Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-07-15
immense Destruction of Property ;
Dreadful Loss of Life g. Limb :
Estimated Damage, 5000, 1000.

We make up from the Philadelphia Ledger
sand Pennsylvanian, the following account OF
ahe awful aud destructive connagIation in that
acity on Tuesday evening:
Yesterday afternoon our city was visited bv
athe most disastrous confagration within the re-
scolleotlon OF the oldest inhabitant The wind
swas blowing freshly from the south eastward,
ssaDout hall-past four O'Clock, when the fire org-
naed in the upper room of The large double build
alllg NO. 10, north Delaware avenue and when
slllrst discovered, the whole apartment was in a
gsheet OF flames. Never have we seen fire rare,
asso teartuly, nor our brave and valiant firemen
sstrlye so asslclously to master the flames as on
8thls occasion. 1t is true their unceasing efforts
Atriumphed but not until some $5,O00,oo0 worth
not property was destroyed, and space left va
laacant embracing nearly twenty acres of ground.
Scarcely a second had elapsed before that
'alarge building through TO Water street was en-
atlrely enveloped in the flames, while the one
aad]onlng morrill, No So was on fire, as well az
lone south, No. 10. Before the devouring ele-
sments had reached the ground floor of the build
ling in which the fire originated, quantity of
3saltpetre (rumor says 1000 sacks,) which was
lin the first and second stories of that establish
;sment, fronting Oh Water street, owned and &C.
apied by John Brock exploded with a fearful 70.
ssport and crash: rending the walls asunder and
Slhrowing the flakes OF cQnbustible material seve.
aral squares north, south and west communicate
sSlng to large numbers of houses which will be
Sadetailed below as fully as we have been able to
gather them at this terribly exciting moment,
when the heavens are illumed by the glare Of
alhe fire, the alarm bells pealng for more aid,
"a he fire bells are summoning together their spar
s3tan band, and the working of the numerous ap.
Aparatus are heard tor squares, amid the shrieks
not the dying and the groans Of the wounded.
Delaware avenue was completely filled With
Va dense mass of human beings, among whom
Sawere several hundreds of the firemen, engaged
AT their engines and hose carriages. The first
sAexploslon did not seem 10 cause much excite
3ment, and little or no fear with the mass; nor
5did the second, except some slight fears of safety
HWhen they moved towards the easternmost edge
aaof the wharves. The third explosion, however,
awas fatal in mauy cases, and proved the death
s3of number OF men, women, and children, Oil
dthls avenue and Water street. The scene pre-
scented was rightlul-indeed, appalling in the
ssextreme; and such we cannot, or will not, at
1.-THE above stores, when the third and last explo-
ason of the saltpetre occurred, the run for life
awas terrific. Men and boys, fremen and by
Islanders, rushed away from the ruinous conAa-
Agration and as they endeavored 10 get beyond
athe reach OF danger, hundreds rolled over each
3other, while running and jumping upon the large
Acollection OF cotlon on the wharves. Several
Mpersons were knocked down as if dead, and
Shundreds ran over them, causing legs and arms
Alto be broken, and in iuries inflicted of a very se-
ssrious character. In the fright some were thrown
sssinto the Delaware, while large number Jump
saed voluntarily in, to shield themselves from the
sabricks and clnders thrown from the burning
ysores.