Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-06-26
Further from California.
DESTRUCTION OFSANFRANcIsc

r ., Q, 'ne news via New Orleans. |
she has about 900 passengers and abour \
million 10 gold dust. ''' '0ou'
Inc origin Of The terrible FIRE il M,
known. II occurred on the Alb of Nav Tho
anniversary Of the frs, fire in thai c;'v '"e
Ihe ci'ei engineer OF the department and
his assistant were both on pleasure Tin ~
Sacramento, consequently the firemen Were
without head tGRuIde and direct them viii,
auIiIori,y.S The disaster occurred On Sa,ur.
day night, when but a few hours prey,ons
the mayor and aldermen had laid aside their
offices aud the new city officials had not been
sworn into office. Nearly $500 buildings
were burnt. D.,
Merchants are at loss to know how 10
proceed. A few who have escaped are ask
ing enormous prices Tor goods without effect
ing many safes. Those who are burned
our in whole or in part are busy making
preparations for building.
Thos. Butler King. the collector, was alb
sent from The city, up 10 the mines, at The
tine OF the fire. The custom house building
was entirely destroyed, with many valuable
papers. The sub.treasury is safe, and is dali
ly guarded by an armed force Of u. S.
marines. There is 100000 in the vault.
The loss in goods alone could not be
replaced short OF S5,OOO,0OO and of buildings
certainly as much more Three fourrhs Of
our merchants have lost their stores and
goods, aud MOI a few their all. The best part
OF the city is destroyed. Nearly nil the
handsome stores have persisted in the great
conhagration. The building use! for essay.
ing U. S. ingols &c, by MofTat g. Hun,ber,.
was totally consuR,ed. and it will be SIX
weeks before they will be able to resume
business, and consequently gold OF California
coinage is now selling by the ounce at SIC,
which is equa! TO about 10 per cent discount.
Another account says-the fire colDmenc.
ed on Saturday night, few minutes after
| IL, in the upholstery establishment of Baker
& Meserve, Oh the south side of the Plaza.
As has often been noticed in great fires, the
wind suddenly shifted, and commenced blow
ing from the south. This drove the fire right
back on its course. 1t passed from Sacra-
mento 10 Commercial street, crossed The
| latter street. advanced 10 Clay street. teaped
that, passed Merchant and Washington, and
| stopped at that porlIon OF Jackson, on the
north side, between Montgomery and Kearny
| street, only because there were no buildings
to be consumed. In the meantime while
thus devastating the city in norherly drec-
ton, II was spreading south and east. In
| three hours from its commencement, the fire
had enveloped the city from Pine 10 Pacific
street, aud from Dupont TO Battery street.
| Buildings with the thickest walls and iron
doors and shutters, built with special view
to making them fire proof, found no excep-
| ton 10 the general destruction.
The burnt district is about lhree-fourths of
a mile from north 10 south, by one third of a
mile from east 10 west, including IS en- ire
squares, and paris OF five or SIX others. Ten
or twelve individuals lost their lives.
The most terrible scene was enacted in
the iron house OF Tarafiee & McCahilI, at the
corner Of Montgomery and Sal ramenio
streets-into this five persons had gone after
the flames had reached il, in order 10 save
some valuable articles. They Closed all the
window shutters and doors, so that no dra ii
Of air might enter. When they found the
house getting too hot 10 STAY longer they
attempted 10 get out but horrible to relate
the windows and doors had expanded so with
heat that all their efforts were unable 10 open
them, and all within persisted ~ the flames
Their calcIneJ bones could he seen on Mon
day.
Gen. James Wilson, Of New Hampshire.
who was severely burnt during The late fire
IS improving daily. His recovery promise:
10 he as fast as his friends could expect.
Mr. W. II. Clark who was seriously burn
ell during the fire in his exertons 10 rescue
Wells building, we are pleased TO state, j.
not dangerous. Though his wounds will
disable him for short Time.
PlcTURE OF THE FIRE.-The Alta CaIiior.
MIA gives the following VIVID picture Of the
couIiagration
Iron aud zinc were curled tip like scorch-
ed leaves, and sent forth their brilliant flames
of green, blue and yellow tints, minglng and
modifying the great red tongues OF fire
which flashed upward from a thousand
burning houses. The hill SIDES were lighted
as IT The sun were above the eastern noun.
tains, their trees, shrub. heritage were as
distinguished la the bright light as If il were
morn. Darkness hung over a large portion
OF The shipping, and people became paIalyZ-
ell. Many removed their stocks of goods,
or portions of them, four or FIVE times, and
had them overtaken aud destroyed by The
| flames at last.
The streets were crammed with masses oil
human Beings and rushing teams, only Civ
ing way before the advance of The element
or the smoke and heat and crushing walls
pushed them hack. Men became mad some
rushing headlong INTO The flames weeping
women aud prattng infants were wandering
amid ashes and destruction. Every lew
! minutes The earth and air .rembled as great
buildings were torn into fragments by expIo-
sions OF gunpowder, and The atmosphere was
filled with shattered Iimbers, brick and
morIer.
The multitude hung upon the border o.
this vast sea OF flames. Ia less Than pint
hours from The beginning, more than twenty
squares existed only in memory, aud in The
ascending columns of smoke and fam.
which covered the ciry's site. But the sad
dest sight OF all was the destruction Of brave
but bewlldered men, who finding them.
selves suddenly surrounded by FIRE, rushed
staggered and uncertain, from fame 10 fame
in hopeless efforts 10 escape, until led
and scorched, they writhed aud fell in tull
view OF hundreds who were completely pow
+ erless TO save them. Others, after battling
inside Of what they considered fire proofs
finding their efforts to save the buildings vain
endeavored to escape, but 100 late.
The doors and window blinds were red hot
and could not he opened in some instances
and their last chance Of safety failed them
We cannot express our sepsluons Of yester
day while looking on the blackened remain.
OF poor humanity, as they still lay burned &c
Goals amid the fire which filled The celler o
the binding Oh Montgomery street s,i;
beyond the reach Of all who gazed upor
them. May we never again see SO horrible
spectacle.
Rebmiding-The whole city is alive will
workmen engaged in building the burn
districts, The Alta California gives the
following astonishing instance Of the recu