The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-05-25
AT ST.. LOUIS!
@ STEAMBOATS, BURNED!
LOSS OF LIFE!

az Loss OF LIFE! ~%' "T
FIVE MILLION PROPERTY DESTROYED!
A about ten O'Clock last knight, the steamer
White Cloud, lJing near the head Of the l@eyee,
was discovered to be on fire. At the time
there was a stifbreeze blowing from the north
east, which soon carried the flames across the
Edward Bates, the next boat below. The heat
from these set fire to the Eudora, lying above
them; the Bell Isle, next below the Bates,
then caught fire. By this time one or two
boats below were dropped down, leaving q va
cancy between :hoso on fire and those below
them.
At this time the Edward Bates being about
half way burnt up, was cast loose, and went
floating down the lovee, setting fire to those
boats still lying at the ~levee,as she approached
them.
So intense was the heat arising from this
great confagration, which extended with short
intervals from the head Of the levee to the
head of Duncan's Island, that it set fire to the
buildings at various points along the levee, all
of which along Vine street were extinguished,
but q row of shantees extending from Locust
up towards Vine street was destroyed, and now,
while we are writing, one O'Clock this morn
ing, the entire block bounded by the levy,
Main, Locust, and Olive streets, is wrapped in
flame, as are those houses in the square 'front.'
ing the levee between Pine and Olive streets.
And various houses on the west side of Main
street, from Canters and Simmons, at the cor
ner Of Locust and Main street to Olives Mr..
John Nader's large cooper shop at the south
west corner Of the levee and Elm street, and
also a large two-story brick house on the west
side Of Main below Elm street, and The flames
are rapidly spreading, and where they may be
stayed man cannot tell, This is, by far, the
most awful catastrophe that has ever fallen to
the lot of any city west Of the Allegheny noun
tains.
In addition to the property enumerated, there
was a vast amount Of grain in sacks, hemp,
beans, &C., on the leyee, which caught by
heat sent off by the boats, and was destroyed,
and unfortunately, on one pile Of hemp, which
was covered by a tarpOuiin, it is said, four per-
sons were sleeping, and all we're destroyed
We saw the body Of one Of them, a boy, which
was carried int the Police Office. There
were a number ofkegs Of powder on board the
various boats, and as the fire reached them,
they caught and exploded with a terrific crash,
scattering the burning fragments in wild con-
fusion into the upper air.
By one Of these explosions one man standing
on the levee was killed by being struck with
a fragment blown from the burning wreck Of
the Marthai another was shockingly ~lacora-
ted in different parts Of his body; but how ma
ny poor wretches have fallen victims 10 these
devouring flames as. they have gone sweeping
in wild grandeur from boat to boat, and from
house to house, and from street to street, no
man can ever tell. @s
One of the widest and most heart rendinc
spectacles ever witnessed in our tity was ex-
hibited last night, From Duncan's Island,
extending perhaps a half or three fourtbs Of a
mile il q continuous line up the river, the
burning wreck Of boat met boat, and rolled
their united clouds Of deep black smoke, and
lurid fame IN wild confusion into upper air ;on
the other hand the long lofty range Of stores
fronting the river sent up a cloud Of sparks and
sheets Of dazzling flames, which threw a red
and glazing light away into the darkness of
knight which hung upon our western borders.
here and there were seen half frantic men,
running in bewilderment from point 10 point.
scarce, knowing where, or staggering from
their business homes under load Of their most
precious property, followed by a weeping wife
and her tender babe.
Since writing the above, we have taken an
other walk through the burning district, which
now at Q quarter before 3 O'Clock, already ex-
tends from the levee, west, to Second street,
This entire space is not burned over, but much
Of it is, and much more Of it will be, before the
flames can be extinguished. n'
We cannot pretend to particularize the buil.
dings burnt, but will mention the Telegrranb;c
Office, the United States Hotel, The Reveille.
Republican, the Organ, and the New Era or
fces. These comprise all the English daily pa.
Persln the Clty, except opr own, we being on
the north side Of Locust above Main street
have fortunately escaped. We can form no
estimate o. the loss BY this fret NAV proba.
ply be put down at FIVE million or dollars
Before the progress Of the flames could bo.
aFFostee' y was found necessary 10 blow up one.
q we houses near the corner Of Market and.
second streets, and in doing 50 al least three
persons werekilled. The fragments Of one of
tas bodies weFefound on the opposite side If
sts8 #f9 .