The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-24
Details OF News brought by the steamer United
States.

FROM CALIFORNIA.
Our San Francisco papers are to the 2sth OF June len
days later than those brought by the Illinois.
GREAT FIRE AT SoSoRA-The prominent event record
ed in the journals is another destructive FIRE. which de.
suoyed great portion OF the city Of Sonora on the 18th
OF June. The Herald published in that place. says
The calamity that has been so long feared has at
length come upon Us. Sonora, the chief city OF the
southern mines, which has for so long time enjoyed
immunity while conilagIaon raging all over the
country, is al length laid IN ruins There no need to
parucularize, 10 give details in regard TO all who
burnt out and who are not-all, all is gone
The IRE commenced yesterday morning, little after
one o'clock IL broke out in the building on the Plaza
called the Hotel de France occupied BY Nine: Land
| reau, aud facing up Washington street From thence IL
spread an souhefly direction until il had swept Oh
every building that had any connexion with its neigh
bors including the whole oil the centre block, and both
sides OF East and West Washington streets. The Ma
sonic Hall, the last building East Washington, was
entirely Quilted the adobe walls alone remaining BY the
mot unliring efforts of Mr. John Rinedolar and his
friends me hre was stopped al his house, which was
probably the reason why Dr. Gums house. in which our
Office is situated, happened TO be saved.
Had il stopped here might not have much to
complain. But the whole northern end of the city, from
the place OF commencement up 10 the Barnum House.
Main street. has been consumed. The wind soon took
turn TO the norhward, and the fire spread rapidly from
house TO house. Great efforts were made by the citizens
TO stop the flames, but all We're unavaing The inam-
mabe nature OF the material, dried up thoroughly it
has been by months continued hot weather, combined
/
| elect any substantial good.
The consequence has been that the whole city has
been consumed with the exception OF few scattered
buildings the outskirts, together with great portion
OF The suburb OF Sonorta the fire having been stopped
in The ghborhood OF the Barnum House by the judi
cions application OF the and rope A continuous line
| OF houses OF nearly hall mile in length many OF
which have been built at an expense OF from two to
twenty thousand dollars EACH has thus been swept away
at a breath.
Ii is useless to attempt describe the amazing power
and Iapidiy OF the deyouring element. II seemed as
though even the appliances of regularly organized fire
department would have been OF no avail House after
house was quickly swept away, and before the people
who were busy ahead OF the fire, tearing down in order
arrest ,s progress could clear away the wrecks n Of the
dered their labor useless. Property 10 the amount OF
81 900 has probably thus been in few hours extn
We are glad to find that Rev. Mr. Deals fine new
Methodist Episcopal church, which, luckily, was built
well up on the hillside, together with the Wesleyan
chapel, of which the Rev w. H. Long is pastor, are
among the few buildings saved.
/ On visiting the charred ruins this morning, saw
the more than hall consumed remains OF one human
body lying in the house where the fire originated 1t
was most horrid spectacle, and really peous 10
look upon.
! The following more particular account we copy from
letter in the San Francisco Herald, dated Sonora June
IS:
This morning at about haf-pa one o'clock we were
startled by the cry OF fire. which issuing from the
bar room of the Hotel de France, kept by Mons Lam
dreau at the southern end OF the of buildings in the
i
enveoped 10 hame and In moment more the entire block
was in blaze
| The last building in the range was large and commo-
dous, two stories high, the lower part occupied as
courtroom and an office for the county clerk. The
records had scarcely been taken out before the building
fell with crash and scattered in every vicinity sheets
OF fame and combustibe matter. The fire thus CON
muncaed 10 both sides OF the Plaza and went raging
in its work OF devastation.
| The Masonic Hall, an elegantly constructed adobe
building, next fell prey 10 the fames and in instant
completely Quilted, leaving nothing but bare walls
remaining This probably the handsomest structure
in S Sonora, and cos, the society over $1,000.
Mayor Dodgers premises, followed si,cr on the rgh:
side of the Plaza while on the left the flames went
sweeping on, like huge serpent, licking and Kissing
taking he large mercantile house Of Thea1, Perkins &
CO. bath house. drug store, the Eagle, and the Eureka,
In their train.
The Ell Dorado and Empire, both FIRE proof buildings
Pumps confectionery, the Republican, &C., clear 10
Adams & Co.'S Express, shared The fate. The
large gambling saloon, the Long Tom Hoden's Hotel
all the banking houses in town, MINERS, Todds
Adams's, Taney's, and Hammonds swept away like
chat before the wind, and still on, rolled the crack
ling flames. The Gem, Polka Lone Star, United States
Hotel, Exchange, Town House, Nc next fed the wrath
OF the nre -fend
At FIVE O'Clock the progress OF the FIRE checked in
the lower part OF the city, in building called the Bar
nun House. Daylight told us the damage OF the
night Before us lay the city OF Sonora OF char
coal and smoulderng RUNS, while around us the hills
were ienanied by the houseess and homeless-bere
gathering taered remnant OF clothing and there group
despondng and weeping over the wreck oil their earthly
all
The city from the Philadelphia Restaurant to The Bar
mum House distance OF full three fourths of a mile
| has been almost entirely swept away. On Main
Washington street not single building remsBs Capt
Alopzo Green is the heaviest loser by this fire So far
he has aseenained loss OF $4,000 Theal, Perkins
| g. Co, S35yJp0 and Lnoberg, $4,000.
But the most heart rendng calamity is the death OF
Francois Moiere. He persisted in the flames, and this
morning his bones were gathered from the RUNS and de-
Gently inferred II is supposed by many that this unfor-
tunate young man caused the fire, by reading in bed
with a candle, and falling asleep, the flame was commu-
ncaed to the bed clothing Other out which
have tendency toward incendarism, and Others still
have rumos that the fatal match gned by the i'm.
prudence of lady.
No previous fire in California has so despoled The fair
face OF city this has Sonora. We all burnt up
no vesges remain but few wooden houses and Tents
II would be impossible TO give full list oil the sufferers
The streets almost impossible, and it is hard 10 get
the sum each individual loses.
THE OVERLAND IMMIGRATION.
The relief train, with supplies for The overland mmi-
grants, left Sacramento the 25th of June 1t consisted
visions and other necessares each drawn by four mules
The train was divided into two observation-disclosures to
proceed TO poiLt seventy miles beyond the sink OF Ma
rvs river, Humboldt, by way OF Jamisons creek and
Tuckee river the other TO Carson rve by way of Car
son valley The instructions OF Governor Biger direct
the establishment of depos the roule and that all
slstance within the means OF the expedition shall be
tended TO the immigrants.
| The Sacramento State Journal says:
| Officer William Mace, who went ia pursuit OF Heth-
efy, the OF Solomon Sharp, returned to this
city from Carson Valley Thursday night which place
he left las, Sunday. Upon his arrival there, Hethery
had left the trail toward Salt Lake five DAYS