North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-17
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN RALEIGH.

Mr.. Depkin, formerly Burch's,) one door below the
Postoce, and spread rapidly up Fayetteville Street
and down, to the large and elegant brick building
owned by Mr.. Richard Smith and thence with
Hargett Street. to Mr.. Holeman's brick building
the corner, occupied by Mr.. Upchurch.
Above Mr.. Depkin's, Mrs. Stuart's large wooden
dwelling!house, in whch the Postoffice was kept
caught in short time and after the brick build
ing, owned by Mr.. Fentress and occupied by him as
a residence and store, on fire. 1t then became
certain that Mr.. Roulhae's store would be consumed
and the only hope of saving the large block from
Mai. Biggs, and including the North Carolina Book.
store, lay in blow Jog this house up and removing the
fragments After several efforts blow it up but with
little if any effect, the house literally cut and
pulled down, without the aid of fre-hooks and this
stopped the fire in that direction. Below Depkin's,
the fire caught the wooden tenements occupied
by Messrs. Grifice and Hutchings, and was commu-
nicated through the windows to Mr.. Smiths brick
building, aforementioned, on the corner and oppo-
site Messrs. Williams, Haywood & Co. The flames
then spread down Harge Street, sweeping the groce
ry stores of Messrs. Croker, Dadley, w ombe, and
Alexander and Linn Adams, wooden buildings; and
also three brick the back Street belong
ing to Mr.. Richard Smith and Mr. Gill, and occupied
as groceries. MIR. Holleman's brick store, which
was in close contact with these buildings, was saved
solely by its iron door and windows.
The following is list of the losses, given as
correctly as il could be procured under the circum-
stances ....-, .....f ....-
Richard Smith, brick building opposite Williams,
Haywood & Co., valued at $40, OO0-ensured for $5,-
600. Also. wooden building occupied by Crecker,
valued at $5O0-no insurance. Also, wooden build
ing occupied by Alexander Adams as grocer, valued
at $5O0-no insurance. The value of Mr.. Smiths
part of brick tenement back Street known but
supposed to be 81 900.
Mrs. Stuart's wooden building, valued at So, 500
no insurance.
William White, loss $7O0-no insurance.
Mrs. Stuart, wooden building, occupied by Dep
kin. valued at $6OO-no insurance. Mr.. Depkin's
loss is from $500 to 81 900.
Thomas R. Fentress, brick building, insured for
$780, The greater portion of Mr.. Fentress' furni
ture and goods saved His loss is from 81 900
to Sc, 900.
Mr.. Rouhac, loss not accurately known, but
large. He was insured both upon his house and
goods. His goods were saved, but damaged, of
course.
Mr.. McKmmon incurred loss of several hundred
dollars, from damage to his goods, in removing
them.
VIM. Jeffreys, Sem, wooden building, occupied by
Mr.. Grfice confectioner, valued at $6OO-no nsu-
ance. Mr.. Grfice's loss is not large, most of his
stock having been saved. ........
G. w. d. Hutchngs, wooden building, valued at
8 ,2OO-insured. Mr.. Hutchng's stock was also in
sured. He had $4,lOO insurance on building and
stock. Nearly if quite all his stock was saved.
The brick building belonging to Mr.. Smith, above
mentioned, occupied below by Mr.. Harding,
-, ol,,- l. L.. -
Creech, merchant; and above were the Telegraph
Office, the Mutual Fire Insurance Company Office,
and Odd Fellows Hall. Mr.. Harding saved all his
goods, and Mr.. Creech the greater portion of his.
They have both lost, however, from damage in re-
moving. All the books and papers Of the Insurance
Company saved. by the energy of Mr.. Part
-dge, the Secretary, who was promptly on the
ground.
David C. Dudley, wooden building. valued at
S75O-no insurance.
Jordan Womble, wooden building, valued at $500 |
no insurance. ... -...
Linn Adams, wooden building, valued at $sOo-no
insurance.
Mr.. Gill, brick tenement valued at $sOO-no in
urance.
The entire loss is estimated from twenty to thr-
y thousand dollars. Insurance houses and goods |
rom ten to fifteen thousand dollars, which loss falls
pon the Mutual Company. .r..
This fire has, we think. conclusively demonstrated
wo things to our citizens, first, the danger resulting
rom wooden buildings in crowded part of the towns
nd secondly, the great importance of water facilities
nd some efficient fire organization. Our citizens,
satisfied, willing to do all in their power on
UGH an occasion, to save property; but then what
ould they do on Monday morning, but fight the FIRE,
they did, with axes, beams of wood ropes, and their
aked hands! We lack water, and Chief of the
ire Department. whose duty should be direct and
ontrol, to blow up houses order hands to different
onts on pain of fine punishment. and generally
give tone and vigor to the masses Of whites and
lacks usually assembled on such occasions. We
lst no reflections on the present Fire Company
icy die all they could, with the limited supply of
alter which they had we are speaking of the i'm
ortance of some better and more efficient system in
self-a system which must have, coupled with
lie necessary MEANS if we expect prevent for the
ture repetition of similar calamities What is
expenditure of even five Thousand dollars, for the
lrpose CT ensuring efficient organization and the
quisite means, compared to the Inconvenience and
scomfort produced by such fire that on Sunday {
ght, and to the losses by thousands, incurred by
IT best and most enterprising citizensl Wein.end
refer to this matter again and again, IN the hope
at our citizens will Keep their present feelings and
nvlctlons fresh in their minds, and until something
hich shall promise good results shall have been ac
mplished. s- @. Ii
RALEIGH AND GAsroN Ro.D NY. .I..l Il /