The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-02-15
California.

also the excellent Inaugural Address OF the nfst
Governor of California.
The fire originated in Dennison's Exchange,
and, il is said, in the second and upper story.
At about one quarter before o'clock on the
morning of the Oath, it was discovered by an
inmate of the house, and almost Immediately.
Also the alarm was communicated by watch
man in the Parker House, adjoining. Before
water could be procured the blaze had reached
the painted cotton ceiling, and streaming through
the sides. ienited the tar Teof The alarm was
sounded, and the neigbborhood aroused, but BY
the time this was accomplished the building
was one mass of soaring flame.
The morning was still, scarce breath OF air
swervng the fiery volumes. Soon came throng-
ing to the scene our atfrighted citizens, and
then commenced the din of thousand voices,
the crash of property, jingling Of battered win,
dows, the quick, sharp sound OF axes, Piled
vigorously in cutting away encumberlng tim-
bers: and vet, above this, the roar Of the devour-
inc element, which now surged wildly around
the Parker House, to the north, anon sweeping
!uriously across the United States Restaurat, 10
the south of the Exchange. Both these build
iRgs were soon on FIRE, and as the blaze tra-
| verseG the rear balcony of the former establish
doors and windows at either end, barely giving
time to permit the escape Of the occupants.
Portsmouth Square, in front Of the burning
buildings. was crowded with anxious spectators,
when an alarm was created of stored powder
| in the Parker House. A stampede of six thou
sand human beings then added to the terrors OF
| the spectacle.
Meantime the proprietors of Delmonico's Di-
ming Saloon had assembled upon their roof, and
| that of the Florence Saloon adjoining, strong
and effective force, and by dint of the most in
credible perseverance and energy prevented
their buildings, which form the corner of Clay
and Kearny streets, from taking fire. The Ex-
change fell in, and the United States, nearly
consumed, was rapidly kindling the grocery
store of Hewes, Noel g. Crenshaw, situated be-
tween the United States and Florence Dining
Saloons, when, with a crash, the store was
uulled down-and here the flames were arrested
on the south.
On the corner of Washington and Kearny, at
the northern end of this block buildings, stood
the Ell Dorado, a new four-story, commodlous
and public house, adjoining the Parker House.
From its windows was seen to issue the thick,
black smoke. premonitory of burst of flame
Ladders were reared, the glass crushed in, and
| -
lowed BY an ignition of all parts of the house al
once. Il was when the flames Of this towering
pile rose the highest that the general pulse
quickened and the hearts of the thousands as
sembed throbbed wildly with fear and anxiety
20 intense was the heat that men were forcee
10 abandon the roofs and windows OF the row
of buildings leading up from Kearny street
where they had been stationed and supplied
with buckets Of water by lines of men EXTENDED
to the neighboring wells.
The Verandah, opposite the Ell Dorado, wa
five several times on fire, and the blankets pro
tecting the roofs of the Miners, Bank, Belli
Union and Haly House were successlYell
scorched and crisped, although every exertiol
was made to keep them saturated with water
Even the walls of our office, the fifth edlfic,
from the corner opposite the burning house
were heated to degree scarcely permitting til
hand to rest for moment upon the window
easements From Kearny street down TO Wash
ington the stores and other houses on the mort
side of the street were protected, at great labo
and suflerings, by parties spreading wet blan
kets upon the roofs and fronts.
The CITY authorities, during this time, ha
not been idle Powder had been collected and
train laid in The store of B. AYres in rear of tn
|
tablishment was fred, and the store partly de
, molished The fire was making rapid progres
+ in the building below, however, ere this wa
achieved Very soon the Ell Dorado frame fe
/, in, and the citizens Of the upper town breathe
, free again.
The two-story house of Dunbar s. Gibbs, tb
apartment above stairs occupied as merchant
exchange and reading-room, was the next to b
! blown up by order of the city authorities. Witt
out removing much OF the property this wa
done, but the vacuum left was insufficient, an
still the flames rolled on. dry goods stoi
and the Our House and Central House, bot
restaurants, were one sheet of fire. The who
OF Washington Arcade, consisting OF five hol
7 ses, soon added TO the confag.ation. The au'
4 tion store-room of Pollard & Co., in the rear
q the fire, was then pulled down at the instance
: the proprietors, followed by the demolition of
5 new bowling alley, the property of MIR. Laylor
which was torn down by order of the corpor
ton. The fire continued to rage on Washing
ton street, and fears were entertained that Il
: new three and four story mercantile houses G
1 Montgomery street would take fire in the rea
r in which event the lower part of the city cou
!. scarcely escape general destruction. The e
If tablishment of Guchard g. Van Buren, (
! Washington street, was therefore blown up
1 order of the Alcalde. This order was execute
l by Major Sweetzer, who was obliged to prote
e the powder from falling fiery fragments with b
y overcoat.
e From the Merchants Exchange to the Bal
s. more Restaurat, which was the second buildir
+ from the corner of Washington and MontgoI
a cry streets in tie former street, the row W
: composed of mercantile houses, all two al
y three-story buildings. The fire communicat
n from one to the other with such rapidity as
e prevent the removal of goods, and its advano
y it was thought, could be checked only BY I
/. destruction of the rear frame part OF han
J. some and capacious store on Montgomery sire
! the property of Mr.. Leroy. This, with I
: store houses of MIR. Heatley, were leveled wi
!; the ground.
/ An engine, owned by Messrs Starkey, JanI
Z: & Co, was at this juncture procured, and W
d directed steady stream Of water was found
Is assist materially in checking the progress OF
v flames. Tile block had been swept from Por
/ mouth Square, to the still burning stores OF Di
& Gina, Mr.. Guzman, Earl d Mcintosh, a
u the Baltimore Restaurat. IN unfinished bri
g store, owned by Bnrqoyne and Co., stayed t
a. fire at the corneYof Washington and Montgo
~ cry Streets, and by vigiant and energetic ex'
tions the flames were prevented from spreadf
further. At about II Nj. the last burni
G, building came down, and the coneagration "
Of ofad