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

THh INSURANCE On THk GREAT HkPUBLIC.
BOSTON, Dec. 27, 1853.
The desuc of the Great Republic excitss considsra
BILE ympa atby here. From all we learn the bulk Of
tho insurance her falls New York ofHcss-only
about $40, 600 being insured in this city.
DESTRUCTION OF THE SHIP JOSEPH
WALKER.
This vessel set fire by sparks which waited
from the burning buildings In Front street. She took re
almost simultaneously with the Great Republic, and s
burned slmest to the watsrs edge The masts and
rigging destroyed In less than hour after the
vessel caught FIRE. The stem appears to have suffered
most and the whole after part is burned down almost
half way into the hull. Many attempts were made to
scuttls her while the rigging in flames, but the In
tense heat defeated every attempt to her. Strange
to say the stelaton, which lying at her bows
escaped without having single spar soorched The
Joseph Walker total wreck, and all her cargo is
destroyed. She . Liverpool packet ship, and was
owned by Messrs. Thompson and nephew. She was not
than two years old valued 1T about $780, 900,
and fully insured In the Atlantic Mercantile Mutual
New York, and other offices in this city
She was loading for Liverpool, and had taken board
about &c 600 bushels Ct grain 40 bales of cotton and
500 barrels rosin valsed altogether at about $42
making total loss, for vessel and cargo, of about
$l32 o00 Her register 450 tons and she was built
in 1850, by Mr.. w. q. Webb Of this CITY, for Msssrs
ThomI Nephews Black Star line Of Liverpool pack
cts in which she has been tra since she was launch
ed Her Hrst master the late Capt Wm Boxis, who
previously maAded the packet ship Caleb Grmshaw
the same line, which, 1t will be rscosctsd was burnt OF
Faysl attended with the loss OF many lives
THE SCENE IN BROOKLYN.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THH CLIPPHR SHIP WHITE
tQUALL-HER DRIFTING OVER THE Hast RIVER
SAFETY OF THE PACKET SHIP DE WITT CLINTON
About half past O'Clock yesterday morning the psops
of Brooklyn were reused frsm sleep BY tho mbined
noises Of hs fire bells and working members of the DIFF
ferent companies which prevailed upon the New York
h Of the river being added to the raging o! the
storm which blew with equal severity upon their own
shore as with US.
Upon running 10 the windows of their houses the in
habitsnts of the streets fronting upon the river bshed
sight not easily to be forgotten The flames bsziug upon
this eide Of the river had then STAINED such height
that the different fiery ships which ranged along the
wharves here appeared they were just lying under
the windows of the Dwellings in the neghborhood Of the
Fulton and Catherine ferries and Of those in Water street
upon the opposite shore
The bu 'nirg brands thrown from the Great Republic
had then set fre to the rigging OF the magnificent
clipper White squall, % she lay moored at pier No
n East river, since her return from California upon
she Goth inst Owing to the high wind which blew ct
moment, the flames spread her tracery Of masts
spars and rigging In incredibly short space OF e and
all became convinced that the only hope Of saving
preventing her adding to and extending the FIRE by
like calamity which befel herelf to cut her adrift
nd let her 60 before the wind This act was performed
by her mate Mr. Poole who had previously arrived on
board and she towsd into the stream BY Of
Fulton ferry boats.
Once freed from her lashng, the White squall was
take hv = asf;H
East river advising the astonshea people Of Brooklyn
that the calamity was about to approach their city.
The White Squal stood up the river and such
of flame that any attempt to soutte her
to be impossible - the falling, previously Of her rig
gpg and mainmast had set the entire hull fre from
aft toAer forward parts at least all the surface space
which Was above water. Her course Was anxiously
watched BY Thousands in Brooklyn and every prepara
ton was made by 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 with her side the
wooden wharf at the foot Of the extensive yard rear
the WORKS belonging to the Brooklyn Company which
situated between the foot Of Hudson avenue and the
Wallabout.
She immediately made fast to both ends Of the pier,
and hose pipe being laid from the engine house OF the
company, tremendous volume Of water thrown into
the existence OF another FIRE somewhere the Third dis
rict Of Brooklyn at this moment the nremsn OF that
part Of the city could rot attend for . considerable
space OF time In fact, until late period In the morning
wh' their exertions quite the preservs
ton Of the vessel.
The thick smoke which issued from the burning clip.
per- vAs carried the river close to the shore giving
appearance of many ships being fire at difersn
points.
As the White squAll in ballast and without cargo
except some tons Of "copper" che sent forth Dense thick
fsme until about half past ve O'Clock At this hour all
her bulwsrhs were burned away from the aft quarter up
to about six fset Of the forward part Of hull
seemed as IL protected by the heavy gale which WAS
hen blowing 10 the opposite direction, coming right
over the jib. Her jib BOOM with the ropes attached
to it, stood perfectly whole and sound but her mas ~
and everything else had long before crumbled into the
hold, leaving nothing standing excepting the bare and
naked stancheons ranging on either side AT
stream WAS stu kept up from the hose Of the gas
company but whom the ont clear it WAS svi.
dent that human aid could save her; and by nine
O'Clock, nothing remained Of the White Squal except
her shaking and crsahing hull, which was being
quicAly leveled to the waters edge Tho heat was 70
intense that her ooppers crumped up like brown
paper and thu water evaporating from her hold made
spray which extended half way the river, and
upon which the reflection Of the clear formed
feet rainbow, which presented very extraordinary sight
Frontier Hose Co. No. g. of Brooklyn arrived at half
AZ nina o,clook and IN With n viii