New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-07

we're greatly damaged by water.
The heaviest losers, (if they can be called
losers by an operation from which they derive
beneft) we believe to be, Parmele 8 Bros, who
are put down for not less than 1856, 900, entirely
covered by insurance in eight different Offices.
While we regard this fire as very great
calamity, we have reason to be thankful that
was not attended with q greater number OF
serious accidents and loss of life. Thus far we
believe only one man has lost his life--Wm,
Donnell, warehouseman of Dyas s. Co., who
fell through the third story hatchway of the
building and received mortal injuries. Mr..
John Prados, clerk of ]. NJ. Savage, Mr. Josiah
Converse and negro boy, were all seriously
injured by fall of brick from the walls Of the
store of Mr. Savage. The two former, it is
thought, cannot survive With the exception Of
few cases of sun-stroke, none of which termin-
ated fatally, these were the only accidents OF
note which occurred.
We are always happy to be able to bear wit
ness to the excellence and efficiency of our fire
department generally. On the present occa
sion no doubt every thing was done that men
could do, and when the means indispensable to
success were ultimately placed in their hands
their efficiency was demonstrated at once
With their usual readiness and resolution, they
endured fatigue firmly and met danger fear.
lessly, showing throughout the trying scenes Of
the day that good conduct and attention to duty
which have hitherto distinguished the fremen
of New Orleans and placed them above those of
many other cities.
We regret to record single exception to this
general coed behavior, and we believe it was
the only one. During the height Of the con
migration, several members of company 6, the
strongest in numbers of any in the city, at
tackled man belonging to company IL, and
beat him most brutal and shocking manner,
| knocking him down with hrickbats and kicking
l and stamping him with murderous ferocity
This we understood afterwards resulted in a
/ general fight between the two companies. Such
| an occurrence is much to be regretted. 1t is q
bad precedent, and seems entirely inconsistent
with the good character our fremen have always
| borne, that, at moment when destruction
| threatens to oversweep large portion Of the
city, AMI the strength Of every arm is needed tt
Po5'
of duty and engage in petty brawls, having
their origin perhaps in nothing better than pre-
| judices of creed or race. We earnestly hope
\ that such scenes will not be often repeated il
New Orleans
That the great extent of this confagratior
| is mainly attributable to the extraordinary de-
fciency in the supply Of water there can b,
no doubt. The Superintendent Of Water Work.
INFORMS US that from an early hour of the day
the fre-plugs in q large portion of the FRS
District were open, and that in consequence tn
locality of the fire was deprived of the neces
sary quantity Not long ago an ordinance wa
passed expressly declaring that whenever al
alarm of fire shall occur the scavengers o.
street cleaners shall close all fre-plugs; but i
seems they seldom pay any attention to this
and in the present case had disregarded i
altogether There will be, the Superintendent
states an ample supply whenever this regula
ton is observed On this occasion, while th
flames were spreading more rapidly and fercel.
in every direction, it was found necessary t
dispatch men on horseback to close the plugs
and then await the tardy process Of accumula
ton
We believe that under the circumstances n
blame can attach to the Water Works Company
but we think that steps should be taken to pre-
vent the possibility of recurrence Of an atfai
like this. The city should, if possible, obta
absolute control of the Water Works and ex
pend the money necessary to insure our citizen
against such sweeping destruction of property
With the Mississippi on one hand and its water
flowing through our streets to immense marshe
on the others, it is rather hard if we can't &c
water enough to extinguish our fires