The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-30
Great Firo-Dopogana's Hotel in Ruins.

On Friday morning, about half an hour after
midnight, the city alarmed by the cry of fire,
and the ringing Of the bells. The entire horizon
appeared al the same moment 10 be in blaze, to
whichever side the spectator turned. On the one
hand were the flames Of burning building on
the other the reflection thrown against the sky,
which was remarkably clear and starlight. On
hastenlug into the street, it was made manifest in
an instant, that the calamity had occurred 70 the
magnificent pile known as Donegana's Hotel. At
the time the writer first approached the scene of
disaster, the fire could scarcely have appeared
more than half an hour But even then flames ex-
hlblted themselves throughout the whole breadth
OF the building on the western side.
Our city readers are aware that the front of the
hotel, ornamental with pillara, situated on the
soTner Of NOtra Dame street, from which the side
wall ran down BOnsecOurs street to Champ de
Mars street, where there was a long wing, in which
the dining and concert room was situated The
end Of this wing, therefore, ronted the spectator
approaching from the west by NOtre Dame street,
and the line Of buildings was continued 10 that
street by the main body Of the hotel All this lne
was blazing, from the corner adjoining Mr. BOul-
Hngers shop, which appeared to be in great dan
ger OF taking fire at the back, right through TO the
dining room wing, and the FIRE was showing
through the roof and bursting out of each window.
Proceeding down 70 Champ de Mars street, the
spectacle became one of great grandeur and beauty
The flames, when the writer reached that spot,
had burst through the roof over the pOrtico, and
rapidly climbing the cup0la, from which they were
thrown of by the tin roof with dazzling brightness
the smoke and fakes of fire curling up around the
flagstaff in all kinds Of fantastic directions, and
the flag staff itself standing out in the strongest
lief against the illuminated sky. After burning
for some time, sudden blaze shot up above the
top Of the cupola, the next moment the whole fell,
and column Of smoke rose over the spot where 1t
had lately stood.
Many of the neighbors, terrified by the confa-
grafton, had begun to move their goods, and the
pavement of NOtre Dame street, the bank of the
Champs de Mars, and st. Louis street, were all
encountered with beds, sofas, and all kinds of
furniture. A guard of soldiers was drawn up
across Notre Dame street, and the whole Of the
fire companies were on the ground with the great
est promputude.
Notwithstanding all their efforts, it soon became
evident that there was no hope Of saving any pOr-
ton Of the noble building All eKertions were
therefore directed to saving the surrounding prop
erty, and water was plentliullY thrown on the
neighbOriDg roofs, especially on that Of the Ma
tional School, which is covered with shingles. In
the meantime the destruction of the hotel proceed
ed, and, probably at about two O'Clock, a loud cry
called the attention of the bystandeTs to the back
wall Of the wing in Champ de Mars street, which
Immediately fell with tremendous crash The
fall began from the end of the wing, toward the
Champ de Mars, and gradually extended to the
corner, where number Of cross walls strength
ened the building. This corner continued stand
ing for some time longer; but at a later period
great part of it also fell down. The long side wall
windows, soon after came down, too, making a
gigantic ruin in the street.
During the progress of the conhagration several
deplOrable casualties occurred AT very early
stage great portion Of the furniture was thrown
from the windows of the hotel and we regret to
state that chest Of drawers, or some similar ar
tice, fell on the head of Mr. Froste, Jr., who we
understand was very dangerously injured. Toward
daylight still more serious accident occurred to
fireman named Douglass, blacksmith, who was
going up ladder, when stone from the coping of
the building fell upon his head and struck him to
the ground, The blow was fatal.
The inmates of the hotel, we believe, all escaped
with their lives, and some of them saved good
deal OF property; but others have lost many valu-
AbeS AT or very short time before the breaking
out OF the fire there were considerable number of
persons in the bar of the hotel and we understand
that person named Mcmahon, who had become
obnoxious TO the crowd was stripped nearly naked.
After the fire was discovered a number of pistol
shots were fired in the bar and passages, to alarm
the inmates up stairs
The origin of the fire is perhaps not very salts
tactorlly made out; but it appears that chimney
was on fire on Tuesday, and il is supposed that
after this was apparently ertinpuished, a beam in
the chimney wall still smoudered as a smell of
smoke Is said to have been observed bv the inmates
for torty-elght hours preceding the outbreak. The
hrst manifestation OF the accident was in the upper
part Of the house, directly under the roof; and
whether the above conjecture be well founded or
NOT it Is satisfactory to know that there is not the
remotest reason to suppose that the incendary had
any thing to do with the catastrophe. Insurance
on the building, ELI $50; on furniture E25OO.
During the progress of the fire at Doneeana's. a
report was current among the persons assembled
that fire was visible at Laprairie, and il was i'm
medately rumored that the Elgn Guards had been
attacked and their barracks fired. On proceeding
to the wharf however, we ascertained from the
position and evident distance of the flames, that
the fire could not be - near. We hear this morn
ing that il was at Lacole, and ara told the village
has suffered ssysEsly,-MoWtreal Herald, Aug, Is,