The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-31

away into the darkness OF night which hung upon
our western borders. Here and there were seen hall
frantic men, running IN bewdement from point 20 point,
scarce knowing where staggering from their burning
homes under load OF their most precious property ioi
lowed by weeping wife and her tender babe.
BY of these explosions, one man standing on the
evee was killed by being struck with fragment blown
from the burning wreck of the Martha another was
shockngly aceraed n different paris OF ms oody oul
devouring fames they have gone sweeping IN wild
grandeur from boat to boat, and from house TO house,
and from street to street, no man ever tell.
To those who familiar with the localities Of ST.
Louis, the following description. from the Union, of the
progress OF the flames through the city, cannot fail
prove Interesting.
We begin by stating that the point at which the fire
first started ON shore, was at the corner of Locust street
above it, fronting the evee destroyed; the flames
then crossed Locust, and swept every house, with
exceptions in the blocks fronting the levee and Main
Chestnut street, distance of three squares AtChesnut
street turned up and crossed to the next block
south, at the junction of Commercial alley with this
street. burning all except two buildings at the corner Of
Market street and Commercial alley AT the junction Of
Market and Main streets, the flames crossed dagonaly
to the Market Street House. and followed both sides Of
Market street up to Second street Then crossing Main
street. the flames again swept every building from Locust
Market except row offour story FIRE proof brick
buildings, just below Locust street.
Passing up Pine, Chestnut, and Market streets, the
devouring element consumed every house in the two
blocks intervening between the streets mentioned and
Main and Second Streets and those on nearly half OF the
block north of Olive
Here its ravages were stayed in this part of the city.
Before the progress of the flames could be arrested, it
was found necessary to blow up two houses near
the corner OF Market and Second Streets and in dong
so, at least three persons were killed The fragments OF
OF their bodies found on the opposite side Of the
street, Walnut, Second street, and the thigh
bone and foot belonging to another near the foot OF
walnut street, some two or three squares from where
the houses were blown up These, with the body of the
| rut on 10 {pvQ m fOnr
We will now 60 farther SOUTH to the foot OF Elm street.
where the fire made another Judgement, and spreading
down TO Spruce street, distance north and south of two
squares and crossing Main. carried nearly everything
before up very nearly Third street, three squares to
the west OF its starting point AT Main street. the flames
crossed Em and consumed fourth of the block north
of Elm and OF Main streets. From the foot of Elm,
up its southern side TO Second street, distance Of two
hundreds OF families made homeless, and many who
were in afhuence are reduced topoverty
South market and the town hall were on fire at one
me but by great exerton OF few persons present they
Nearly every pane of glass in the windows for half
square distant the of Market and Second streets
broken, by the conclusion at the time OF the blowing
up OF the building at that point.
The police arrested and confined in the jail and Gala
I SE stealing at the s Of
board of submitted to the mayor report of the
loss in buildings sustained in the late disastrous fire. 1t
is generally admitted to be very accurate estimate,
cash valuation:
Value of buildings burnt in the 81 ward $447 500
4th ward 200
| " I'd ward $500
Total valuation of buildings burnt 1890
The merchandise and other property in these buildings
would certainly amount to at least five hundred thousand
dollars more.
Estimated value steamboat stock $31s, 900
| do do cargoes 10000
Do do produce destroyed on landing $4,000
Several of the ST. Louis insurance Offices have given
notice that they ready to adjust and pay losses The
volunteer companies and four company of regulars from
Jefferson barracks guarding The property saved in
the burnt district The city council had appropriated
| 80 900 to relieve the wants OF the destitute.
The Louisville Journal says: Z" Upon inquiry, learn
that of the property destroyed in St Louis of
100000 was effected upon in this city This sum is
divided is follows Fremens $4,000, Merchants
$35, 900, and Franklin $4,000 These offices have
ample means, and understand have tclegraphed to
ST. Louis that the money will be forthcoming on demand"
note from the clerk of the steamer Embassy, which
left ST. Louis Saturday, the second day after the fire.
and arrived at Cincinnati Wednesday, addressed to the
Cincinnati Commercial, contains the following appalling
and, doubt not highly exaggerated statement
Passed several dead bodies floating in the river
blackened and scared by the awful fire of the nth Our
own candid opinion is, there not less than from
one hundred to hundred and fifty lives lost by the
dreadful calamity being witness of the destruction
of many besides the number of persons wounded by the
explosion OF POWDER blowing up Of houses, and the
tumhling in of walls, &c"