The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-18


A0oht 10 o'clock last night, the steamer
White Cloud, lyiu. near the head of the lev
ee, was discovered to be on fire. At the
time there was a stiff breeze blow inc from
the east, which carried the winds across 10
the Edward Bates, the next boat belov.-
The heat from these set fire 10 the Eudora
lying below. The Belle Isle, mex, below tho
Bates, then caugh, fire. BY this time one
or two boats below, were dropped down:
leavinga vacancy between those on fire and
the boats below them. At this time Nh,
Bates being about half burnt UP, was cast
/ loose, ani went floating down the levee, set.
ting fire to those boats Still lying at tie lev
&c, rs she approached them in the following
order.
The Julia Bats, slightly injured.
The Uncle Sam, also but slightly injured.
The Bates barely touching these boats, be-
ing those immediately below her. The
/ following steam boats with large number
of wood boats, barges, Sc, were entirely
destroyed:
The Martha. Sara, Taclioui, MonIauk,
Red Wing, Alexander Hamilton, Boreas
No. 3, Tlmour, Mundane, ST. Peters, Kit
Carson, Mameluke, Prairie State. This
does not comprise all the boats destroyed,
but these are all the names we were able TO
get hold Of.
/ The following boats were saved: The
Julia, Old Uncle Sam, Marshall.
/ SO intense vas the heat arising from
/ this great cunnagration, which extended
from the head ot the levce to the head Of
DunCan'S Island, that it set fire to buildings
at various parts along the Levee. All of
which, above Vine ST.. were cxtingushsd:
bat n row Of >hantie> extending from Locust
towards Vine ST., was destroyed; and now,
while we are writing, | o'clock tins morn
ing, the cutirc block bounded, by lcvcc
near Olive aud Locust sts., is wrapt in
flames. Also, house IN the square 'front.'
ing the lcvec between Pine and olive sts.,
and various huueS on the west side Of Main
st. from Carriers aud Simon's, at the cor,
ucr of Locust AMI Main To Olive; Mr. John
Nador'S large cooper shop on the south
west corner Of the levee aud Elm st; also,
large two story t,ick house on the west
side of Main below Elm.
The flames rapidly spreading, and where
they may he stayed, man cdnuottell. This
is by tar the most awful catastrophe that has
ever fallen 10 the lot Of any city west ofthe
Allegheules. IL addition to the property
enumerated, there was vast amonnt Of
gram in sacks, hemp, bacon, &c, which
caught from the heat sent oil toy the boats,
and was destroyed; aud, unfortunately, on
one pile of hemp, which was covered by a
tarpauln, il l., said four rer>onS were sleep
ing, and all were destroy ed. We saw the
bones of one of them-.a boy-w hIch were
carried into the police office. There were
number Of kegs of powder on board tho
boats, aud ~ tue fire reached them theyex
pl1ded with a terrific crash, scattering bur-
ming fragment, in wild confusion into the
air By one OF these explosions one man,
>taudin. on the levre. was killed by being
struck with a fragment blown from the bur
ming wreck of the Marietta. Another was
ShockiuCy lasccratsd in different parts Of
has body sut how many poor wretcheS have
! fallen victim, to these devourinc flames, 40
man can ever tell. One Of the widest and
most htlrt-rendiuG SpcctaCIeS ever witness
ID in on city was exhibited last night. From
Duucau'S Island, extending perhaps halEor
three i0urlhS at a mile, IN a continuous line
up the river the wreck Of boat met beat,
aud rolled their hlid flames IN Wild coniu-
sion into upper air. On the other hand, the
long, lofty range Of stores fronting the IL
yer sent up a cloud of sparks, and sheets of
dazzling flames, whlchthrew a red aud ela-
ring Ii CHIT far away into the darkness OF night.
Here and there were seen hall frantic men
running ia bewiGrrmeutir from point TO point,
scarcely knowing where, or staggering from
their burning homes under a lead Of their
most precious property, followed by
weeping wife and unconscious babe.
Since writing the above, We have taken
another walk through the burning district,
which now at quarter before >, A. NJ, al
ready extended from the lcvee west to 2d
,t., and from Locust 10 South OF Elm. This
entire pace is not burned, but much OF II is,
! and much more will be before tho flames
are extiusuishcd. We cannot pretend TO
particularize the buildings, but Will mention
the Telegraph Office, the Republican Oflicc
the Organ Office, and the New Era Office.
These comprise all the daily papers in the
city except our own. We have fortunately
| escaped.
| We can form no estimate Of the loss by
this fire. 1t may probably be put down at
| 81, 00OO00. In our evening edition we Will
give all the particulars that can be had.
This time, ~ a. NJ, the flames are near
~ ex,in.nished, and our gallant fremsn are
almost exhausted, yet we hope but little
more damage will be done.