to-day, in an old frame shed on the east
side of Ferry street, used, we believe, for o
smoke-bouse, Immediately surrounded or
two sides with old frame buildings The
weather was extremely dry, and wind high,
almost gale, blowing from the west.
The houses adjoining, on Second street.
caught fire Immediately. The engines al
this time began 10 play, and had there been
sufiiciency Of water, would have subdued
the FIRE. But from want Of water, and high
wind, the fire extended across Second Stree,
to the Globe Cotton Factory, which, together
with dwelling adjoining, was consumed.
The Third Presbyterian church was on fire,
but was saved with great exertion.
The fire, also, about the same time, ex-
tended across Ferry street, to the west side,
where it consumed some or 8 dwellings,
when it was stopped in that direction, the
wind being favorable.
But it was east of Ferry street where the
fire ragged with most fury. 1t Immediately
extended towards Market street, sweeping
every house on both sides of Second street,
and the whole square bounded by Market,
Ferry, Second and Front streets, except one
building, the warehouse of the Cotton Fac
tory. In the square bounded by Market,
Ferry, Second and Third streets, every
building was destroyed except the 3rd
Church, and johnson g. Stockton's printing
office, and the American office.
The square bounded by Market, Ferry,
Front and Water streets, was saved, with
but little injury.
The fire crossed Market at Front street,
and then began to rage with awful fury.
This was about two o'clock, P NJ, and the
wind had increased to perfect gale. The
fire absolutely appeared TO dance from roof
to roof and in an incredibly short space of
time, the three immense squares, composed
mostly of warehouses, bounded by Market
and Wood, and extending from Third to the
river, were sea of fame.
The heat by this time was tremendous,
and the wind blowing gale. Wood street
formed no barrier at all. The flames went
kissing across as if eager for their prey
They also crossed Third street below the
new Post Office, and went rushing up Wood
street across Fourth--and Wood street was
sea of fire from the river to Diamond alley.
But this was not all; the fire had become
ungovernable. The arm of man was impo-
tent. Even the goods removed to the streets
for safety, were seized upon and destroyed.
On, on, marched the raging element. A
sea of fame rolls on from Wood street to
Smithfeld. The Monongahela House, that
noblest of modern hotels, is surrounded with
flames, it takes fire! Still the ruin rolls on
crossing Smiih6eld street, and Grant street,
sweeping Scotch Hill entirely. Even the
Canal does not stop it, the Gas Works take
fire, and directly all Kensington is in flames,
and the fire rolls on, and is only stopped in
that direction, about one mile from where it
commenced, from the want of food to feed
its voracious nav.
In the meantime, the Monongahela Bridge
has taken fire, and is entirely consumed.
The Pittsburgh Bank, supposed to be fire
proof, extending from Sd to 4th streets, is in
flames. The Mayors Office is also on fire,
and the new Post Office is in great danger.
Let any one who is acquainted with Pitts
burgh survey this scene, and look over the
extent of ground covered by this vast con-
aagration. So rapid did this fire progress,
that at one time, between four and five o.
clock, in the afternoon, the fire was raging
with undiminished fury, over space extend
ing, beginning at Market street, corner Of
Third, down Market street to the river, up
the river to the upper end of Kensington or
Pipetown, opposite to Birmingham, down
from Kensington to Fourth street, down
Fourth street to Smithfeld TO Diamond Alley,
down Diamond Alley to the large brick
Warehouse on Wood, across Wood, extend
ing in diagonical direction towards the
Bank, up Fourth street to the Mayors Office,
and across to Third street, the place of be-
ginning.
In all this vast space, the very heart of
The city, including most of the warehouses
of our manufacturers, and our principal
wholesale Grocers and Commission mer-
chants, there is not one house standing that
we know of.
1renty squares are entirely destroyed,
and several parts of squares, besides all Of
Pipetown, and all the buildings around Bake
wells Glass works, which were also consul
med