The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-11
[coHREsrosDsscz OF THE NEW YORK rRnuSE. ]
The Great Fire at sam Franolsoo.

The long expected and much dreaded cry of fire
has at length been heard in San Francisco. About
thirty Of the best houses and stores in the very
heart Of the city have been swept away Over
100000 OF property has been destroyed, among
which was the porter-house, Dunbar's Exchange,
which has just been opened under very favorable
auspices; and the FL Dorado the largest building
in San Francisco situated on the corner of Ports
mouth square and Washington street, the upper
two stories Of which rented for Offices and lodg-
ing rooms and the lower for gambling tables.
was aroused by the fearful cry just rs my alarm
watch informed me that it was 6. O'Clock, on the
2oth OF December ] sprung TO the window to be-
hold faint light issuing from Dennison's Ex-
change, building in the middle of the square, oc-
cupied as gambling establishment, and about half
a square from my domicil. saw at glance that
] had no time to lose, and forthwith commenced
putting my traps in movable trim. ! commenced
by cutting my own portrait of Captain Suffer from
Its stretching frame and rolling ii up, and enclos-
ing il in tin which had made for the pur-
pose. then took my box containing my earnings,
and hurried of across TO the windward side of the
square, and deposited them in the Office Of G.. II.
Emmett, esq, and again returned to bring my
trunk, which had been previously packed Tor the
steamer BY this time the whole of the porter house
was enveloped in flames and the FL Dorado, which
adjoined il, of course doomed TO the same fate II
rumored through the crowd that this large
structure was to be blown up, which caused the
crowd to rush back, but 1t could be cleared of
persons in time, and in astonishingly short
space OF time It was wrapped in the dcvouring ele-
nent.
y, IN consequence OF the houses being all of wood,
and ceiled with chintz calico. The heat from
the FL Dorado was SO intense that not able to
pass it carry my other things to friend Emmetts,
but was Obliged to carry them in another direction,
and deposit them in an open lot, before had sue
ceeded in taking every thing away, although had
disposed OF almost every thing some days previous.
When Dunbar's Exchange, the fifth building from
the FL Dorado, was blown up, was in my room, in
the upper part of store owned by LooInis Gibbs;
and, hearing the sound of the explosion, made for
the wall, thinking to find safer shelter there than
in the middle of the room, in of the fragments
falling upon the slight building 1t was a moment
lawful suspense but, fortunately, the quantity of
powder was small that it barely the building
TO pieces, SO that 1t fell to the earth The buildings
our side of the street several times fire.
The one in which roomed, although protected by
wet blankets and mud in a liquid state, which was
dipped up from the streets, and thrown in the
sstency Of paste, all the front of the building
Mud was found to be valuable commodity on this
occasion, being very serviceable in preserving
many Of the buildings; but, at the same time, hun
utterly ruined by being thrown into and otherwise
injured by it, as very few persons had any house to
carry them to after being driven from their own
premises.
The blowing up of the Exchange had no effect in
staying the progress of the fire at that point, and
the experiment was tried again another building
with like success. 1t was at last arrested by the
brick wall OF store which building on the
corner of Washington and Montgomery streets.
Its further progress in the square stopped by
demolishing some low buildings next to Dennson's
Exchange as soon the fire discovered.
There was only one engine in the town. Most of
the wells gave out, and there great difficulty
III getting water to drink for a considerable dis
lance from the scene Of action, after the fire
subdued.
Frank Wood, some of whose property narrowly
escaped with his accustomed fberality, presided
at the we'll furnished tables of the spacious hotel in
Portsmouth square, just opened, bearing his name,
and invited the public to eat and drink at his ex
pense during the whole day. There were several
persons severely wounded, but heard of no lives
being lost.
With usual Yankee energy and enterprise, many
Of those persons who were burned out commenced
business again in tents the next day after the fire,
and many commenced on the same day to build
iron and other houses the sites of their old stores;
and ii is said that contract was entered into to
have Dennison's Exchange rebuilt and completely
finished in sixteen days. and while WRITE this, with
several other buildings, is framed and covered,
and the paper hangers or rather calico hangers,
ready with their stuffs to cover the insides.
Considerable gold and silver has been found in
fused state. Yours, &C., s. S. O.