Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-24
THE FIRE AT SONORA, (cA1irons1A.)

The prominent event recorded in the journals is
another destructive fire, which destroyed great
portion of the city of Sonora, on the 18th of June
The Herald, published in that place, says:
The calamity that has been long feared has length
come upon Sonora the chief city Of the Southern Mines
which has for so long time enjoyed immunity while confa
grafton was raging all over the country is at length laid in
ruins There need to parculaze, give details in
regard to all who are burnt out and who not ALL all
gone!
The fire commenced yesterday morning little one
o'clock 1t broke in the building the Plaza called the
Hotel de France occupied by Madame Landreau and facing
up Washington From thence spread southery
direction, until it had swept off every building that had
with is neghbors including the whole of the
IRE block and both sides Of East and West Washington
The whole northern end Of the city, from the place
up TO the Barnum House. Main street. has
been consumed The FIRE spread rapidly from house
Great efforts were made by the citizens stop flames
all were unayang The inaammabe nature Of the material
dried up thoroughly it has been by months continued hot
weather combined with the scarcity Of rendered
mpossiblity TO effect any substantial good
The consequence has been that the whole city hiss been
consumed with the exception Of few scattered buildings on
the outskirts together with great portion Of the suburb Of
Sonora the FIRE having been stopped the Of
the Barnum House by the judcous application the
rope continuous line Of houses nearly half mile In
length Of which have been built expense Of from
two to twenty thousand dollars each has been swept
away at a breath
1T useless attempt describe the amazing power and
rspdty Of the deyourng element It seemed though even
the appliances Of regularly fire department would
have been Of avail House after house quickly swept
away and before the people, who busy ahead fire.
tearing down in order TO its progress could
the wrecks Of the houses the devog element upon
them and rendered their labor useless Property 10 the
Of 81 900 has thus been in few hours extn-
guished
ave glad to find that Rev. Mr. Deals fine new Metho
dist Episcopal Church. which luckily built well up the
hill side together with the Wesleyan Chapel Of which
W. H. Long is pastor, among the few buildings saved"
Some Of the ookerson at the ravages Of the FIRE the
following day manifested desire TO Jump the lots
from which the houses burnt strong feeling Of
condemnation demonstrated through the commu-
nty and at three o'clock large assembage Of people
met on the plaza which organized by placing Samuel
n Dwinelle, Esq. in the chair The meeting then
addressed by John NJ Huntington, @. Y Martin James
", Conroth and Benjamin p Moore, Esqs and the fol-
loving amongst other resolutions passed against the
| Jumpers"
fred That attempt deprive those their
on Nhch heir consumed buildings
VIC eno OF the kind; that
species o. robbery and punder they
Inat heir hands are against
should against them therefore marx them and
inmate them ron our midst and
vicinity We hereby pledge will execute such nun
snmen upon MIN as hs conduct deserves viii never allow
| Of our just and natural rightsr - S
The San Francisco Herald" saws ed;tor;aIlv that %
terrible surmise has gained ground that the
at Sonora was the work Of evldisposed persons who
puposed taking possession Of the vacant lots the ERE
would leave, with the view Of digging for gold an onnion
being generally prevalent that rich pacers erst on the
space the town has occupied II is to be boped for the
honor of human nature fearful crime has not been
committed"