Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-06-20
TWO WEEKS
Later from Californ mia.
ARRIVAL OF THE CRESCENT CITY
AT NEW YORK.
The News Of the Great CONGREGATION
Combined.

midnight, on Wednesday, in ten days from Chagres
via Kingston, Jamaica. She brings 527 passengers,
and s77O, 900 in gold
The California papers are filed with the details of
the terrible and disastrous conhagrations at San
Francisco and Stockton which have consumed pro-
perty to the amount of twelve millions Of dollars,
and been attended by the loss of many lives.
| The Alta Californian gives detailed account of
the horrilying Catastrophe at San Francisco, from
which we gather the following facts: About eleven
o'clock, on the night of May Sd, the cry of Fire''
startled every one like an earthquake The fire had
Just commenced IN palnt-shop the west side of
Portsmouth square, adjoining the Bryant House. for
merly called, but more recently the American. 1t
was but slight blaze when first SEEM but in five
minutes the whole upper story was fall of flame
Before the engines could get upon the ground and
commence playing. the American on one side, and
store occupied by Messrs. Rhodes as a furnishing
establishment, were in flames
The buildings In the vicinity being all Of wood
and extremely combustible the fire spread IN CLAW
street back toward Sacramento, and down CLAY to-
ward kearney, with fearful rapidity. 1t soon had
full commando and the Fire Department could only
work upon the borders, and endeavor to check lis
progress by anticipating it In this they succeeded
on the north side before it reached Dupont street
But IN every other drection in which it could spread
1t took Its own course, aud continued to rage until
three-iourth of the business portion of the city was
IN ashes. 1t Is impossible to give list of the build
lngs burned, or the names of the sufferers but the
principal buildings are the following:
Custom House, Union Hotel, Parker House,
Jones Hotel, phi Theatre, Dramatic Museum
National Hotel, New World, City Hotel, Delmo-
nico's, Merchants Exchange, Ross Building; ships
Mantle, General Harrison. Every newspaper office
in town. except the Alta California Nearly or quite
all the bankers in the list.
Loss OF LIFE.-But the most amentabIe part of
OF this sad story the loss of human life How MANY
have lost their lives be known at presant-per
I haps it never will be known how many; but several
known to have lost their lives, The following have
been reported
. About O'Clock a man on Washington street dronped
( dead from over exertion.
: One man was taken out of the store of Starkev.
Janion Co., about O'Clock this morning burned to
a crisp.
Six men were burned to death in their endeayors to
save the store of Tatfe & McCahll from destruction
Capt Welsh was recovered from the ruins and buried
yesterday. The others Messrs Edward McCabiI,
l. Leon Gfeenahaum, Reuben Baker, Ncu<baun and
Rosenthal.
IS INIcIDENTs.-The officers of the Custom House
saved the specie by casting it into WELL About 81
. OUO,O00 were saved in this way.
o A. J. Cost, naval officer, Mr.. Brown appraiser Mr.
Ureen collector, and number of others IN the Naval
department, had all of their private effects DESTROYED
I'll The large Y 3. bonded warehouse erected nv Cross
Co., containing about thousand tons OF merclan.
DUE IN bond saved through the exertions of Mr.
: Anderson, the Inspector.
Gen. Jas. Wilson, although severely burned is con.
Sdeled, by has physicians, entirely out of Danger
The banking houses will resume business IN rho
II course of the week.
Mr.. Bingham, Of the firm of Bingham REYNOLDS &
Bartlett Sausome street, in his exerions 10 save his
1t building, fell from it and broke his jaw
Dewitt & HarrsonSin lieu of water, used so 900
n a..
e was entirely saved.
" CUSTOM HousE.-The books, papers, and specie o.
the Custom House placed in The substantial vault.
= built under the direction of Collector King for that pur
pose and after the FIRE they were all found to be entire
y safe.
Adams & Co.'S Express Office in Montgomery street
nearly opposite the Custom House, shared the fate O
the rest OF the block in which STOOD but they sue
ls ceoded understand, in saving their books papers
I'd and valuabcs in their ire-proof vault.
IN In blowing up the Sacramento Hotel, Broadway tn,
first explosion Intellectual, and it thought tina
" only one Of the casks planted had gaited and yet,
this uncertainty, daring spirit found, who walked
into the building already in flames, with two more
casks Of powder, fired the see and retreaed coolly
70 In less than minute after, the huge building crumbec
into fragments upon its foundation.
e The shipping in the haIbor escaped providentia,
att the tate which for hours seemed inevitably to avail
them. But by breaking up the wharves, and cutting of
the connection, the progress of the fire checked
Battery street. The only vessels burnt, were the Nj
X, antc, the Apollo, and General Harrison store-shps
Among those whose praiseworthy efforts were the
means OF saving the property and effects Of Others was
IS Capt VIM. L.. Howard, hate Of the U. S. II. s., whc
l. has been seriously injured require close medica
attention to relieve him from the effect of his exposure
n to the late fire. Capt I'll. breasted the DESTROYING ele
h. men till the skin taken from his hands and face
and man deserves honor for disinterested ac
ton, than he does.
The Californian says that almost everything seemed
" to combine to effect the ruin of the city The Chie
Engineers and numbers of fremen were at Sacramento
there was almost an nterregnum in city government
the old Council had adjourned, and let no disposition
to assume any responsibility in caring down buildings
the new Council had not been Office and had
no power some of the engines lacked sufficient hose
water not abundant the winds blew like fries and
IN various directions and there generally great
want OF concentrated effort. Had the staging in front
OF new brick store the side of Kearney street
been pulled down, the fire would not have crossed
kearney, between Clay and Sacramento perhaps not at
re all by tearing down two three small buildings in
the rear of the California Exchange 1.-The fire could have
been prevented from crossing Clay ST., and the whole
range of the devastation the north of probably been
prevented.
When we went to press yesterday morning, the fire
Ill was still extending toward CIark's Point Ii crossed
Broadway, taking everything on the north side of Bat
terry, except two buildings the corner Of Vallejo ST
~ and on the south side leaving or three building
besides Col. PORES, built the bay. Here was he
last struggle. The building saved, the front pretty
e. much burned of.
The extent Of the devastation is estimated at over
mile in the direction from northeast 10 south west and
% half mile in width.
The Californian contains complete list of the SUI
Ill. II.