The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-08-28


Eighth Of tie City in Rujns-LOsS nearly So 600
Unparalleled Destruction.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Thbune.J
ALBANY, Thursday, August It's P. M.
The fire-some particulars of which have already
reached you by telegraph out at 128 O'Clock
In Johnson's stables, between Blocker and Herki-
mer sts., back of the Albion HOTEL There was q
strong gale of wind from the South, which drove
the fire up Broadway, extending both sides of that
avenue, and crossing to Dallas street. The engines
promptly on the spot but to no effect and the
flames continued to rage with unabated fury, dri.
wing toward State street. At d O'clock the fire
had already spread with such amazing rapdity thai
the four steamers lying outside the piers-the Hen
dirk Hudson, Isaac Newton, Rip Van Wrinkle and
Santa Claus-had barely time to fire up and escape
from the danger The flames ragged uncontrolled
on the pier, totally destroying the whole range OF
wooden warehouses. The Basin was filled with
canal boats IN flames with no possible chance Of
escape-and the wind being rather on the increase
five or six barges loaded with merchandise, were
also fired, together with several schOoners brigs
and other light craft. The two floats were de.
stroyed-in fact all became one field of fire from the
Basin to the Boston Ferry.
Men leaped into the water to escape the raging
flames, and many persisted thus. Among them are
supposed to be number of emigrants.
AT 4 O'Clock, assistance arrived from Troy, and
the Fire Department commenced blowing up build.
lngs but with little effect and less judgment Had
been sufficient to stay the progress of the devourng
element yet instead of this they took one at a
time, and OF course the flames Immediately leaped
over the comparatively small opening, and were
not stayed.
Men, women and children were flying in all di-
rectlons, carrying with them what little effects they
were able to snatch as they escaped. Some how
ever, had only time to get from their houses and
TWO persons, Mr.. Johnson and his wife, were
burned to DEATH and several others are missed and
supposed to have persisted in the flames.
The lire still continued with undated fury, and
the engines had little effect something like 200
houses being already destroyed merchants in State
street began clearing their stores of goods
Bt O'Clock, the fire had extended TO the head of
hudson street-all below being in ashes A tenn
pest had been rapidly gathering and rain com.
menced pouring down in torrents, but seemed only
10 increase the fury of the devouring element The
Wlnd just now began changing, and hopes were en-
IeFtalned That Hudson street would stop the de-
strucnon This hope, however was doomed to he
blasted. The flames continued to advance. steadiIv
and unbroken, until at 81 O'Clock, p H., they were
Within seven or eight doors of State street The
ire was finally got under by blowing up the houses
Within four hours 500 houses were laid in ashes
including the Albion Hotel, Eagle Tavern, Town
SEND House and the largest wholesale mercantile
houses IN the city, together with nearly 100 canal
boats, Loading and unloading at the wharves-seyen
OF eght barges loading with merchandise from New
York, and six or eight schooners and briggs. Near.
~ one-eighth of the city is destroyed. The damage
cannot fall much short of foe million dollars.
Some succor should be instantly sent from your
city 10 those thus rendered homeless A number
are entirely ruined. Our streets for ten or twelve
blocks, parallel with Broadway, are lined with
some 100 families, and large numbers of women
and children, with nothing left to shelter them from
the driving storm. Most of them, including many
Dutch and Irish emigrants, have lost all they pos
more painfully felt from their utter inability to re-.
supply what has been destroyed. There are hun.
dreds OF instances OF the most painful destitutiop.
In haste, yours, truly, w.P.K.