Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-15
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN SAVANNAH

On Sunday morning. between two and three
O'Clock, fire was discovered in Mr.. Lamars Cot
ton Sheds, at the Eastern Wharves, which de-
stroyed large amount of cotton, together with
the sheds and valuable cotton presses of the estab-
llshment. The Waterman of the yard states that
the fire first broke out among few bales of cotton
near the eng inc house, which he attempted to ex-
tinguish, but rapid were the flames 1.-THE wind
blowing fresh from the South, that in the space
Of thirty minutes the whole amount of cotton un-
der the sheds was in blaze. The fire burned
with rapidity which we have never before seen
equalled, and at time the scene was truly
imposing. The vessels lying below the press
were warped from the wharf, and their crews
were distributed over their decks, in order to ex-
tinguish any fire which might be blown on board.
The hremen with their engines were soon in ac-
tive service, but their efforts were of no avail
against the of fire which poured from under
the sheds containing the burning cotton, and thei1
| principal exertions were directed with view tc
save the hydraulic press adjoining on the East
and the shipping lying in front of the press OF
| fire.
| Two vessels, the Jane Hammond and the Isa
| bella, were lying Immediately in front of the
burning buildings, and i'll consequence of the state
OF the tide, which was running out at the time
1t was found impossible to remove them from
danger, and they got aground a short distance
from the wharf. The former suffered consdera-
Bile damage in her rigging and masts, but the lat.
ter escaped with slight injury.
Mr. Lamar's cotton sheds and presses were
built OF the best material and in the most sub
stantlal manner, and we were told were valued
! at $4,000. They were entirely destroyed, to-
| gether with from four to five thousand bales Of
cotton which were in the yard and under the
sheds We regret to learn that Mr.. Lamar has
but slight insurance on his property, said to be
but $4,000, in an office in New York.
Among other articles of value consumed we
learn that one of Francis Life Surf Boats, measu-
ring 80 feet by 5 feet, which was sent out by the
Government for service on this coast, and which
| was placed under the sheds of Mr.. Iamar's cotton
| press was lost.
DAMAGE TO SHIPPING BY THE FIRE.-In pre-
pairing the hurried account of the fire for our
evening edition, which appears on our first
| page, we were not in possession of all the facts
showing the extent of the damage sustained by
the shipping in the vicinity Of the disaster. In
taking survey of the ruins late yesterday af-
ternoon, we ascerta ned that the British bark
Jane Hammond OF Glasgow, which was lying
at the wharf, at Mr.. Lamar's press, loading for
Liverpool, had on board 1900 bales of cotton
l25 of which is Sea Island. Her rigging and
masts were entirely destroyed, and although an
immense quantity of water was thrown on her
decks and into her hold, the fire reached her ca
bin and other portions of the vessel, injuring her
to such an extent that she will be a total loss.-
The fire was finally extinguished at a late hour
last night, when a flat was taken to her, and
portion of her cotton discharged, which was
found uninjured, except slightly damaged by the
water, which, however, could not have pene-
trated the cotton, as the bales were compressed.
The Jane Hammond is owned in GLASGOW by
Mr.. Alexander Scott, and is about eight years
old
The ship Isabella, of Baltimore has 1000 bales
OF cotton on board, which sustained no damage,
except that which was accustomed by the water.
Savannah Morning Neaos