Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21
SAN FRANCISCO IN RUINS!

Inc stcduci CIcoCcm CHy, WIFI udtcs HUH
San Francisco to the 18th uldmo, has arrived at
New York. She brings upwards of FIVE hundred
passengers, and nearly 100000 in gold. She has
not brought the mails from the Pacific coast.
The leading item Of news is the occurrence of
another terrible confagration at San Francisco,
which laid in ashes property to the amount of from
twelre to fifteen millions Of dollars!
The fire commenced in Clay street, quickly con-
Stunning dozen blocks, and spreading to other parts
of the city, three-lourths Of which, including al
most the entire business portions of it, was reduced
to heap Of ruins.
The news from the mines continues to be of a
favorable character. New discoveries were daily
made, and the prospects Of the miners are repre-
sented as highly fattering. The quartz-crushing
machines were reapng rich reward, and in some
instances the average per man was from $50 to $50
per day,
Lynch law, we are sorry 10 say, was still in the
ascendant in some localities, and several new ex-
amples had been made.
The confagration at San Francisco occurred in
the night of the Sd Of May, and similar calamity
happened at Stockton in the night Of the 9th of
May, by which nearly half Of that town was de-
sToyed. The names Of the individuals and firms who
suffered loss San Francisco extend TO length that would
gil four five columns of this pape But, Notwithstanding
this heavy misfortune the people not depending At
our date only days having interviewed since the
fire. San Francisco alive with workmen, engaged in
building the burnt district within which locality alone there
three hundred and fifty houses in process Of erection
in addition those under way in other parts of the city,
Lumber had advanced in price nearly hundred per cent,
but ground rents had decreased considerably Laboes and
mechanics greatly benefited the latter demanding and
obtaining $40 day wages Ht
the "Alta California" the only newspaper Office
that escaped the almost general destruction:
SAN Francisco AsAIs IN AsHEa-The smoke and flames
ascending from several squares Of city, the god
destruction had seated himself in midst and was gogng
himself and all his ministers Of devastation upon the ruins Of
doomed city and its people, About o'clock last night
the cry Of fire. startled every like earthquake The
fire had just commenced in paint shop on the west side Of
Portsmouth square, adjoining the Bryant House, formerly
called, but recently the American Hotel II but
slight blaze when first SEEM but in five minutes the whole
upper story full Of flames Before the engines could get
upon the ground and commence playing the American House,
one side, ond store occupied by Messrs Rhodes
furnishing establishment, were in flames
The buildings in the vicinity being all Of wood, and ex-
remey combusbe, the fire spread up Clay street. back
wards Sacramento and down Clay towards Kearny with
fightu rapidty had full command and the FIRE de-
parment could only work upon the borders and endeavor
check it's progress by anticipating it. In this they succeeded
the north side before reached Dupont but in every
other direction in which could spread took its
There little chance much Of the moveabes. To
the south spread Bush street. and to the part Of
Jackson street, sweeping every thing from east Of Dupont
street to the wharves.
The blocks between Dupont and Kearny Streets west Of
Portsmouth square, Bush street, three in NUMBER are
in ashos Rotuv Ruoh and Tackao and nd
Montgomery streets, five squares in number, all burnt
down. Between Montgomery and Sansome, and Bush and
Jackson Streets five squares in number, all burnt down.
Besides these thirteen blocks almost every building of which
is destroyed, there many Others
impossible to guess at the number of buildings
the amount Of property destroyed thousand buildings is
within the bounds of TRUTH judge, and 000 600 could
replace the terrible destruction Some place twice
three times high. II is sufficient to say that than
hreeouths of the business part of the city nothing but
smoudering cnders.
The principal buildings destroyed the following to wit
The Custom house Union Hotel Parker House, Jopes's
Ho,el Adelphi Theatre, Dramatic Museum National Hotel
New World, City Hotel Delmonicos Merchants Exchange,
Post Office budng the ships Mantle and General Harrison,
and every newspaper office except the Alta California.
Nearly quite all the banks in the burnt district Bur-
goyne & Co, Wells & Co., James King Of William, the
Delmonco and American hotels the Revere House, and the
office Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, all
sumed Not house left on Ledesdorff street, and
every thing both sides Of Long wharf beyond Whitehall
destroyed.
Scarcely repoof building n the whole burnt district has
stood the Such have the California Exchange,
Ell Dorado, Veranda and the buildings Of Captain Howard,
in which the United States assaying Office Of Moa &
Co., Montgomery The officers Of the Custom
house saved the specie Of the Office by casting it into we'll
Abaut $1,000, 900 saved in this way.
A. Cost naval officer, Mr.. Brown, appraiser, Mr. Green,
collector and number Of others in the naval department.
had all Of their private effects destroyed The books and pa
pers Of the department nearly all saved. The large
United States bonded warehouse containing about two thou
sand tons of merchandise, in bond saved.
The banking houses will all business in the
Of the week. When Burgoynes safe opened, mil
lion FIVE hundred thousand dollars taken snged
damaged in the least. , as
The fire swept every thing down the eastey side Of
keany street, Jackson street, and all the intervening blocks
escaped The only vessels burnt were the Nanic, Apollo
and the General HARRISON soreships California Montgo-
merry, Pine, Ssnsome, Commercial and Clay streets
nearly destroyed.
The Sacramento Hotel is blown up. Howard & Green's
building containing many valuable law libraries Joness Ho
tel, the Savings Bank, and Dodge Cos. Express Office
Agents Buildings, California Exchange Cook Il Brothers
stores saved The Jenny Lind Theatre Adams Co.'S
Express Office and the Engine house are among the build
loss Of $780, OOO Messs Adams & Co. saved their books
SC. The deposites of Wells & Co. are saved.
The list Of sufferers includes the Of hundred
firms and individuals Among the heaviest are j. B. Bdde
$780, 600; Simonsied, Bach & Co., $780, Star
key Brother $3.50 600; Kelsey Smith Riley, Sl25, 900;
Ottenheimer Hirsch Co., $780, 600; Moore, Tiekner
and Company, $4,000; Deboorn, ByneauI & Grisar,
Sl47, 000 E. Micke & Co., 5000, 900; Dali, Ausin
& Company $3.50, 900 Middleton & Selorr, $3.50 600
Baker and H. c. Kenan, s5O,OOO c. J. Brown $780, 600
Heath &c Emory. Colvn. Paige s. Co. sac OOO pa;oe q