Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-26
FROM California, Oregon x Sand
witch Islands.


Tho steamship Crescent Cty, Capt Tanner,
arrived ut New-Yorl, ON Wednesday night with
Caaona dates TO the 18Th uit, and Oregon to
the 81 ulf.
The steamers from san FRANCISCO are under
stood TO have brought down about Two millions
and 70 Ail of gold.
The Crescent City brought $40, rs in gold
du-t and 5-7 passengers.
iAe distressing news of the destructive confa-
ruuous at san Francisco and Stockton is con-
trHal although the estimated los bY The former,
is stted at about sIOOO,UU0 instead of el5,
Z. geo. Ill, no first reported. The san Francis
60 Herald places 1t at Sl2COO,000. The est.-
mates Of individual losses were made by the
sufferers themselves and, as our paDcrs suggest
1t Is not improbable that ln the excitement of die
occasion, they are greatly exaggerated IN many
instances
/ Ina lire broke ont at about II o'clock on the
night of the sd May, ln the Upholstery store of
Mcs,s Baker < Messeue, on the west side Of
the Plaza, and nearly opposite the Post-Otiice.
Iac buildings in that vicinity being all OF wood,
the flames spread with lnghiiul rapidity up Clay
street, back towards Sacramento and down Clay
street towards keancy, and were not stayed IN
their progress untl! hrae-fourths, and That the
most valuable portion of the city, lay IA smoking
ruins. Nineteen blocks, estimated TO contain
nearly "a Thousand buildings, were almost entire
y destroyed.
The statement that the fire reached the ship
ping n the harbor is without foundation. Three
storcshps, the Mantle, General HARRISON, and
Apollo, old hulks which by the encroachments
upon the waters OF the bay, had been brought
quite INTO the heart OF the city, and were used as
. storeh0uses were the only vessels burned.
Every newspaper Office in the city was de-
stroycd, except the Alta California. The Bal
ance Pacific News, and Herald, saved portion
of their materials.
The News and Herald have both been re-is-
sued and Al is sand that the California Courier
would afr be ic-estaunsned, although II lost
everything, including the best power press on
the Pacific, stedm-engine and a complete news
paper and job Office.
The Picayune lost everything. II is said Of
] Mr. Sheppard, one of the pTopnetoTs, that he
sacn6ced hr property, ms all, IN his successful
efforts to save the life of a stranger, whom he
picked up n the streets, badly burned and dsa-
1lcd he was carrying OIL the books of his
office. Mr. Sheppard lit Is said threw down his
books, and placing him on ms shoulders, carried
him hlther and yonder to "A supposed place Of
safety, but finally driven of by the fire, carried
ms victim 10 the Hospital, and when be returned
ITO hls Office all was consumed Mr.. &. 4. Ben
net, another of the propuetors, had only Just re-
turned from the Legislature at san Jose lof
which be is a momber,) and informs me that he
not only lost las newspaper property, but all the
money and papers lSlO.OOOl which he brought
from the Capuai, his whole winters work in
State scrip, &c. &c.
Besides the immense loss Of property, We have
to record the melancholy fact thai several ndi-
yiduas lost their lives. Among them are Capt
Welsh, of baltimore, Edward McCahill, Mr..
Leon Greenbuun, Reuben Baker, Neusbaum and
kosenthal.
The most terrible scene was enacted in the
iron building of iaahe and McCahill, at the
corner OF Montgomery and Sacramento streets.
Into tins five persons had gone after the flames
had reached L, IN order to save some valuable
articles. They closed all the IRON window shut
ters and doors, that no draft Of air might en-
ter. When they found the house getting too hot
10 stay longer, they attempted to get out; but
horrible 10 relate, the windows and doors had
expanded By the heat that all uler efforts were
unable 10 open them. All persisted in the flames.