Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-01-17

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The night was cold and clear, with a
strong wind, and the flames spread rapidly.
While Mrs. Wards house was burning,
hat lady rushed out of the house almost dig
racted, declaring that her daughters were
sleeping in the house, and would be burned.
A simultaneous effort by about twenty gen.
lemen. was made to save them. One
young lady was saved by Mr.. Lewis, COM
,ositor in this Office, assisted by two young
men whose names we could not learn. Un-
lble to carry her down stairs, on account Of
he fire and smoke, they carried her out
side window of the second story, upon the
roof of an adjoining house, from whence
they descended in safety to the ground. A
boy by the name Of John Nettle, also EN-
ployedin the Office of the Commercial Jour
nal, slgnalized himself by saving young
girl. he broke into her room, which was
hlled with smoke and carried her to win
dow from whence she was taken in safety
by others.
The flames then extended to the steam
mill, which was entirely destroyed. The
mill was occupied by Mr. Page. He had
1000 barrels of -four in the mill, which
were destroyed. He was insured.
The-fames then caught the large and
splendid buildings occupied BY Messrs. J..
Irwin & Son, and as the Custom House, BY
J. B. Guthrie, Esq. These buildings were
entirely destroyed. There were $50 bar
rels of oil in the Custom House, owned by
Mr. Oliver Black ckburn, iand which were, sof
course, entirely lost. The wrecks of -twa
steamboats, Swatara and the RID
Grande were also stored ia the Custom !
house, and these combustable materials adj
ded to the violence of the fire.
1t was while these buildings were burn
ing, that the most melancholy event of the
night occurred.
1t is said by some that there was powder
iii the Custom House, and that its explosion
threw down the walls. On this point We
are not able to speak; as we have not had
an opportunity to enquire of the Collector.
At all events, however, the wall of the
Custom House, fell, crushing beneath its
immense weight, the rear portion Of the
residence of Mr. George Ledlie. At the
moment Mr.. VIM. Hays, Jr was engaged
>
house, and he fell among the ruins. This
occurred about half after three o'clock, and /.
the body of Mr. H. was not recovered until
Saturday evening about five o'clock. He
was found on his back in the cellar, and
did not appear to have been fatally bruised,
although his death must have been instanta-
nsous. Mr. Hays was a young man uni
versally beloved in our community, and his
fate cast gloom over the whole city: He
leaves wife and two young children.
Crowds of people attended throughout Sat-
urday, anxious to ascertain the fate Of one
so worthy of regard. "a
Mr. James E. Lediie, (of the well known
firm of Mulvany & Ledlis,) was also caught
by the fall of the wall. He was found at.
last, terribly bruised; lying under aanum-
Der Of beams and a pile of rubbish. With
great efforts he was Sawed out" as fire.
man expressed it to US. Throughout sSatur-
day Mr. l.. remained unconscious, but on
yesterday he revived, and is now pronoun-
ced out Of danger. Under the circumstances
his escape must be considered little less than
miraculous
A young girl and two other persons were
slightly injured by the same catastrophe.
After the fall OF the wall, the flames ex-
tended more rapidly. Mr. Ledlie house
was almost entirefg destroyed. The house
of Mr.. F. Lorecz was burned down; and
the dwelling of Mr. 7. s.. Clarke, somewhat
injured The furniture of these houses was
principally all saved.
All the above buildings were on Water
street, but the flames now crossed to Front
street, where for time it seemed as though
they would have de6ed the efforts of the i'll
trepid fremen. Three large brick dwell
ing houses owned by Mrs Adams; the
Block and Tackle Factory of Messrs. Da-
wage and Roberts, and number of small
fame buildings we're destroyed, before the
fire was checked.
Thezhighest praise is due not only to the
fire department and citizens generally, but
also to the steamboat men. These gallant
fellows exerted themselves in large numbers
and with unwearied diligence TO stay the
progress of the ruin.
The following table exhibits TIE loss sus-
tanned in property:
J.Irwin & Son, buildings, Sl5 900; ms.
$4,000. Stock, $4,000, fully insured.
Mrs. Adams, building, $1,000, insur-
ance So, 900.
R. c. Townsend, loss $4,500. Insured
for 50 900.
George LedEe, loss, $4,000, insured for
$4,000.
Capt. F. Irwin, loss, $4,000.
F. Lorenz, partly insured.
G. M. Evans,
B. F. Page, @
Davage & Roberts-no insurance.
All the public documents were saved from
the Collectors Office without injury.
+. Congressional News.
Washington, Jan. 8.
In the Senate, numerous petitions on The
subject of Slavery, were laid on the table.
The Senate then proceeded to the con-