The southern press., 1851-06-25

in most cases have nothing but their walls
standing. Scarce hre-proof building in the
whole burnt district has stood the test. Such
as have, are the California Exchange, Ell
Dorado, Verandah, on Portsmouth square, and
the buildings of Capt Howard, in which was
the u. s. Assayinr office Of Moffat a. Co.. on
Montgomery street. This building was saved
only at the risk of their lives, by Messers,
Moffat, Perry a. Ward of that firm, who re-
manned within the building throughout the con-
fagration, and extinguished the fire repeatedly.
The fire has now (half-past fve,) reached
Pacific street and is rapidly spreading in that d.
rection towards Clark's Point.
A man at halEpast o'clock, on Jackson
street, between Kearny and Dupont street, shot
a woman, and Immediately after shot himself,
woundng himselfin the forehead. The woman
is dead the murderer was taken to the station
house.
A man was stabbed in Washington street
about two o'clock near the Jackson house.
But the most lamentable part of this sad story
is the loss of human life How many have lost
their lives cannot be known at present-per-
haps it never will he known how many; but
several are known to have lost their lives. The
following have been reported
About two o'clock a man on Washington
street, dropped dead from over exertion
One man was taken out of the store Of
morning, burned to a crisp.
Mr.. Nudge was dangerously burned. He,
with Messrs. James, Noyes, and Fort were for
four hours shut up in the vault of the Neagle
buildings, which they saved, but could not get
out.
We have experienced several severe confia
grations in this doomed city, but none of them
can compare in extent and destruction of prop
erty and life with this, which is still in progress;
and all is the result Of carelessness of some
one person in the paint op of Messrs. Baker
& Meserve, where the fire commenced
From the Daily Alta California, May 5a.
1t is impossible to give, in one or two num-
we publish the following to-day, and may CON
time them hereafter:
The officers Of the custom house saved the
specie Of the office by casting it into well.
About $l,OO000O were saw in this way.
A. ]. Cost, nava. officer, Mr.. Brown, apprai-
ser, Mr.. Green, collector, and number of Others
in the nav department. had all of their private
effects destroyed. The books and pap,rs of the
department were nearly all saved. The money
was placed in the vault.
The bookkeeper of the Union hotel Mr.. Will
lard, was not lost, as reported yesterday morn
ing.
The large United States bonded warehouse,
erected by Cross a. co., containing about two
| thousand tons of merchandise in bond, was
saved through the exertions of Mr.. Anderson,
the Inspector.
| Messrs. Wardwell, Smith, and Toppar who
were reported yesterday morning to have been
burned to death, are all alive.
| General James Wilson, although severely
burned. is considered by his physician entirely
out of danger.
The banking houses will all resume business
in the course Of the week. The cards of some
of them will be found in another column.
When Burgoyne's safe was opened, 81 800.
600 was taken out not singed or damaged in the
least. The books and all the papers, deposits,
&C., came out fresh and free from the least
bemish. This firm has stood the test of fires
and panic, and now stand as firm, with the ex-
ception Of the loss Of their building, as it did q
week ago. They will resume business immedi.
ately
The fre-proof building Of Gibbs g. Co., on
Long wharf, was but slightly injured by the
whirlwind Of fumes that surroundel it. A
great uedl OI JuuBtDent was SHOWN III the man.
Fagcment Of this building. Its escape from des.
truction is pow erful argument in favor Of fire
proof buildings.
Cook q Lecount, booksellers, on Mont
gomery street, lost their entire stock.
i Wells g. Cos building was consumed, in con
sequence of goods being stored there, and the
doors being left open leading to the upper sto
ries.
We are happy to announce that Mr.. B. Pey
ton, reported by us yesterday, as having beer
burned to death, is alive and but slightly injured
Mr.. Thomas CahiIl, also reported as burned
was injured but slightly. His brother Edward
is undoubtedly burned to death, having beer
seen last in bis store, since which nothing has
been heard of him.
Messrs. Correa g. Bahnsen were both badly
burned in their endeavors to save their building
Mr. Argent has most literally rmed at bis
own expense, patrol or Guard to protect the
ruins OF some Of his reighbors. His own build
ing being entirely whole and in perfectly safe
condition, requires no other care.
A guard Of thirty has been furnished by Capt
Hunter, Of the revenue cutter Polk. They are
| stationpd in the vicinity Of tho Cnaton, honaa