Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-06-26
WIlIPPOWIL.
California.

Burning of San Hancisco--- Ttr,iJlc ca,
MmticS.--The Alabama arrived at New
Orleans on the 9th, with news via The city
OF Mexico, from California, up to the 4th
May. Another disastrous conilagra,ion
has occurred at San Francisco. 1t is be-
iieved to have been the work of an incen-
diary.
"Never," says the Alta Californian, "has
such terrible contlagration cculred since
the burning of Moscow, The fire com.
menced Il little after Il o'clock during tho
night Of the Sd of May, in the second story
OF the work shop of a ship painters in Clay
street, on the south side of Portsmouth
square, and near the Grand Plaza"
After describing the route of the fire the
Alta Californian proceeds to remark:
In all this circuitous run, embracing a
mile in length by half mile in width, it did
not leave fifteen buildings unburned.-
There are some whose walls are still erect,
but all their contents were consumed.--
Some vaults and safes have faithfully pre-
served their deposits in the midst of the
flames Nineteen blocks of houses have
been destroyed: the number of buildings
burnt is not easily ascertained, but they
must number ut least fifteen hundred. The
total loss has been estimated at twenty
millions OF dollars; the exact calculation
must bring it to fifteen millions OF dollars.
The fire completed its destructive work in
ten hour, the last building was nothing
but heap ruins on the 18th, at 9 A. NJ.
The scene was affecting: thousands of
men, women and children were running
mad about the streets. The city was full
of inhabitants without shelter. But what
made the spectacle more horrible, was to
see the unfortunate beings, from time to
time, rushing from the flames, Running into
the streets and after useles attempts to es-
cape, falling, from weakness, into the street
before hundreds of spectators unable to
lend them help. Two individuals were thus
burnt alive in the streets; six others per-
ished in the iroasbuidings of Mcssrs. Toaile
and Cahil. Eight persons are known to
have fallen victims; twenty others were
more or less wounded Since the fire two
men have been killed by the falling ruins,
Ali the San Francisco papers, with the
exception of the Alta California were
burnt. Two OF them, the Herald and the
Pacific News, have already resumed THEN.
publication the others will soon appear.
Ten days have elapsed since the catastro.
pne, and already $50 or 300 houses have
been completely rebuilt, or will be soon.
The energy of the population, has not
been affected by this fifth and cruel misior.
tune. Take courage, says the Alta Cali
iorna and in fact, business has been but
slightly suspended. The commercial houses,
in expectancy OF the rebuilding of their
houses, have announced that their offices
and stores have been transferred into other
parts of the city.
The goods which were SO low before the
event, have, all at once. risen five times in
value, rents have increased IN the St
proportion. San Francisco, in a wol
was at the last dates in a most strange :
commercial situation.
The firm of Burgoinc & Co.. found fif-
teen hundred thousand dollars in their safe
after the fire.
The officers Of the custom house have
saved the funds contained in the ediiice,
by throwing them in woll; million of
dollars was thus secured.
The conilagration at Stockton, taking in
to accoun, the comparative importance of
the city, has been, perhaps, quite as disas-
trous as the one in San Francisco. This
took place on the next day, the 9Th of May;
the fire began in new and splendid build.
ing, known as the Merchants Hotel; it is
supposed that it was fired by some il.doer
who wished, by the burning of the prison,
which stands next 10 the Merchants lilo.
tel, to facilitate the escape Of the criminals.