Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-17
THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

A more signal calamity has never fallen upon n
private business house than the terrible connagra-
tion Of Saturday, by which the extensive publish
ing establishment Of Messrs HARPER e BROTHERS
was within shert space Of two hours, converted
into heap Of smOdcring ruins The fire was
terrific in its rapdty. The alarm was scarcely
given, before the whole interior Of the buildings
was cnyelOped in flames. Ii was at once seen that
there was no hope Of quelling its fierce ravages.
Fed with combustible materials every, side, il
soon roared and ragged with volcanic fury. There
was scarcely time for the occupants of the vast
building to escape with their lives. Fortunately
ont of the six hundred and fifty employees within
its walls, some four hundred had not returned from
dinner, those who remained being chiefly the young
women employed in the press-rooms and bindery
Thanks to the daring efforts Of the ircmen whose
first efforts were directed to saving life these were
to learn that one oithe number was 50 much iniur
ed that she died on the way TO the IIOsnital
The vast property on Franklin-square and Ciif.st
We understand, amounted to nearly 80 600 600
including the buildings printing apparatus sterco-
| type plates, and the large stock of publications
issued by Harper & Brothers. Of this the stereo-
| type plates which were kept in under ground
vaults, are all which have escaped destruction The
total loss, ut moderate estimate, cannot be less
than 81 100000, Of which only 100000, as we
learn, was covered by insurance. The high pre-
MUM charged on risks Of this character was no
mon with some other eminent capitalists to be come
to II great extent, their own insurers. We are
glad % be able to state that the safes containing the
accOunt-bOoks and other valuable papers of the
establishment were secured Mt an early stage Of the
conilagration by the courageous enterprise of the
iremen.
Tho destruction Of important works of literature
and science, occasioned 10y this catastrophe is ex-
tcnsiye and disastrous in the extreme. For the last
six months, the publications issued by IIarper e
Brothers, were of more interesting and valuable
character than the usual average of their editions
The marvellous success of their Magazine had not
in any degree checked or weakened their enterprise
in the preparation Of more permanent works, both
original and reprints. These are all swept away
before the relentless element. The plates however
are preserved and we trust, will speedily furnish
the public with new editions of the books the loss
Of which would be a damage to literature.
Of the works going through the press at the time
OF the disaster, we are compelled to give difcren
account For the most part, these are rrecoverabl,
lost. The hopes of both author and publisher il
regard to them are destroyed at zone fell swOop
Among these, the Magazine for January tho
last sheets of which were on the press, when the
fire broke out We are informed that this was
number, on which unusual care had been expended
containing n large proportion of original articles OF
uncommon brilliancy, and embellishcd with even
more than the usual variety of expensive engray.
ings. OF this not only the printed Sheets but the
proofs, manuscripts Of the authors and other
copy" are clean swept away, so that the number
will have to be prepared from the beginning entirely
anew. But with our knowledge of the energy Of
the publishers, and their cherished wishes to meet
the demands of the public, we may venture to be.
eve that another January number will not fall fai
behind the close Of the three weeks which remain
for its preparation.
Among the editions, of which we fear the create,
part has been lost is the account Of The United
States Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir Juhr
Franklin" by DR.. KANE, large octave, and II worl
ef exceeding interest. Some copies however, We
know are preserved, that the author is not doom
ed to the uphill work Of supplying its place by
new composition Tribune.