The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-29
The Late Fire at New Orleans

TO the murder of Nathan Adler TO his COUNSEL and
that the same will be published in pamphlet form
in few days.
The Late Fire at New Orleans.
THE DESTRUCTION OF The ST. CHARLES HOTEL
GREAT LOSS OF PROPERTY.
From the New Orleans Delta, Jan 10
No one who has not visited New Orleans can
estimate the extent Of the calamity which has
The ST Charles Hotel was the pride, the boast, the
ornament of our city. As model of architectu.
raj beauty II was cot surpassed, il equalled, by any
editce in the United States. The grace, beauty,
and perfection OF its plan, the combin alton of so-
diy with elegance, of convenience with beauty, of
grandeur with classic proportions, rendered the ST.
Charles a source OF inexhaustible pleasure and ia
terest TO all beholders. AS hotel, il was the
largest and most complete, and under its present
managers. the best conducted, perhaps. in the
world. The day before il burnt, we dned at the
hotel, and were told by the proprieors that six
hundred persons would dine there that day. Eve
rything essential to the comfort and entertainment
OF guests, was embraced in the building. There
was splendid bar room, spacious billiard rooms,
elt CANT bath establishment, and in the basement
stories were several variety stores. Not less than
eight hundred persons slept nightly under its roof
The building was in the finest Grecian style, with
the most splendid and classical porco in the United
S'ates, supported by Corinthian pillars Of great
beauty and elegance The cupoa, which assembled
from the centre of the building, was also a very
beautiful and prominent feature in the edifce, the
most conspicuous object discernible at q distance
III approaching our CITY. nat Cup0ld was dear
object to all of our citizens. The heart of every
true Oreanian chung to it as the beacon and land
mark Of the Crescent City.
The St. Charles was so identified with our city
in all its aspects and associations, that we regard
its loss in the light Of the deprivation Of limb Of
our body. The cOuntenance of every citizen yes.
terday was clouded with sorrow and gloom, during
the progress of the destructive element, and uni
versal sadness prevailed when the once beautiful
edifice had sunk into a mass Of smoking ruins.
Alas ~ exclaimed our Oldest citizens, /" what
loss How shall we rebuild it, When will we be
able, in our day, 70 look upon its like in beauty
The St. Charles was built in 1884; it was the
pioneer Of the old Faubourg ST. Mary, now the
Second Municipality. Around it clustered all
fully to start the Second Municipality IN IDS won
derful progress in prosperity aud greatness. 1t
the sun which dused fructIfying rays far and near
around it, The cost of the building was Elk
hundred thousand dollars. It's architect, Mr.. Gal
lier, acquired by Its design reputation coextensive
with our whole country. II was built by the old
Exchange Bank, corporation which became ex-
tisguished, but whose privileges, SO far as the pos
session of the hotel was concerned, descended to
the present company, at the head of which is Mr..
Jacob Barker, who has had for years the manage
ment of the building.
Various accounts are given OF the origin OF the
fire. Some represent that ii caught from some one
of the various chimneys or fues; others state that
some plumbers were engaged in soldering the zinc
on the roof. and the ire was communicated from
",
it is pretty certain that the fire originated within the
building, somewhere under the roof and had diff
fused itself pretty extensively before the alarm was
given II was long before any adequate means could
be brought to arrest the flames. The whole roof
was smoking, sending forth thick volume of dun
vapor and yet the fire could not be reached. Ii
was seine time before the engines came to the spot.
The bells, by some most calpable carelessness,
were not rung, and those engines which arrived
early were not fully manned. Then, too, how
could they bring their machines to operate at so
great height? There was scarcely an engine in
the city that could throw the water to the roof of
the hotel. Within the building the most energetic
steps were taken to meet the danger The proprie-
tors and their various employees formed them
selves into efficient fire company, and by the aid
CT Of water on amss shey soad
be reached. But the insidious element had evaded
its foe and penetrated into every part Of the roof
where IL could find food
The hose pipes from the engines were then
drawn by ropes TO the roof, and soon considerable
body Of water was brought TO bear upon it. But
alas! il was too late. The vast crowd assembled
in the neighborhood, with one voice cried out, " IL
is gomez" and though there was no relaxation OF
effort, il soon became painfully manifest that the
building was OF very combustibe character.
Presently, the flames broke forth from the roof,
and passing with the rapidity of lightning around
the cupola, suddenly embraced that graceful and
elegant structure, and then lowered to the heavens
one bright glowing pyramid OF hire. At the same
time, the plaster began to fall from the roof OF the
portico, admonishing those below Of the danger Of
that position, the only one from which the engines
could operate with effect. Rapidly the flames in
viewed the whole building, and, nourished by
brisk east wind proceeded on their devastating
cornice of the portico soon bright sheet Of
fire; presently fell with great crash, crushing
in its ruins the noble marble statue of Washington
which stood at the main entrance, the present Of
our respected fellow citizen, John Hagan, Esq,
who had il executed by the best artist in Italy. On
went the flames in their mad career, while the
willing winds served their vassa and guide; and
tower and column fell down, one after another,
till nothing bat an unsehtly ruin remained OF
what In the morning lowered so palace-like in its
"prde of place I"
After the ST. Charles had been nearly consumed,
the fire was communicated by sparks 10 the Rev.
Theodore Clapp's church, corner Of St. Charles
and Grevier streets, which was soon destroyed. At
the same time, the Methodist Episcopal church, on
Poydras street. was in flames, and in twenty mi
nutes, nothing but mass OF crumbling walls re-
maiLed. This church, we are happy 10 learn, was
insured Tor $50 900. Two djoining buildings, &C.
cupied as boarding houses, Nos. l37 and l39. the
former owned by Mr.. Maunsel White, and occu-
pied by Mrs. Souter; and the latter occupied by
Mrs. Purcell. Both were mechanics boarding
houses, and partially insured. Two houses Of i'll
fame, near these, were also burned.
In the rear OF DIR. Clapp's church, the Pelican
House, stretching from Union TO Gravier street,
was entirely destroyed. IL was owned by Jacob
Barker, and occupied by Messrs. Moore u -.
I The pelican" was insured The large commits
sion house, occupied BY Henderson, Peale, and
others, fronting on Common street, and adjoining
| the ST. Charles Hotel, was burned. The build
ings between that and Carondelet street were
saved with difficulty. The dwelling house owned
| by Mr.. Lyal, and occupied by Mr. Mensing, dem
iist situated at No. 1876 Carondeet street. was con-
sumed, as was also paint shop adjoining.
Among the buildings destroyed, we have also 10
mention three houses on Carondelet street, repre-
sented by Nos. Ill, l73, and 175, owned by Mr..
| Il +. French. These houses were insured. One
Of them was occupied by Drury II Philips, paint
/ ers; the others by families
The residence of William Barry, who keeps the
| Crescent restaurant, on st. Charles street, adds
another to the list Of the destroyed buildings. II
was situated at No. 81 Hevia street. No. IS Hevia
street was also greatly injured.
| The splendid private residences Of Mr.. Samuel
1 ]. Peters and Mr.. Savillebouvre, on Carondelei
street, caught several times, and were In great
danger so also was the fine row known as the