The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-16
= FIFTEEN DAYS
LATER FROM CALIFORNIA


MHt0n DOudTS UOrth O properly BuTfled- l
Lines Lost-Persons Wounded, etc.-Great |
Destruction Of Public buildings and Weps
paper Property--List Of Sufferers Calamitous
Fire in StocIion-7ernbie Destruction Of
Property.
The steamship Alabama, Capt. Foster, arrived
here al early hour on Saturday from Vera Cruz,
which port she left on the 9th instant. The Ala
bama brought Vera Cruz papers of the sth, and
city OF Mexico papers of the 5Lh.
rhs TfTai 'Uni6n OF the 4th gives us the
melancholy intelligence of more terrible confagra-
tions in California. The business part of the city
of San Francisco has been ALMOST wholly swept
away by fire, while Stockton has suffered to an
extent nearly ruinous, in proportion to amount of
property in both cities.
We the Picayune's elaborate and correct
translation of the of these calnmities from
the Trait d Union.
The news reached the city of Mexico by way of
Acapulco, at which place the steamers stop, on their
way down to Panama
The editor of the Trait d. Union commences by
saying that California is decidedly the country of
fires. We have often had occasion TO recount the
frequent conhagrations of which San Francisco
has been the theatre. 1t is not long since we
chroncled the almost entire destruction of Nevada
Ciiy, and now have to speak of two friehtful
Catasirophes, by which the richest portions of San
Francisco and Stockton have been reduced TO
ashes.
Never, says the Alta California, has so horrible
a conhagraon been witnessed since the burning
of Moscow. The fire broke out at about eleven
o'clock, on the night of May 3, in the second story
of painters shop, in Clay street, on the south
side Of Portsmouth Square, and in the neighbor-
hood of the Grand Plaza. At the moment when
the fire made its appearance it had very little
It L., II IL. :.
originated, the American House, and furniture
store, became enveoped in flames. The wind,
which at first blew moderately, soon increased to
the force of hurricane. The fire engines were
quickly on the ground, but unfortunately the chief
engineer and his assistant were absent from the
ci,y, which prevented operations being carried on
with ceeriy and vigor.
came ignited, it was seen that 1t would be imposs
Bile TO master the fire. The devouring element
then followed this course towards the west il
ascended Clay street, nearly to Dupont street; to
the southward il trayersed Sacramento as far as
California street, crossed Kearny, and extending
towards the south, along California street, far
Pine street To the westward il assembled Pine till
1t reached Sansome street then nortfNard ii took
the direction of California street, and then turning
eastward it consumed Battery street, which forms
the southern limit of The fire. with the exception nj
a point at the northeastern extremity, where II
crossed Battery street, and destroyed few houses
on the very edge OF the bay.
In another direction the fire descended Clay
street Harney street, following Harvey street
towards the north as far as jackson street; thence
along Jackson Montgomery then to the north
ward AS far Pacific street; then eastward to
Broadway, whence it exisnded diagonally as TAR as
Vallejo street, and, al last, crossing Battery slree
towards the east, it stopped at The shores OF The
bay. :,
In this circuit of mile in length and half mile
in width, scarcely fifteen houses escaped. There
were many houses of which the walls were let
I.,tn nf ho1 tbe UpTn lie
stroyed. Some cellars and safes retained their con
tents in a state of perfect preservation Nlneteer
squares of houses were destroyed 1t is not easy
To- estimate the number of houses consumed, but i
amounts TO at least fifteen hundred. The total los
is supposed TO be between lUeiue and t,Denty m,t
lions; fifteen millions would be about a fair esll
male 4 he fire effected its work of destruction II
ten hours, the last building being consumed a
nine o'clock on the morning of the 4lh.
The spectacle during the hire was frghtfu
Thousands of men, women and children, scarcel!
clad and seemingly in state Of delirium, crowded
the streets. The city was filed with people, wan
dering about without an asylum Ihe horror 9
the scene was increased by the sight OF the unior
tunate persons who, from time to time, were com
PEELED to rush from the midst Of the fames ant
precpitating themselves into the streets, were q
asst after vain efforts to escape, crushed by tn
falling buildings, in full view of hundreds of spec
tators, unable to render assistance. Two person
were in this manner burnt alive in the streets, an
six others perished in the iron stores OF Messr
known to have been killed is eight; twenty othel
were more or less severely wounded After th
fire two men were killed by the falling ruins, A
the newspaper offices in San Francisco, with Il
excpplion of that of the Alta California, were col
sumed. Two the Herald and Pacific News, hs
recommended publication, and the others were
appear soon
Ten days after the fire from taoo hundred an
ffty to three hundred houses were rebuilt III
Alta California calls on the people to take couras
and never despair. In truth, business seemed
be scarcely suspended in consequence of the c
lamity. The merchants while awaiting the rebuil
ing of their stores, attended the sale OF their goo
in other parts of the city.
Prices Of merchandise which very 10
before the fire, suddenly were quintupled, and rel
rose in the same proportion
The house of Burgoyne u Co, after the fl
found 81 500 900 safe In their own chest
The employees in the Custom-house saved
the funds that it contained, amounting to mill
of dollars, by throwing them into well.
Among the buildings destroyed were the @
tom house. Union Hotel, Parker House, Adel
theatre, the Dramatic Museum National Hot
New World Hotel, City Hotel, Demonico Ho
Merchants Exchange, the Ross building, Anne
can Hotel, Revere House, the office Of the Stea
ship Company, ETC., etc.
The fire at Stockton taking the relative size
the place into consideration, quite as dis
trous as that at San Francisco. 1t took place
the 9Th OF May, and commenced in large
magnificent new building, known the N
chants Hotel
1t is supposed that it was the work of Sc
ualefactor, who wished to aid the escape of
criminals in the prison which adjoins the n
chants Hotel The wind, however, carried
flames in a contrary direction, that the objee
the ncendiaries not achieved. All the b
ness houses on the Levee, except six, all N
street. all Centre street, all the houses in Ell
rado street, except two, and all the building
. Hunter street, except three, fell prey to the
vouring element.
The list of sufferers by the dreadful fire in
Francisco fills six columns Of the Alta CalitoI
and even this is not complete. Very few busil
houses either in San Francisco Stockton,
capped destruction.
Il had been said that the fire in San Franc
was caused by the negligence of the peopl
the paint shop but the owners, Messrs. BAKE
Messerve, have published card, in which
declare that there no light in their h
. which could have originated the fire. 1t was Il
fore generally believed that this fire also
caused by design.
At the time when the people were abo'
lynch Stuart and Wildred Two months ago
Australian convcts who infest the city had to
plan to take revenge by burning San Franc
4 They had ship ready in port to transport
and their plunder from the place, after p,
their plan in operation. Fortunately, this dia
cal project came to the knowledge of the poll
time to Illustrate it. ..-
It is also stated that, few days before the