The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-06-25
From the Detroit Free Press, of %.
THE FIRE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

The New York Tribune contains three
columns of losses by the recent fire.
Among others in this list. we notice the
loss of the library aud papers of Frank NJ.
Plxley. the City Attorney, late of Detroit
The Tribune list EN- braces about six hun
dred and fifty persons and firns--and the
aggregate loss IS set down by all the pa
pers at $4,000 coo. Surprising the list
of losses to embrace all the sufferers by
the fret presents the almost incredi-
bic fact, of an average loss of eighteen
thousand four hundred and fifty-one dol
lars by each person and firm. In this
country we have no data. by which such
result can be brought within the range
of possibilities. in city the size of San
Francisco. But it must be reccollected
that property is estimated by different
rates from those which govern valuations
here. The exports from San Francisco for
the present spring, have been greater than
those of New York. The latter city re-
ceives nearly one half Of the current rev.
enues from customs, while its exports do
not reach one sixth. Yet the amount of
exports al San Francisco are prodigiouS,
and such a result could not fail TO have
an effect upon real estate valua tons.
The papers are full of accounts of the
fire. and among other items it is stated
the want of water, used so thousand gall
Ions of vinegar in preserving their ware
house.
In blowing up the Sacramento Hotel,
Broadway. the first explosion was inef-
fectual, and it was thot that only one of
the casks planted had ignited, and yet,
in this uncertainty, a daring spirit was
found, who walked into the building al
ready in flames. with two more casks of
powder. fred the fusee and retreated cool
ly. In less than a minute after the huge
building crumbled into fragments upon
its own foundation.
The mass of shipping that crowd our
harbor was in imminent danger of taking
FIRE on Saturday night Had one vessel
caught the flames. so close together are
they all anchored. and SO hopeless the
idea of moving. that the entire feet wo'd
have, in all probability, been consumed.
As it was, the captains and crews had
10 be constantly on the alert to preserve
their vessels. The ship Susan Drew,
Capt. Holbrook, took fire three times
from the burning brands that were driven
upon her by the wind. but by prompt APP
plication Of water, she was each time
saved. Several others were also on fire
at various times. but none, we are happy
TO say. were burned.
The Editor of the Alta Californian
gives the following vivid picture of .he
contlagration.
Iron and zinh 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 the fire which flashed up
ward from a thousand burning houses.
The hill sides were lighted as if the sun
were above the Eastern mountains, and
their trees. shrubs. heritage and houses
were as distinguished bic in the bright light
as if it were noon. Darkness hung over
a large portion of the shipping where the
broad and heavy ocean of smoke lay
down in impenetrable gloom over the
Bay. People became paralyzed. Many
removed their stocks of goods. or por-
tions of them. four or five times, and
then had them overtaktn and destroyed
at last.
The streets were Grained with masses
of human being and rushing teams. only
giving way before the advance of the ele
ments, as the smoke and heat ard crush
ing walls pushed them back. Men be-
came mad; some rushed headlong into the
flames. Weeping women and prattling
infancy were wandering amid ashes and
destruction. Every few moments the
earth and air trembled. as great buildings
Were torn into fragments by the explo-
sions of gun powder. and the atmosphere
was filled shattered timhers, brick and
mortar. The multitude hung upon the
borders of this "vast sea OF fiame;" few
comparatively knew, or could know, what
were the dangers and exertions of these
who were within the range of the stiffling
smoke and scorching flames. In less
than nine hours from the beginning, more
than twenty squares existed only in
memory and in the ascending columns of
smoke and flame which covered the city
site.
But the saddest sight of all was the
destruction of brave. but bewildered
men, who suddenly surrounded with fire,
rushed, staggered and uncertain. in hope
less efforts 10 escape, until strangled and
scorched. they writhed and fell in full
view of hundreds, who were completely
powerless 10 save them. Others, after
battling inside OF what they had consid
cred fire proofs, finding their efforts to
save the buildings vain. endeavored to
escape, but too late. The doors and win