Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-30
6eneraI 5ntelligenfe.


ticulars.--We take from the New York papers
some additional details Of the great fire in that city
on Monday night. The Herald says;
Last night about twelve o'clock, the five story
building No. 24 Front street, occupied by Mr..
Treadwell as ship biscuit bakery, was discovered
10 be on fire by one ofthe insurance watch, named
John Wilsey. His attention was first attracted TO
the building by the bright light which issued from
the basement and which could be distinctly seen
through The windows. AT first he thought that il
was caused by the lighting up OF the fires under
the ovens, but closer inspection he found that
the whole lower part Of the premises on fire.
and that the flames were rapidly communicating
i with the upper floors. lie gave the alarm imme-
diatey, and in the course of half an hour or less,
there were three four fire companies the
ground. The flames, however, had gained so
much Roadway that their utmost exertons were
Intellectual in saving the building from destruction
The high wind which prevailed at the time gave
increased strength to the hames which extended
to the flour stores of Mr. Mancodren and Messrs.
Jones, Rowland Il Co., both Of which were COM
pletey destroyed.
The sparks and burning fragments from the
ruins were carried down to the shipping by the
wind setting fire TO the Great Republic the Joseph
X. Walker and the White Squall, all OF which are
/ completely destroyed, or 40 badly Damaged that
they cannot be repaired. The Great Republic,
whose ruined hull is lying in the dock al the foot
| of Dover street, was the first that caught fire.
spark waited from the burning buildings in Front
street. fell upon Of the furled sails OF the fore
mast, instantly setting fire 10 the rigging. Every
exertion was made to save the noble vessel The
Sailors apparently regardless of their lives, rushed
1 up the ladders and did all that men could do, but
the nfammable nature Of the materials, rendered
all their efforts utterly useless The foremost fell
with terrible crash threatening the lives OF some
/ fremen and others who were standing on the side
/ Of the vessel. The mainmast shortly afterwards
! went by the board and the mzenmast fell across
the pier into the dock, striking small boat, which
| il capsized, knocking the occupants, four men,
into the water. All Of them escaped with bath
| of cold water ,sstst#
The burning brands thrown from the Great Re-
public had then set fire TO the rigging of the mag
/ nifcent San Francisco clipper White Squal, as
she lay moored pier No. 81 East river, since her
return from California, upon the Goth inst. Owing
| to the high wind which blew at the time, the
flames spread over her tracery of masts spars. and
| rigging in an incredibly short space of time and
/ all became convinced that the only hope of saving
her, or preventing her adding to and extending the
| fire by the like calamity which befel herself, was
/ 10 cut her adrft and let her go before the wind.
| This act was performed by her mate, Mr. Poole,
| who had previously arrived on board.
Once freed from her lashng, the White Squall
! was taken out by stiff Northwestern. and went
/ clean into the East river advising the astonished
| people of Brooklyn that the calamity about 10
| approach their city.
The White Squall stood up the river, and was
soon such mass of flame that any attempt TO
scuttle her was found to be impossible, as the fall
| Ing, previously, OF ner anu IndiHluast hdu
set the entire hull fire from aft 10 her forward
| parts al least all the space above water.
| Her course was anxiously watched by thousands
| in Brooklyn, and every preparation was made ny
| them to help her when she would touch land.
This did not occur until half past three O'Clock
in the morning, at which time she came with her
side 10 the wooden wharf at the foot of the extern
4 sve yard in rear of the works belonging TO the
i Brooklyn Gas Company, which are situate be-
tween the foot of Hudson avenue and the Walla-
/ bout.
| She was Immediately made fast to either end OF
the pier, and hose pipe being laid from the en-
CINE house of The company, a tremendous volume
of water was thrown into and upon her, but still
j with very little effect. The thick smoke which
issued from this ship was carried up the river
close TO the shore, giving the appearances OF many
ships being fire at different points.
As the White Squall was in ballast and without
cargo, she sent forth dense, thick penetrating
i smoke from her timbers, but not very clear
fame until about half past five o'clock, when the
sun was about TO peep out. At this hour all her
! bulwarks were burned away from the aft part, up
to about six feet Of the forward part OF the hull,
which seemed as if Frustrated by the heavy gale
which was then blowing in the opposite direction.
Her jib-boom, with the ropes attached to it, stood
| perfectly whole and sound, but her spanker boom,
masts, and everything else, had long before crum-
bled into the hold, leaving nothing standing ex-
| ceptng the bare and naked stancheons ranging
on the either side aft
A stream was still kept up from the hose OF the
gas company, but by nine o'clock nothing
NAMED Of the White Squat except her shaking
and creaking hull, which was being quickly level
| ed TO the waters edge. The heat was so intense.
that her coppers were crumbled up like brown
| paper and the water evaporating from her hold
made a spray which extended half way across the
river and upon the reflection OF the clear sun,
formed perfect rainbow, which presented a very
extraordinary sight.
The Journal Of Commerce says the three ships
/ were insured as follows:
Great Republic. ............ $30O000
/ White Squall.. .................... lOOoOO
| Joseph Walker. oo,oOo
/ Cargo OF ditto. ................. 4ouoo
| The cargo Of the Great Republic was valued at
\ three hundred thousand dollars
Add to this the cargo OF the Joseph Walker and
the stores burned, and the total loss must border
hard OH one million fire hundred thousand dollars
The Courier gives the following description OF
the scene presented by the burning ships.
The sails of the Great Republic were " bent"
that is, attached 10 the yards, and in these, some
of the burning cnders lodged and the great height
of the masts rendered it impossible to guench the
fire. which the action of the wind soon famed into
a blaze. Following the tarred cordage, the fire
i spread with almest inconceivable rapidlty and
darling along shrouds and stays, and hallards,
i flashed from top 10 truck until the spars, yards,
and rigging stood out amid the surrounding dark
ness, like lines of light. AS the "gasketts" by
which the furled sails are secured We're burned,
the immense sheets Of canvass spread themselves
| as II by magic, ana HdppiHS heasIy III ing Baie'
scattered the burning canvass before the wind
4 And now the gallant firemen began the attack (;
engine and hose, and pipes were piled with stall
wart arms. The Great Republic, tho pride OF the
country mast be saved, seemed to be the feeling
which animated every man. But in vain did the
fremen toll, in vain the Croton poured forth its
torrents the flames confined TO assert their claim
TO the doomed vessel ~
At four o'clock the scene was terrifcally grand
from our point Of view. The Republic and Walker
belched vast volumes Of flame, which lighted up
the surface Of the water, the fierce wind driving
myrads of ire-aakes 10 the eastward. Scores Of
small boats which had been cast adrt were float
ing helplessy about. The steamboats, near Peck
slip had steam up, ready to make their escape,
should the danger seem more imminent. Three
or four ferry boats, appearing in the CHASTITY light
like floating castles, kept as near the scene as
safety permitted, TO render what assistance they
could. From time to time small bright blaze
could be seen at the head of some schooners
mast but this signal of danger was quickly heed
| ed and the cause extinguishsd.