The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-09-20
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,TTcilSeiael M OSis 81 on ii lsIgatiOIl.

.5;2I. fsxs is0Olx Sif.s
seo losises and Orc III io,, Fire!
'ho,isand srorth
tfrty Destroyed. Isl 8
,Phecity 81 Brooklyn was visited on satur-,
day night BY the most terrible calamity that
has ever failcnsto its Iot. as fire broke out,
which IN elk hours time laid waste eight.
blocks Of buildings II, tho most active part of.
the city, destroying upward OF two hundred
houses and.property to tho valnc of ut least
$l,5O0, 900. All the energy OF the Brook
lyna firemen could do, with the aid of twenty,
engine and hose companies from this city,
were insufficient to stay the progress of the
flames, which were only finally arrested by.
blowing up the houses in their path. More
than two hundred falnilies are thus thrown
out of their homes, mady OF them being now
in state Of complete destitution.
The fire commenced about half past eleven
O'clock, in the rear OF the crockcry store Of
John Riley, Mt 120 Fultnn-street, near Mid
dagli, rs is supposed from the bursting, of:a;
camphcne lamp. The bull ling, heing OF
wood; which the long continued heat and dry
ness have reduced almost to the condition OF
tinder, was almost instantly in flames, but as
there was only slight breeze from the north
east, no apprehension of serious fire was
aroused. In few minutes. however, it chang
ed to strong gale from the northwest, which
swept the flames furiously among the work.
shops, stables. and frame buildings in the ccn-
ire nf the block.
III an incredibly short space Of time the fire
ran to windware, and communicated to the
whole range Of buildings up Henry and Full
ton-strcets from their junction to Cranberry
street. Owing to the drought the public cis-
terms were exhausted almost Immediately,
and thus the only supply OF water short Of the
river was cut off. The Brooklyn Fire Com
panies, all Of whom were promptly on the
spot, at once formed line TO the East River,
in which plan they were aided by the New
York Hose and Engine Companies, aid hav-
ing been solicited from this city, and the Hall
bell sounded, soon after twelve O'Clock. The
Chief Engineer, Mr.. &. V. Anderson, crossed
TO Brooklyn. with the following New York
companies: Engine companies ?, 3, H. 90, 81,
30, 81, 3S, AZ, "a; Hose companies l, 8, I3
ii, l5 l6, IL, ~, 25. 36. Engine No. 4, and
another company from Williamsburg, also
jnncd the Brooklyn Department. Brooklyn
Engine Go. No. l | was frs, at the fire.
The reflection Of the fire beinr plainly visi-
bic i'll Newark, Enginc Co. No Of that CITY
came OH in the cars, arriving in time to be oi
service.
1t was nearly 3o'ciock before the line could
he completed TO the river, and BY this time
the iianes, which had been raging uncontroll-
red, tanned by strong wind, had spread up
Fulton and Henry, nearly to Orange, crossed
Fulton at the corner of Sands and was making
It's way toward Washington street, threaten.
Ing to sweep all the eastern portion of the city
before it. The efforts Of the tremen proving
at this time Of little avail, application was
made tn the Mayor OF Brooklyn and the Chief
Engineers, to order n number of houses to be
blown up, as the only means OF arresting the
confagaetion. This was postponed for some
time, on account Of the danger, but finally,
when the fire had nearly reached Concor,l.st.
Capt. Sands of the navy, received an order
from the Mayor, and having procured eng-
neers and the aecesaary supplies from the
Navy Yard, performed the undertaking will,
complete success
Along the west side Of IIcnry-st. the limit
OF the fire in that direction, the row of small
wooden houses extending from Fulton to
Orange, was preserved hy means Of wet blan-
8ets and carpets, which were laid OIL the root
and hung from the caves, while hundreds OF
persons were employed for hours in bringing
water and keeping them saturated. a stable
and some small buildings between Middagh
and Orange SITS. were slightly injured, how
ever. On Orangc-st. the fire advanced more
than half way from Fulton 10 Henry-st and
was stopped at No. 100, Coroner Balls Office
The block on Henry-stree', running from
Orange to Pineapple, was no, touched.
About . l-2 o'clock the fire was subtlucrl on
b"th sides of the burning district: but at the
northeastern section, near The corner of
Washington and C"ncord-s;rccts, where its
force appears to have been concentrated hy
the action Of the wind and abundance nf fuel,
the efforts of the tremen were unavailing, the
flames bidding defiance to their almost super.
human efforts.
At o'clock Capt. Sands proc ccdcd to lay
train under several dwellings, in Concorl-st.
near Washington, Judge Murphy's splendid
mansion being among them. 1t was only
when all other hope was gone, and the Brook
lny Savings Bank. OH the opposite side OF The
stcet, had been on fire, (Which was cxtin-
guished almost by a miraclc,) that the train
under Judge Murphy's house was>cxplodcd.
This cXpedient was successful. Had the fire
progressed farther in that direction. the splen-
did building Of the Brooklyn Savings Bank,
the Lyceum and Museum at the corner of
Washington, beside reaching range OF frame
buildings. which, if once ignitcd, would have
led to the destruction of all almost inca ula-
bic amount of property.
The Unversalist Church, at the corner of
Fulton and Pineapple, was entirely destroyed,
wv ~ 'tCoouS presbyterian tnhTcn, OH
the opposite corner, escaped uninjured After
the blowing up OF the houses on Concor,l-st
the fumes were checked wi,i, little difficulty,
and at half-past the cnndagration was com
pletcly cStinguislicd. Mayor Stryker and the
Common Council were OH the ground during
the whole time, assisting the operations 4
detachment of the Marine Guard, under Bro
vet Capt. ShWttleworth, was furnished by the
Commandant OF the Navy Yard, and did good
service in protecting the property Of the suf-
fercis. Notwithstanding these precautions,
number OF thieves were at work, and more