The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-05
Awful Fire at Baton Rouge.
as, 600 woRrH OF pnopERry pEsrnoyEI

We take the following account of IA terrible ca
tasrophe that has beiallen the capital of the State
from an extra of the Democratic Adrocate of Satur
day last, for which are indebted to the CONNER
cial house of Messrs. Menard & yigneaud of this
city:
BAToN ROUGE, Nov. "a, lSi9.
We are called TO the painful task of recording
one OF the most disastrous CONGREGATIONS that has
ever occurred in this city, or may well say in
the whole South. The fire originated, as far we
can learn at this early writing, a o'clock a. mo-
IN some one OF the premises or buildings situated
on the southern side OF Church street. near Water
street, destroying all the buildings on that side
far up as Lafayette street Forences coffee house
and warehouse adjoining, the residence and store
OF r. X. Sans, T. Pendergasts store, a small
store adjoining on Lafayette street, and several
other buildings Water street. including the
store and residence of. N. Puen, the tenpin alley
OF +. Theilman, and other similar tenements. The
wind blowing fresh from s. 5. E., the fire crossed
Church street. taking in its course the stores OF A.
Malta, Samuel f. Hart, r.. Beal < Son, John Gar
vim, L. Grandpre the stores and residences OF John
Huguet, and A. Montan, ST., DIR. Lacock's med
ical office, A. Regets paint shop, Kugler's tailor
shop, the residences of Dr. Il. Fay and l.. Dalshol-
mer, the store of s. Bear, the dwelling of r. Foley,
the segar store of M. Girard the cigar store of nj.
Bergel, the residence of f. Holman, Montan's ice
house, the residence of S. f. Blanchard, the coffee
house and residence of j. Tuns, and other build
ings making clean sweep of the square bounded
by Lafayette, Church, North and Water streets,
save one building alone, the property of Mrs.
Leech, which stands on the corner OF Lafayette and
North streets The Harvey House was on fire sew
era times and in great peril, the walls facing the
fire being very much heated
From the various inquiries we have made con-
corning the fire, and the information we have de-
rived, there is not doubt mind that the fire
was the work Of some ncendiary villain or villains,
whom we have good reason to believe have infested
our town for months past with the intention of set
ting fire to 1t for the purpose OF pillaglng May
tIa-xT ha fn lu md
themselves made to suffer the severest penalty OF
the law.
We saw three or four of our citizens who
somewhat wounded from the falling timber, &C.,
while assisting at the fire, among whom was DR..
Harvey, who received slight confusion on the
head, causing the blood to flow for while quite
freely.
The fire commenced about one O'Clock, and ragged
for three four hours before it was subdued. Our
citizens generally tured out, and were promptly on
the spot upon the spread of the alarm. Were it not
that our remarks might be deemed invidious, we
could speak in heartfelt terms of admiration OF the
noble exertions which we witnessed on the part OF
several of our gallant friends towards rescuing from
destruction the property of their neighbors
Upon the alarm being given in the garrison,
Major Scott, the excellent commandant, imned-
ately ordered the long roll to be beaten, and de-
spatched the soldiers with the garrison tireengine
to the of the disaster himself and the gallant
Lieutenant Drum also hurrying thither and CO.
operating most etfecually with our citizens III ar
|
Among the buildings comprised in the above
enumeration, three belonging TO John l..
Wolff, three four belonging to James McCalop,
three belonging to j Huguet, one to Mrs. Foster,
two TO A. Theriot, two to +. Vincent one (two-
story brck) to 4. F. Phillips, besides several
smaller buildings on Water street, owned by John
Butler. The rest were owned by those whose
names appear above, IN connexion with other
losses.
Since ascertaining the foregoing, we have spent
some hours in viewing the ruins, and endeavoring,
from the most reliable sources, to procure an es-
innate of the losses by this terrible fire. which
find, as near as possible, to be as follows
A. Malta, about $l2, 900, not insured; r. Beal &
Son, $500, not insured; J. Huguet, between
$4,000 and 81 900, insured for $4,000; j. Mans
ker, $4,000, not insured; L. Pendergast, $4,000,
not nsured; j. & l.. Florence, 5000, insured; j.
Tunnis, $4,000; J. Garvin, + $1,000, not insured;
A. Theriot, $1,000; John L. Wolff, $4,000; p. Fo
ley, $500, not insured; Mrs Foster, $4,000; II. &
F. Sans. $4,000; j; McCalop, $4,000; E; F. Phil
s 900; S. Bear, $1,000 There are other losses in
furniture, &c, of which we are unable TO form any
thing like correct estimate, but suppose they would
reach $4,000 or $4,000 Many Of the goods of w.
ID. Phillips were damaged in removing, and, as Is al
ways the on such occasions, there was more or
less plundering going Col. Pratt, of the Har
ney House, informs us that the damage TO that
building will probably amountto s 800.
We also noticed the attendance and useful exer
tons of that excellent officer, Captain Whitley.
The soldiers worked nobly and deserve all praise.
They among the very first to repair with their
engine TO the fire. The two fire. engines belonging
TO the town also out, and considering their
condition. done good service, especially the one in
charge of Mr.. Arbour, of the saw-mil The new
fire engine ordered for the town (the need Of which
Is obvious to all) is daily expected from the
north.
The burnt district presents truly sad and desc
late appearance. The loss TO all the sufferers comes
very severely, especially at this season, when bust
ness was just recommending, tencments Of any
kind, and lumber extremely scarce, and when, too,
large accession 10 our population is expected in
few days, by the removal of State officers and their
families, and the arrival of the members Of the le-
gslature. Many families turned out Of house
and homc-some of them very poor, and losing al
most every thing Verify, our city has drank
deeply of the cup of afiliction
The calamity is one which appeals loudly TO the
benevolent feelings Of all, and we sincerely trust
that will be forthwith taken for the relief
of the needy and destitute and that legislature,
which is shortly TO convene here will promptly APP
propriate a sufficient sum for the benefit of those
sufferers who the least able overcome the adj
verse fate TO which they have just been subjected