The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-05-23


From our Extra of Saturday last.
Great Fire at Saint LOuis--Many
Lives Lost.
VAST AMOUNT OF PROPERTY DE-
STROYED.
The following Dispatch from the Union
Office, St. Louis, was received by Mr..
Irwin, Of this City, to whom we are in
debteG for it. 1t is dated at o'clock, on
Friday morning, the 18th inst.
DREADFUL CALAMiTY!-LOSS OF
LIEF!
About 10 O'Clock last night, the sicam-
er White Cloud, laying near the head Of
Levee, was discovered to be on fire. At
the time there was stiff breeze blowing
North East. which caused the flames to
spread to the Edward Bates, the next
boat below; the heat from these set fire
to the Udora, lying above them; the Belle
Isle, next below the Bates, then caught
fire. By this time, one or two boats be-
low were dropped down, leaving vacan-
cy between those on fire and the boats
below. The Bates being about half burnt
up, was cast loose, and went floating down
the Levee, setting fire to those boats still
laying at the wharf, as she approached
them in the following order:- The Julia
but slightly injured; the Uncle Sam,
also slightly injured--the Bates barely
touching them-lhey being Immediately
below her. The following steamers, to-
gether with large number Of wood boats
and barges, were entirely destroyed:-
Martha, Sarah, Taglona, Montauk, Red
Wing, A. Hamilton, Doreas No. 8, Tim
or, mandan, st. Peters, Kit Carson, Prai-
RE State, and Mameluke. This does not
comprise all the boats destroyed, but these
are all the names we were able to GET
The following boats were saved Auto
crat, De Witt Clinton, Danube, Embassy,
South America, Old Uncle Sam, Marshal
Ney.
So intense was the heat arising from
this great conhag grafton, (Which extended
from the head Of Levee street to the head
Of Duncan's IsIand,) that it set fire to
buildings at various points along Levee
street, all Of which, above Vine street,
were exlnguished. A row Of shanties,
extending from Locust to Vine ST., was
destroyed; and now, while we are wri.
ting, q o'clock in the mornng) the block
[entire] bounded by Lara, Main, Locust,
and Olive streets, is wrapt in flames; al
so, houses on the square fronting between
Pine and Olive streets, and various houses
on west side Of Main street, at the corner
Of Elm and Main; Mr.. John Madie's
large cooper shop, at west corner Of Le-
wee and Elm streets; also, large 2 story
on west side Of Main, below Elm. The
flames are rapidly spreading, and where
they may be stayed, man cannot tell!
This is. by far, the most awful catastro-
phe that has ever fallen to the lot Of any
city west of the Allegheny Mountains.
In addition to the property enumerated.
there was vast amount Of grain in sack,
hemp, bacon, &C., which caught from
heat sen: off by boats, and was destroyed;
and unfortunately, on one pile Of hemp,
which was covered by tarpaulin, it is
said 4 persons were sleeping, and all de-
stroyed. We saw the body Of one Of
them, "a boy.) which was carried into
the police office. There were a number
Of kegs Of powder on board Of boats, and
as the fire reached them, exploded with
a terrific crash, scattering burning frag-
ments in wi d confusion into the air. By
one of these explosions, one man, stand
ing on Levee street, was killed, by being
struck with a fragment blown from the
lvr 81 t,o No bo
was shockingly lacerated in different
parts Of his body. How many poor
wretches have fallen victims to these de-
vouring flames, no man can ever tell.
One Of the widest and most heart-rend-
Ing spectac!es ever witnessed in our city,
was exhibited last night, from Duncan's
Island, extending, perhaps or 3ths ola
mile, in continuous line, along the riv
err; the wreck Of the boats met boats, and
rolled their lured flames with confusion
into upper air. On the other hand, the
long, lofty range Of stores fronting the
river, sent up cloud Of spar ks and sheets
Of dazzling flames, which shed red and
garing light far away in the distance of
night. Here and there were seen half
frantic men, running in bewiIderment
from point to point, scarcely knowing
where-rushing from their burning hou-
ses, loaded with their most precious prop.
erty, followed by weeping wife and her
tender babes.
Since writing the above, we have ia
ken another walk through the burning
district, which now, Ia before 2 o'clock, }
extends from Levee west TO ed street,
from Locust st. TO Elm st. This entire
space is not burned, but much Of it is, and
much more will be before the flames are
extinguished.
We cannot pretend to particularize the
buildings burnt; but will mention the Tel.
Office, U. S. Hotel, Reveille Office, Re-
publican Office, Organ Office, and the N.
Era Office. These comprise all the Eng,
lish daily papers in the city, except our
own. We fortunately escaped.
We can form no estimate Of the loss
sustained by this fire; it may probably
be put down at $5,0oo,o0o In our eve
ning edition we will give all particulars