Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-06-25
The Great Fire at San Francisco

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The editor Of the Alta California gives
The following vivid picture of the oonAa-
grafton:
Iron and zinc curled up like scorched
leaves, and sent forth their brilliant flames
Of green, blue, and yellow tints, mingling
With and modifying the great red tongues
of fire, which flashed upward from a
thousand burning houses. The hill sides
were lighted as if the sun were above the
eastern mountains, and the trees, shrubs,
herbage and houses were As distinguish.
able in the bright light as if it were noon.
Darkness hung over q large portion Of
the shipping, where the broad and heavy
ocean Of smoke lay down in impenetrable
gloom over the bay. People became
paralysed. Many removed their stock of
goods, or portions Of them, four or five
times, and had them overtaken and des-
troyed BY the flames at last. The streets
were crammed With masses of human be-
ings and rushing teams, only giving way
before the advance of the elements, as the
smoke and heat and crashing walls push
ed them back. Men became mad; some
rushed headlong into the flames. Weep
ing women and prattling infancy were
wandering amid ashes and destruction.
Every few moments the earth and air
tremblcd As great buildings were torn into
fragments by the explosion Of gunpowder /;
and the atmosphere was filled with shat.
tered timbers, brick and mortar. The
multitude hung upon the border Of this
"vast sea of fame" few comparatively
knew or could know, what were the dan
gers and exertions of those who were
within the range of the sitting smoke and
scorching fame. In less than nine hours
from the beginning, more than twenty
squares existed only in memory and in the
ascending columns of smoke and fame
which covered the city's site.
But the saddest sight of all was the de-
struction of brave, but bewildered men,
who, finding themselves suddenly surroun-
ded with fire, rushed, staggering, and uncer-
tain, from fame to fame, in hopeless efforts
to escape, until, ,strangled and scorched they
writhed and fell in full view of hundreds,
who were powerless to save them. Others,
after battling inside of what they had con-
sidered fire proofs, finding their efforts to
save the buildings vain, endeavored to es-
cape, but too late.
The doors and window blinds were red
hot, and could not be opened in some in
and their last chance of safety
--.'Ou .nem. we can not express the
sensations of yesterday while looking upon
the blackened remains of poor humanity,
as they still lay burned to Goals, amid
he fire which filed the cellar Of a build.
ing on Montgomery street, still beyond
he reach of all who cazed upon them.
May | never again see so horrible spec
.acle.
One of the most singular and striking
hings in connection with the fire, occurred
m the corner of Sansome and Pine streets,
where they had recently erected wind
Mill. The flames had enveloped it, and
ii had fed from the house, when the brake
y which the machinery is stopped was
,urned, and the wheel at once turned to
he wind, and commenced revolving with
,reat rapidity. Round and round it flew,
catering sparks and brands from its bur-
ling circumference, like scintillations from
blacksmith's forge. The sheet Of fame
hat broke over it seemed only to increase
n speed, and even when the wheel was
wrapped in flames it continued to revolve.
It was strange sight to see that fiery cir
lie moving round amid the flames and
'mokc of the building. Not until all save
he rim was burned did it cease to revolve,
md then it was slowly and by degrees that
t yielded, as if exhausted by the furious
attacks of the fire. One moment it stood,
hen, tottering, fell into the ruins beneath.
Earthquake at San Francisco.
May l5.-About halfpast s o'clock this
our city was startled by the shock
Of an earthquake Men issued from the
shaking houses into the streets in conster.
nation.
The boarders at Jones' Hotel and the
Oriental were at breakfast, and SO violent
was the shock, that they rushed from the
able into the street, overturning every
hing in their way.
The gamblers upon Long Wharf rushed
rom their tables into the street. They
rushed up the pier, leaving their gold and
silver upon their gaming tables entirely
The wharves trembled like aspen leaves,
md the frame buildings adjoining vibrated
'ome eight or ten inches. The brick