The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-11

AN EXTENSIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN To-
RoNTo-EsrMATED Loss El50,00O.-We have re-
ceved says the Rochester advertiser of the 9th inst
the following important news by the steamboat
Admiral, Capt Kerr, which arrived here from To-
ronto yesterday morning.
tFrom the British Colonist Extra Saturday Morning,
April7]
This morning, about two o'clock, fire broke
out IN some one or other of the rear premises
within the square formed by King street on the
south, George street on the east, and Nelson
street on the. west II spread with frightful ra-
pdIy--the wind blowing fresh, and changing seve-
raj times during the progress of the confagration
Among the ruins Is the Cathedral Church of St
James, which was erected few years ago, on the
spot where the former church Stood before it was
destroyed by fire. The whole range of buildings
on the north side of King street. from the Cahe-
dral, which Is entirely destroyed, commencing
with O'Nelll's Depository, to the house of the late
Mr.. Sprouts grocer corner of George street, com
rrsing three entire blocks, in the centre of the
business part OF the city, have been burned ash
es-the only tenement in the range named, which
now stands, being that of the late Mr. Sproue, al
ready named, which was saved. On the opposite
SIDE OF King street. the houses (and their contents)
OF Mr.: Rogers, halter. and Mr.. O'Beime, clothier,
ably injured, but saved from entire destruction by
the exertlons OF the flremen. Further east, on the
same side, the old City Hall is a mass Of ruins,
and with much difficulty the rest of the market
front, was saved from destruction. The fire ex-
tended only as far South on the West side, as to
include the store. of MIR. Walter Macfarlane, i'm
medlately adjoining the old City Hall, and the
sGnnm DC, and that adjoining occupied as deposit
tory by Gooderham IL Worts. On the east side Of and
adjoining the old City Hall, the stores ofMr c. Rob-
ertson, grocer, sustained considerable damage.
The whole OF Nelson street, on the east side, from
Posts tavern, inclusive, to King street, has been
burned; and on the west side, from King street to
the corner of Adelaide street, including the bakery
OF MIR. Nasmith. Frances street, to the rear or
xncf al Nnlc ..~ L.. L.
to the ground as also the houses on Adelaide street
which connect Nelson and Frances streets Fran
ces street runs parallel with Nelson street, from
King street to Adelaide street. The whole square,
bounded by Church street on the west King street
on the south, George street on the east, and AIDE
lalde and Duke streets on the NORTH has been burn
ed to ashes, with the exception of the range Of
houses included within the boundary named,
fronting on George street, the residence of the Rev.
Mr.. Grasett, on Adelaide street, and two or three
new houses adjoining, in the direction of Frances
street Besides these there are the old City Hall,
and other premises already named, ON the south
friot and the Mirror newspapers, have been de-
stroysd by the conhagration Among the sufferers
6y this great calamity, are Messrs. O'Neill Bro
Tiers, 1. d. Harris lTonmongers; Geo. II. Cheney
GERS; Topper, dry goods store; Thompson, Mann
druggists; oDonohue, auc!loneers; Hall, dry goods
E Eow ASs Thompson appd printers; Cary Brown
kollmeyer, hardware merchants; Truscott shoe
maker; Graham, tavern; w. Macfarane, dry
goods Tin one shop only, the large Victoria House
having escaPed); Charles Robertson, grocer; J.
Mrs. Hartney.. two. houses; Rogers, halter;
OBerne, clothier; City of Toronto Corporations
City Hall Buildings; Post Rolph, and John Plat,
tavems, on Nelson street; Nasmith, Baker; the es-
on Nelson street, I. Gassco, halter. A few taverns
and other houses on Frances street. These are all
the names of sufferers, which we are in position
to note down in this hurried sketch, and they en-
brace nearly all of the sufferers. The fire compa-
MES excrted themselves most cre*itaby, and were
successful in preventing the confagration from
spreading further, but with very great difficulty,
owing to the fresh breeze which continued to blow
during the whole time. A body of troops was
sent from the. garrison, and the men rendered
essential service in the preservation of property
One individual in tbs crowd sustained severe in
jury, and was carried home. Name unknown to
us. This was altogether the most extensive and
destructive fire which has ever occurred in To-
ronto, and a vast amount OF property, both in
houses and merchandise, was consumed by it.
We have heard the loss variously estimated by
persons on the spot, at from El00 900 to ESQ 600
but 1t is as yet impossible to give anything like
correct estimate of the less A great portion Of it
is Of course, insured and from the great extent of
the loss 1t must pres: heavily on the Insurance
sincerely sympathise with the unfortunate sufferers
The narrow escape made by other portions of the
city, may be estimated, when we state that flakes
of fire were carried before the wind from Church
street to the Government House sark and Timer
Canada College square-a very considerable dis
tance to the west of the scene of the fire. The es-
cape, OF many houses may, under Providence, be
attributed to the falling of heavy rain at one period
OF the morning, while thunder storm passed over
the city. The shingles on the roofs of the houses
having thus been moistcncd, prevented the fire
which tell upon them in all directions from taking
effect. The house of Mr.. L. d. Harris, on King
street, was considered to be fire Proof and hopes
were entertained that it would have escaped. Az
ter resisting the action of the fire, for long time,
those around it. The fire caught either on the roof
OF or by means OF the .5isting tackle in the rear
me ire Is now SO Completely subdued, that there is
'o appearance Whatever of its spreading further.
hNoIHEa FIRE IN PORTLAND, ME.-A fire broke
Iu,, or Thursday night last, in Lime street. in the
!arec stable occupied by Nathan Ilsley. There
EeIc hsm sixty to .seventy-ive tons of hay in it,
ws,lch, with the building, were entirely consumed