The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-28

i
upon the ignition Of the first spark. The only
moderating power is the temperate frnness of
the authorities, the judicous forbearance of the
American press, and American common sense,
uninfuenced by ecclesiastical rulers or fanati-
cism on either side.
THE GREAT FIRE OF YEsTERDAY-THE GREAT
REPUBLIC IN RuINs.-The fire which broke out in
Front street vest rday morning, and which ex-
tended to the shipping in the East river, was pc
| culiarly disastrous confagration. In pecuniary
point Of view the loss was very large; but this
is only secondary to the greater loss to the
| American mercantile marine in the destruction
| of the ship Great Republic. During the last two
| or three weeks this immense vessel has been the
| cynosure of all eyes. The ladies' even, have
| struggled through the quagmire at the foot Of
| Roosevelt street and the sloughs of despond all
along Front street. in order to look at the
largest and the most beautiful ship in the world
Her enterprising builder will have the sincere
| sympathies of the whole community, and
we, in common with many others, deeply
I regret that his experiment was destined to be
comparative failure, at least for the present He
intended to demonstrate his belief that vessel
might be constructed to carry twice as much
freight as our largest clippers, and be at the
same time swifter, safer and more comfortable
for passengers, The people who lead that school
of philosophers which believe that nothing can
be done because it has not been accomplished
previously, said that this idea was absurd-that
the Great Republic would be broken between
two seas-that steering-way could not be got
upon her-that she never would pay the inte-
rest on the money invested. and great many
other things which we cannot remember, and it
would be Of little consequence to repeat them.
The people did not believe them-their national
pride was awakened by the ship which seemed
to have the bulk and grandeur of the Colossus
with the lghtness and grace Of the Venus of
Praxiteles. Our readers out Of New York
will have some idea of the rush to see
this ship when we state that nearly six
thousand dollars were received from visitors
who paid one shilling each for the privilege of
boarding her. Ten times as many saw her
without money and without price,"
The Great Republic was loaded with the
largest cargo ever carried by any vessel. She
Australia. Another important feature relative
to this ship was the fact that she took out fifty
apprentice boys. being the commencement of
system of educating youth for our mercantile
marine No pursuit has so much charm for the
youthful mind as that of sailor, and the ad-
venturous spirit Of the Anglo-Saxon character
strengthens this inclination The path to pro-
;,,% 6o i1o 10 nd
the heart of the youthful sailor beats with am
bition as he looks forward to the reward of his
toll. For these reasons, we hailed with pleasure
this germ of the apprentice system--we say
apprentice SYSTEM because good able
seamen'' mast be acquainted with the princi-
pies of two or three trades.
All this was, yesterday; to-day it is no more
The beautiful ship is shapeless wreck-her
cargo Switzerland the whole city seems to
mourn over national calamity. But the
builder of the ship will not, we think, be dis
couraged by this blow. Another Great Re-
public" will grow to the same size and beauty,
under his hands, and if he be only moderately
successful in his plans, the people Of this great
republic will rise up to honor him.
SeVeral OtHef HHe SHIPS WcTe uestloyeu VI
grievously damaged, and it would seem that
such calamity as this would point out to our
merchants and others the Importance Of some
new regulations as to our shipping. This fire
broke out in Front street, and from thence ex-
tended to the rigging Of the vessels. Very |
often in the streets bordering on the |
rivers the flying jibbooms of the vessels
lying in the docks extend to the houses
on the other side of the street, and in walking |
up South street you are sheltered by a perfect |
bridge of bowsprits. The vessels lie so closely
together that they cannot be cut adrift I'M
til the fire has reached them, and often not
then. There should be some better regulation,
and at once. As the shipping lies at present,
fire might sweep half of it away before the
fremen could interpose an efficient check
against its operations.
The number of destructive fires, both in this
city and throughout the country, during the
past few months, has been very large, and the
new years summing up will, we think, show a
greater aggregate amount Of loss than any
preceding year since 1912. In many of these
little prudence--a very little care-would
have preserved millions of property, and, in
some cases. severe injuries to life and limb
H. ~y.~