The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-19
AWFUL COMPLICATION in ALBANY.
SEVERAL LIVES LOST.
Several Millions Of Dollars Worth
Of Property Destroyed.
SIX HUNDRED BUILDINGS BURNT
&C., de-, &c


disastrous conagration which took place in that city
on the nth inst We are indebted to Capt. Gorham
of the steamboat Hendrix Hudson, for Albany papers
delivered at early hour Friday afternoon. The
albany Express gives the following account Of dis
aster -
We scarcely know how % describe the fearful Gala
nifty that has befallcn doomed city IL is beyond
adequate descripticn-beyond at the time write,
inteilgble detail Soon after fire was checked that
broke out in Quacke nbush street just before moo a.
the alarm was again sounded, and fire broke out in a
small stable adjoining the Albion House, between
Broadway nd the Pier Herkimer street. and occu-
pied by John @ White. OF its origin know
nothing but il burst forth at a most unlucky mo-
ment. The Fire Department was weary scattered,
and disorganized Some of the machines were dis
abied, and in consequence Of shameful fight, of
them No. we believe-was lodged in the City Hall
yard, and unnamed, In the moment of danger. The
heat was intense the mercury ranging at 81 in the
shade the city dry as tinder in consequence Of the
drought. and gale of wind blowing from the south
Every thing conspired against us and the destroying
element Immediately getting the upper hand, ragged
awfuly and uucheck ed for hours, sweeping away full
six hundred buildings, many OF them new, and of
great value, dertroying about two millions Of dollars
worth of property and rendering hundreds of fami-
lies houseless and homeless.
Truly, this calamity is an awful one-but God be
praised that it is no worse AT one time it seemed
wind blew fercely, the flames spread all Sides the
devouring element advanced from block to block and
from street to street, buildings taking fire in
several parts Of the city-au terror, confusion
and dismay. and the efforts Of man seemed utterly
pow erless. At this fearful moment the wind lued
heavy cloudsrose in the north and deluge of
rain-grateful, needed, God sent rain-poured from
the surcharged Clouds and checked the progress of
the conhagration.
Amid the roar, darkness, lightning and thunder of
the storm glared the red flames and rolled the
columns of smoke while occasionally the shock of a
building blown up with gunpowder, added to the ter
rOr and submity Of the Undesirable scene. The
fury and spread OF the flames exceeded anything ever
seen. The fire ran, leaped flew. from building to build
Ing with the speed of the hurricane that bore it on in
ia M QndU
more and more threatening, the bells re-sounded the
alarm and the people looked on with terror and al
mort with despair. There many narrow escapes
from DEATH and serious personal injuries sus-
tanned among the latter VIM Johnson, his wife and
daughter were badly burnt while escaping from their
dwelling, SO Liberty street
Albany has never before, in her 200 years history
suffered so dreadful local calimity as this.
The first block burnt was bounded by Herkimer ST.
Broadway. B,eecker st. and the dock The fire then
mt the Dock and the side of Broadway neary
to Hudson st. and up the west side Of Broadway quite
to Hudson ST. 1t passed up Hudson st. to the Park
burnt both sides of Liberty and Church sts down to
Lydus ST., went up Lydius to Union ST., and up the
large district every building is consumed except Ha
gaman Cowels four story brick corner of Broadway
and the new steamboat landing Bortle's new three
story brick grocery store west side of Broadway and
adjoining the district burnt in June J. X. Wings
four story brick store corner of Dock and steam
boat landing; Caggers new three story brick build
ipgs running from the Dock to Broadway. and eccu-
pied in part by Tweddle & Darlington. All the rest
are down including the Fort Orange Hotel, Cowell's
United States House, the Eagle tavern, German
boardi Jg house, the Townsend House, the Odeon,
many small boarding houses, &C., and an immense
number Of stores The fire crossed and burnt the
Hamilton street bridge land set on fire Dows West
uotel-the first building on the Pier. From this
point every building on the Pier, up to and across
State ST. and thence to the cut at the foot Of Maiden
lane, destroyed including emigrant hotels for
wsrdng houses, groceries, steamboat, canal boat and
freghtpg line offices, and all the floating craft in the
Basin including 80 to 20 canal and lake boats Is to
20 large tow boats sail vessels and the steam.
boat William Seymour
Burning vessels Aoated against the Columbia street
bridge and set 1t on fire. Thence the fire was COM
municated to the Columbia street Market which was
burned, together with number of dwellings in the
vicinity. The exact bounds Of the district burnt in
this quarter we have not been able to obtain
Vessels Of all kinds on the outside of the pier oated
The loss of household goods of all kinds is Immense
Great quantities that were srewed in the streets were
ruined by the rain.
Carts, wagons, drays-everythng on wheels-were
in constant requistion, but could not accomplish
tenth part of the work required Five and twenty
dollars were offered for carrying single load.
There thing like orga nization of effort The
authorities the fire department. and the citizens were
scattered Isolated and acted too much without con.
cert. Still, much was done. Almost superhumau |
personal efforts were put FORTH and thousands of cti
zens worked with all their might.
Our fremen under the circumstances did all they
could. We received timely and invaluable aid from
East and West Troy, Greenbush, and schenectady
fatigue and cold water. Buildings, sheds Sc, took
fire repeatedly, as far north Wilson and Lumber
NJ. j. Smiths Free Soil Banner office, and James
Dufy's job printing office, were burnt
At one time the Offices Of the Alias, Knicker5ocker
and Express, as we'll Van Benthuysens and Mum
ellis extensive printing establishments were threa.
ened with destruction.
Thousands of citizens packed up their goods fur
1iture, &C., and the stores were everywhere closed
A number OF buildings blown up under the
Erection of the authorities in the vicinity of Hudson
treet.
1t is impossible at the time we write to get at any
orrect estimate Of the loss sustained the condition
4 the insurance companies. Our Albany companies
ave suffered terribly.
Individual losses be very great and there will
e much distress and suffering. 1t will be long time
efore Albany will recover from this awful calamity
Seventeen whole blocks, thepier the Colupba street
market two bridges and near one hun dred boats, e
estroyed. Most of the boats were heavily laden.
We regret to learn that several lives have been lost
'wo drowned in the Basin, near the foot of
laden lane They were floating on a raft, and in
he midst Of confagration, fell of and sunk. The
is missing man named Hardely, an
risbmsn, died from over exerton. man named
Crimson, and several others, missing.
Some 5000 10000 barrels Of -four were burnt on
be pier. The loss Of property in the Basin i'm
tense. The loss is roughly estimated at two millions
dollars. We fear our local insurance companies are
verwhemed. The property on the pier was insured
broad. The Swiftsure and Eckford Towboat lines
,se tremendously. Hundreds of our business men
tterly ruined. Four buildings were blown up with
owder.
At midnight the fire was burning in forty places but
Is completely under control. There is no wind, and
ne rain has ceased
The .qr gus says-No estimate of the value of pro.
erty is yet attainabe. We hear of two forwarding
that estimate property under their charge to the
mount of 500 600, all consumed Another line suf-
RS to amount of from 500 600 to $4,000 The loss
nour shost and in store, is not less than 10000
arres.
The area of the Ere embraces many acres, perhapsA
fly sixty, Of the most compact and valuable part
the city 1t includes at least twenty squares.
midst the ruins which every where meet the eye, 1t
dcult to trace the outlines Of the former state of
hings; but those familiar with the city will perceive
be extent of this most calamitous visitation, by
w generalities,
Broadway, from the intersection of Herkmer, to
he south corner of Hudson street, on the west side
nd to Van Schaacks variety store, on the east sde
early half a mile, is, with all its structures and
torres, including the Eagle Tavern, the Townsend
louise, and the United States HOTEL level with the
arth.
From Broadway to the river, including the ranges Of
fifty stores Quay street. throughout nearly the
ntire space above mentioned, all is heap Of ruins
All the cross streets entering Broadway, Herkmer,
leecker. LYdius. Hamilton, Division and Hudson,