Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-08-30

mazing efforts preserved Gouid's great car
riage and coach Establishment; every thing
on the surrounding streets being demolish--
ed.
North, the flying cinders, with which the
air was filled, caught the Columbia street
Market and of that large Structure nothing
remains. The adjacent buildings were
saved by the prompt efforts of the two
Schenectady fire companies.
But the scene of the most striking and
absolute desoIation is the pier. Scarcely
vestige of it remains. Throughout its en-
tire length, from Hamilton streetto the cut
opposite the Boston depot, it is utterly con-
sulned, including the wharves, warehouses,
nearly all the shipping in the Basin ard
outside the Pier, tow boats, barGes, canal
boats, huge floating warehouse arks, with
all their valuable and vast contents of goods
and products, the three bridges at Colum-
bia, State and Hamilton streets, lumber
yards, -four stores, in short every thing
that hcated or TENED with life and value in
that great mart yesterday morning.
The scene in State streets beggars all de-
scri ktion Thousands, flying from the co =
hagration, pressed every conceivable vehicle
into their service, depositing goods, furni-
ture, families, children, everything animate
and inanimate. Every point in that wide
street-at the Exchange, at the City Bank,
at the corners of all the intersecting streets,
in front of St. Peters Church, all along the
Parks, and i4ally, at the State Hall and
City Hall were crowded with bales, boxes,
furniture, goods Of all description, &c. No
point was deemed too remote from the de-
vouring element. The stores everywhere
were closed, or were only opened to the fly
ing citizens and their effects.
Two buildings were blown up, in the
hope of arresting the progress of the, fire.
One belonging to Mr.. J. l. Boyd, in Broad
wav, and the other to Mr.. John Knower,
corner of Hudson aud Liberty streets; but
with little effect.
All the insurance companies suffer large
lv, if not ruinously.
Among the ship piping destroyed was the
schr. Cotuit, of Boston, arrived yesterday
morning, and the schr. Eliza Matilda, of
Boston, seriously damaged. Svme twenty
vessels, below the Basin, were hastily drawn
out in the river and preserved. The Isaac
Newton aad Rip Van Winkle steamers
were also rescued, with much difficulty.
The conHagration of the Pier, so utterly
sweeping, was as rapid as it was unexpect
ed. 1t was supposed to be safe, owing tc
the intervening Basin Its-~say danger was
from the flying cinders and every store hac
its lookout and its buckets. When all dan
ger was supposed to have passed, spark
caught under clap-b,ard on the east OF
river side If the Pier, and in few moments
the flames were beyond all control, and
throughout the entire length If the Pier,
such was the rush of the flames, that many
of the merchants, cut off from escape from
the Basin side, abandoning all kope of saw
ing property, hastily threw their books and
valuab bic papers into boats, and put out
into the river.
The roofs everywhere throughout the city
were thronged with occupants, anxiously
guarding their property from the falling
cinders.
1t is to be feared that several lives were
lost, certainly several persons were severely
injured or burned; but we have no positive
information.
Nearly the entire Troy and West Troy
fire departments were on the ground. Their
aid was promptly and most efficiently rem
dered. Last evening they rendered, through
the telegraph the aid of three additional
companies, which came down and served
as relief guard.
All business was suspended, all the places
of amusement closed-in short, the aspects
in all directions, bespoke the desolation
which pervades the city.
! One of our oldest residents, familiar with
tho fire departments estimates the loss by
fire here since March last, as exceeding the
entire loss for the previous forty-one years.
This conhagration-in broad day-alto-
gether surpasses, in every form cf loss, any
with which the city has ever been visited.
Stanwix Hall and City Hotel were sever
al times on fire.
The suffering among the inhabitants is
severe, and many demand the sympathy,
commisseration and charity of those who
are SO fortunate as not to have been among
the immediate sufferers Many in atfluent
circumstances yerterday, are ruined. Thous-
ands are houseless. Destitute families and
numerous children, without shelter or bread
are all around us. Aid cannot be oprompt-
ly afforded.