The New York herald., 1850-05-22
The Late Fire at Charleston, s. C.-33JO OOe
Worth OF Property Destroyed.

rom the Charleston Courier, May IL
We were engaged part Of yesterday in collect
ing facts connected with this coniagration, which
was the work OF an ncendiary. Several Witnesses
were lnterrogated, yesterday afternoon, before
committee OF examination of the Board OF Fire
Masters, at which the Mayor was present, and
among them was Capt. Dickinson of the steamer
Osprey, which vessel was lying in the Immediate
vicinity OF the fire. Capt -. states that he was
called out of his berth abou, u clock in the morn
lne and on ascending the deck OF his vessel saw
The flames bursting violently from the s. Il.
o. me cotton shed, situate on the southern line of
Adger's wharf. lie Immediately gave the alarm
by ringing of the ship bell, and soon AFTER 81.
MlchaeFs chime aroused our citizens generally
ilom their slnmbers. The flames spread with as
tonfiing rapdity, and in very short period II
time the building in which the fire originated was
enyeloped IN enc vast sheet Of fire. which was car
ried by the force OF very strong wind across the
passage leading to the wharf, and communicated tn
shed oi similar construction, and spread in
raj directions In its southerly course il desroyed
between 400 and 200 bales of cotton, that had been
placed on platform between the shed where il
originated, and new brick building on the North
line of fNanderhorsts wharf, the upper part of which
was arranged as counting rooms, and occupied
by the following gentlemen, vni T.. G.. 81
mons " Sons, |. Middleton S CO., Mathews &c
Roper, Menlove S Lesbane, and James Robertson,
who were fortunate enough to save their books and
papers. There was quantity Of cotton, and abou
100 ,,erces OF rice, on storage in this building
which have been consumed The building was
insured Tor $1,000, in the agency of the Protection
Insurance Company Of Hartford, and the cotton,
together with that on the platform, amounting to
upwards of ! 200 bales, was covered by nsursnc,
in the South Carolina Insurance Company. Ths
fire extended west Of the above block, and mate.
rally injured brick building owned by A. "
Dawson, Esd,, and insured in the Charleston Insu-
rance and Trust Company for s3.IOO There
was quantity Of merchandise in this building
owned 10y Messrs. kIatheson * Simons, and Gov
cred by an insurance Of ,OoO in the South Caro-
lima Insurance Company. The goods. however wer.
mostly saved and the loss is Consequently. nartial.
The fismeswere also extending on Adgers wharf.-the
lire having communicable TO brick building adioin-
ing the woodens she'd and from thence TO the blocko
BRICK buildings running west, many Of which were
destroyed. The lower floor Of the first tenement
was occupied by ]. B. DeSaussure, Esl., who. we
are sorry TO state, not only lost his books and
papers, but the books and papers belonging 10 the
Sunday School, Union, and most of the records OF
the Port Society. The upper part was rented to
Therman ~ Pringe. who saved their books an
payers by having them secured in an iron chest.
which protected them from the flames The build-
ing next west, owned and occupied by Dr. Schmid:
as store house, was partially injured by fire in.
sured IN the agency Of the Hartford Fire nsurancs
Company for $1,000. The brick building situate o.,
East Bay street, little recessed from the street
owned by ;. Watson. Esq, and occupied by
Johnston, Crews and Brawley, was also con-
sumed Mr.; Watson was insured for $500 in the
South Carolina Insurance Company. The stock Of
dry goods, Of the irm was fully covered by insi-
rancs-$D, 600 in Charleston Insurance and Trust
Company $4,000 in the South Carolina Insurance.
Company; and 10000 in the Agency Of the Au-
gusta Insurance and Banking Company The
stock is only partially injured. The brick build
ing to the North Of the above was occupied bv n.
a. Pfngle, wholesale shoe dealer. The building
was but slightly chsrred, but the occupsnt's
stock Of goods was injured by removal, the loss.
however, was very slight Insured in the
Hartford Etna Agency and the South Carolina
Insurance Company. Messrs. McDowall N Co.
occupying the adjoining tenement, removed a por-
ton OF their goods The loss is trhnr. There
was aquantity ofmerchandise, which was sconsumed.
IN the store owned by A. V. Dawson. noticed Above
extending from Vanderhors; through TO AdQer's
wharf, under storage by Messrs Herckcnraih.
wragg q 20, which was insured in the agency OF
me augusta Insurance and Banking Company and
me charleston Insurance and Trust Company he.
sldes the buildings noticed above as having been
burned on Adger's wharf, quantity of produce vac
also destroyed, consisting as far as can be ascer-
tsined OF upwards Of 1900 bales upland $50 bales
sea Island cotton, and about 300 ferces Of rice be-
longing TO various persons. The bulk Of the up
isnd cotton was under the control Of James
hdger " Co, who were insured in the sum
of one hundred thousand dollars, viz ;-s2D,Oo0 in
me agency OF the Protection Insurance Company
Hartford; $4,000 in the Etna, and $2O,OC0 in the
Nashville agencies: and Sio 900 in the South Caro-.
lima Insurance Company. The Sea leland was held
by smith a Coffin and Jos. A. Winthrop, which
was partially covered by insurance in the two com.
wharfwas also insured in the agency Of the Au.
gusta Insurance Banking and Company. The total
lose, including buildings, cotton, rice and merchan-
disc Is estimated at about three hundred and ffty
thousand dollars.