The Nevada journal., 1852-11-12
NEVADA JOURNAL.
The Fire n. Sacrnn,ento.

n Of the fire, and incidents connect
with it. The Union is issued on
,lscap sheet, printed on one side, to
increased in two days TO its former
be. This energy and pei severance
spite O. such severe losses, is most
.mirabl-. The Union has been for
70 years past one of the most relia-
G and sterling papers in California,
nd we hail its re-appearance with
uch pleasure.
We gave yesterday short account
the effects of the fire upon our beau
ful city. To-day we give one more
xtcndcd: but our limited space forces
5 to compress our statement into as
mall a compass as possible. The sim
lie facts. however, could they be pre-
ented, would be sufficiently appalling.
pn Tuesday last Sacramento was ci-
b; Wednesday morning her citizens
Fcrc looking at the place she once oc-
upied.
At the time the fire broke out it
|ccmed rs if the elements had con-
tpircd for the destruction of the city.
A norther had just set in ard was
blowing stiff breeze from the north
|west, which, after the fire commenced,
Increased almost to gale. The point
where the fire started, too,was the very
Pne for sweeping the city, and before
IT had been burning five minutes it be-
came evident that Sacramento was
doomed to destruction. The fire COM
panies were promptly on the spot; but
in the face of such wind and sea OF
fire, it was seen by all that they were
powerless. They exhausted the wa
ter within reach, but produced not one
particle of effect on the fire. 1t had
obtained the master of man, and his
puny arm was as little felt by the ra.
ging flames as it would have been if
directed against an ocean tempest.
Men gathered in crowds--somc look
ing on the waves of fire as they rolled
from house TO house, and street to
street, bewidered, fascinated and ap-
parent'y paralized at tho terrible work
of destruction going on before them;
while others were fastening to save
their goods and effects, before the fire
should reach them.
Then commenced scene on the
streets which bcggars all description !;
men, women and children were seen
desperately engaged in efforts to save
something from the jaws ofthe devour-
ing element. But in most instances
their efforts were fruitless, and hun
dreds who retired on Tuesday night
with the consciousness of having plenty
of the comforts Of life around them,
were standing the next morning on
the place where Sacramento was,
without q dollar in their pockets, and
with only the clothes they had on. II
was an awful night, and God gran,
that we may never be called upon to
witness another such.
In the history of past fires, we re-
member none so destructive. 1t swept
away in three hours fully seven-eights
of the city, including every public
building, except the Presbyterian
Church and Court House.
Commencing at the Levee on ST.,
up that street to Ninth: down front to
O street, and southeast in the direction
the wind was blowing, so long as a
building was found to burn, but five or
six houses are left standing. Between
land j streets the most of eight
blocks; between X and j., as far as
built up, nine blocks, and several
blocks below L street, and between
Third street and the Leyec, are inclu-
ded in the burnt district. Acres,
which on Tuesday last were covered
with buildings and busy throng of
population, are now covered with cin-
ders. coal, ashes, the remains of goods
half consumed, with here and there an
ancient California oak intercepted.
The destruction of goods has been
very heavy; the amount, as near as
can he ascertained, we publish in an
other column. But there are hum
dreds who have lost their little all, from
whom the public will never hear. Had
the families of one half of the business
men been in the city, we hardly know
what could have been done with them.
As il s,thousands are left houselcss and
homeless, and for two nights past have
slept under the widecanopy of heaven,
many Of them without knowing where
they were to obtain bread to eat in the
morning. Goods, furniture, &c, are
scattered all over that portion of the
city north off street, and on the Levee,