Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-06-27
CALIFORNIA IMTELLIaENCE.
THE GREAT SAN FRANCISCO FIRE.

THE GREAT SAN FRANCISCO FIRE.
We received (savs the Baltimore Sun of the
Goth inst) last night by the Philadelphia Boat,
comics of San Francisco papers to the 18th ult.,
from which we extract the following addition
al particulars of the destructive conilagration
at San Francisco.
Picture Of Lie Fire.
The editor Of the AIta California gives the
following vivid picture Of the contlagration:
Iron and zinc curlcd up like scorchcd leaves,
and sent forth their brilliant flames Of green,
blue and yellow tinIs mingled with and modi
iying the great red tongues of fire which flashed
upM ard from IL Thousand burning houses. The
Jill sides were lighted rs il the sun were above
the eastern mountains and thri frees, shrubs
herbage and houses were as di=:insnishahc IN
the bright light rs il it were Gocn. Darkness
hung over :. large portion of the shipping,
where the broad and heavy ocean of smoke
lay down in i!npenetrabe gloom over the bay
People became paralysed. Many removed
their stocks Of goods, or portions of them,
four or five times, and had them overtaicn and
destroyed by the flames at last. The streets
were crammed with masses of human beings
and rushing teams, only giving way before the
advance OF the elements, as the smoke and
heat and crashing walls pushed them back.
Men became mad; some rushed lradlcng III
to the flames. Weeping women and prattllng
infancy were wandering amid ashes and des
truction. Every few moments the earth aud
air trembled, rs great buildings were torn into
fragments by explosions of gunpowder, and
L. ,,,,ncr1,n.., Htlol Will, cb,ft,rnI
bers, brick and mortar The multitude hung
upon the borders of this "vast sea of ila,uc:'
few, comparatively, knew or could know what
were the dangers and cXertions of those who
were within the rang Of the sitting smoke and
scorching flame. In less than nine hours from
the beginning, more than twenty squares exis-
ted only in the memory ard in the ascending
columns of smoke and flame which covered
the citys site
But the saddest sigLt of all was the destruc-
tien of brave, but bewildered men, who, find.
ing themselves suddenly surrounded with
fire, rushed, staggered and uncertain, from
flame to flame, III hopeless efforts to escape;
until strangled and scorched they withcrcd
and fell in full view Of hundreds, who were
comepletelv powcrless to save then. Others,
after battling inside of what they had consider.
ed fire-proofs. finding their efforts to save the
building vain, endeavorcd to escape, but too
late The doors and window blinds were red
hot, and could not be opened in some instan.
ces. and their last chance of safety failed them.
We cannot express our sensations Of yester-
day, while looking upon the blackened re-
mains of poor humanity, as they still lay bura-
ed to Goals, amid the fire which filled the celler
of building on Montgomery street. still be-
yond the reach Of all who gazed upon them.
May we never again see 50 horrible specta-
Gle.
We were furnished. yesterday with the
names Of the six noble men who were burned
to death in their endcavors TO save the store of
Tafe d Cahll from destruction. Captain
Welsh was recovered from the ruins and buried
Yesterday. The others are Hlessrs. EdwId Nc
Cahill, Leon Grcenabaum, Reuben Baker,
Neusbaum, and Roscnthal.