Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-07-24
Wednesday morning, July %.
DISASTROUS FIRE!

. This morning at near 2 o'clock, fire was dis
covered by the Guard breaking from the interior of
DR.. Robiason's building occupied by Col. 5. y.
Kawley as Shoe Store, on the North side OF
Person street. In short time, from the combusti.
lie nature of the buildings the fire spread on both
sides, until it had consumed all the wooden hIIl-
dings on the square, about 90 in number, VIZ: On
the west. r. w. Hardie's dwelling and outhouscs
the lower story occupied as stores ~ W. G. Mat
thews and J. M. Beasley; Edward T.. Winslow' 5
Office and E. 3. Hobbss store fronting on Mar
ket square !; Jas Jenkips,s store corner of Marker
square and Green St; and David Gee and r Gees
stores ON East side Of Green street.
East OF Nr dawley's store, r A Stuart's and
VIM I: kirkpatrick's stores (building owned by
Dr. Rsninson;) Malett & Huske's store and A M
Campbelps Auction store building owned by DR.
Robinson;) A Marsh's, N M'Kinnon's, and F. ID
Breece's stores and Jos Hestler's barber shop
buildings owned by Hugh Campbell Esq , John
Mullins store. David Shaw's store, DR. Gillian S
Office, building owned by NlacRae;) the three te-
nemcnt brick building, covered with shingles,
owned by estate of Duncan McRae, occupied by c
Caison, and ] /. Parker, and I'd story by G w
Smith as a Tailors shop. Two shingled brick
buildings, in immediate contact with the last, were
saved.
The fire crossed Person street at one point, ig-
hitting the roof of wooden building next west OF
the Cape Fear Bank; but by the noble and daring
efforts of Messrs John Waddill, Thos Mitchell, w
Branson, Jordan of Philadelphia, Jos S Dunn,
assisted by several u S Recruits under the COM
mand of Lieut.. Howe, of the Army, (who prompt
lY repaired to the scene and offered the services
of himself and men for any duty,) this was happi-
ly extinguished and thus the principal part of an
other square was saved. A number of gentlemen
from the upper end of the county, drawn hither
by the deeply interesting trial of yesterday,l did
essential service. And we must not omit the due
commentator of our slave population, who on
such occasions always labor with spirit and Ell
ergy which only affection can inspire
The amount insured is not large, as the Offices
refuse to risk much on SO combustble square
Col Hawley was probably fully covered; Mr.. Har-
die $3.50, loss perhaps $1,000 beyond Mallett &
Huske $4,000, probably neary covered; Mr. Kirk
patrick $1,000. loss near $1,000 beyond; A Marsh
$500, d Shaw $500, Estate of D McRae S24CO
H Campbell $4,000, F Breeze $4,000, D Gee
$1,000 Mr. Hobbs $500, loss small; r A Stuart
$1,000, loss as much more; Mr. Matthews probably
covered: Mr. Jenkins nearly covered.
| The Augusta Insurance and Banking Company
loses about $500; the Croton $4,000; the Con.
relationship So, 500; the North Carolina Mutual
$4,000; the Williamsburg SIS 500; the N Y. Life
Fire, &c. 100. The Etna, and Hartford Fire
Agencies in this place, lose nothing.
1t is sad conviction, but it is unavoidable
one, that this fire like those last year, is of inccn
diary origin. We seem to have among us some
fend or fiends against whom no degree Of vigi
lance is proof. There is no remedy but in brcl
and metal, and we take ii for granted that these
will be required upon this burnt district, as upol
the last. We saw one gentleman, within an hou
after the fire, looking for contractor to put Ut
such building on his lot.