New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-13
THE GREAT FIRE AT NEW-ORLEANt-
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY e

II commenced board the steamboat Chsi's pelcao,
Cent Carlisle at about o'clock, and ceased only WIN
the destruction of property amounting TO something IKE
million of dollars Six steamboats, and large tfeisn'
barge with their eargoes were all detroyea an We -.
eret 10 add hatt the loss OF life cannot De ''
than thirty five or forty, mostly egroes. 80 N,
The FIRE broke out toward the stern OF the Charles Bel
cher ard spread with amazing rapldry Az tne nour
which occurred all board except the watchman were
aseep As the boat had arrived in the night rom Nasn
Vile her had not yet left her hence tue uno
tun ate destruction OF life. Or the white passengers 1t
knogu that several loss-how 1iaRy cannot at the
preseut time be ascerained On the deck, in the after
pert end consequently behind the great portion OF The
heeLt were tits said over thirty negroes-men women
and children and it is not known that any OF them
eseoped The cargo of the Charles Becher consisted OF
eco bales of cotton and 200 hogsheads OF TOBACCO oschcr
wit large lot of pork. &c aud everything was lost "h
the exception Of few of the books and valuable papers
which were saved by the clerk. Mrs. Carlisle, the cap
to,,'s wife had n narrow escape She was lying sick in
her room when the fire broke out but the excitement
of the aroused her that she eapod with her cd
from the hurricane deck into the water and was foru
Ore of The passengers of the Belchor who said that his
mother end sister destroyed became frantic ana
after the sunk he rushed on board ot one OF t'
other burning boats and about to leap into the ino'
when he was by force nted lie thea drew knife
and stabbed himself in the region OF the let declaring
that lie had nothing further TO live for IhG wound Is
expected will prove fatal The poor man, oeeing pro
fusely was borne away in cab to the Chefuy Hospital
there 10 or die.
From lie Charles Beohor the flames extended 70 the
steamers MohcGn, Capt Irwin, and the Netchez, Cspt
Leaihers ard in very short time both Of those boats
were manted from end TO end with destructive "roah
The Natcbez was fine boat which arrived on Err
day from Grand Gulfwith cargo OF 5000 bales of cotton
Of which $500 "a be ard On this boat there was
Ices of life as well as OF property Two OF no chamoor
maids two deck hands and pastry cook arc missing
aud he ceIk lost hi little son aud no less than ok
no-rCef.
The Nohcsn was laden with valuable cargo foriho
Tennessee River and would have been ready to eayein
few hours. She entirely destroyed, but tue vas oil
all on board were saved.
As soon az il was discovered that the fire spreading
nj mo xcite on
dous Engine after engine arriving on tho ground
and people in thousands were congegatng 20 "ihcss
sig 1t too cafuly sublime Lard, oil and inhan,naOie IL
Guors spread the surface o the water adhered 10 par
tces Of half buried cotton, and thus little Islands OF
FIRE borne along with the swift stream ny these means
was at one time feared that the whole fleet OF seamooas
at the ovce would be inyOly in common destruction
The freight the wharyes cotton bales, baggng bacon
and hearod up sacks Of corn burned ecey bat no one
needed them for what they compared with the great
or destruction which was going on mother quarters
In order prevent far possible the spread OF tho
fames down stream steam hastily got up ON board ot
the Suena Crescent City, and they wero backed out
into the river leaving space of about 100 feet between
the burning boats and the Grand lark.
Besides the boats already mentioned the Ian Iunn,.
the Crescent and the Saxon were destroyed WIN all on
board eether with large barge which had been .owod
down from Louisville by the Sultana
TWAS with great difficulty that the Grand Turk was
saved the after portion of her upper works being quite
charred The chimneys OF one Of the boats which wa,
des1o d fell the stern Of the Grand Turk ami cshed
in portion Of the hurricane deck The Suaua was also
on GIe before she backed ont into the stream but The dan
age done TO her was iuconsideiable.
Since wiring the above we have been informed that the
fire originated by the attempt of one s'eaer 10 force
her wey among the closely packed boats which had pro
viously lined the wharves This boat had orcnes IN her
bow oId the sparks from these torches SET fire to pile OF
pine wood which heapod mp in the stern OF tho Beica
er We are also informed that most of the negroes who
board Of the Becher have since been found ana
that indeed but of them IL missing They had strayed
away after escaping from the burning boat andcoud not
be discovered when first endeayored 30 ascertain the
particulars OF the disaster
cler .ntf The a
books and papers belonging the boat and he was GO
Ing down the stairway with them he struck by heavy
package and knocked Gown and when he recovered him
Sell he barely succeeded in escaping with bis lie and 10"
papers which he gathered up as he arose
We append list of the boats lost with their Vaae anu
the amount of insurance on each, Nc; o.
The Saxon, Capt Kercbeval was to have lelt ior 81
Louis this evening She valued at ess 900 owned
by Frank johnson and j. C. Shannon OF this city insured
in Louisville for sl44OO Her cargo, principally dry
goods, valued at $4,000. 90
The Charles Becher $4,000 insured ia 81 Louis
for 10000; owned by Cutter Valentine OF 81 LouH
TIE Crer.enf Capt Young was leavs this afternoon
for St Louis. Value $4,000 insured IN encnnan io,
$4,000 owned by the captain Her cargo wos valued
The new Natchez, packet Capt. Lesthors valued at
$4,000 insured in Louisville and Cincinnati for $4,000
owned by Capt Leaders and r. C. Rolmes of this city
-Four negroes belonging to the captain were lost together
with tie and James Leahers. the captains brother
Tie Lish Tuna, Capt Hsygood ownedby Hewitt Rowe
& Co. Of st Louis. andtho captain Worth $4,000. In
II.
TIE Mohican, Capt Irwin, owned on Tennessee River
valued at 100000 No insurance Cargo, PORK and gro
ceres, velucd at $4,000.
1he bark Tyanhoe, owned by Smith and Shotwel of
L lle-cargo consisting Of up country produce was
insured in Louisville for $4,000
1t will be seen that none OF the beats were insured in
this city.
THE GRfAr FIRE YEsTERDAr.-Since accom-. OF
tie great coIhaation Of yesterday morning which
gave in ouriast evenings edition. We have gathered the
following corrections and additional particulars Ore of
the difficult inquiries to be answered is In regard 10
the loss Of life There thousand floating
about but few of them be traced " any reliable
source:
Jrmes Leathers the brother Of Capt Leathers Of the
NaioLez il not to be found and it Is feared that hs was
burned up on board of that boat
The mate OF the Natchez Is said 10 be missing.
Tie chsnibeimeid her child aud the pastry cook, bs.
longing board Of the thez are laid to be lost
One white seized by the hair, while in tire water
BY Iersonsin boat They let 90 their hold and the
was seen 10 sink
several Of them escaping in their night clothes. There
large quantity of freight and country produce on
the wharf near tho burning boats. Some OF i. re.
moved to safe place, much Of damaged stolen an
resting hundred persons who found ia the act
OF committing larcenes The Chief of Police hired
eIa avs, which lie manned with officers and sent into
the stream 10 check the thieves, who in boats pick
ing up valuable properly large nutnber OF franks and
glelt qu0nilty Of half burnt goods were taken from
thieves AID deposited in the police Office.
Tie following il Capt Cares statement relative 10 the
oriell Of tie Ere:
1Ee Charlie Belcher which l. ono Of the largest boa.
ou the Eyer arrived from Nashville at O'Clock on Sri
cay evening 1Ae passengers about fifty ia numbsr re-
NAMED on bouId 10 sleep The CAPTAIN and Mrs Caiilo
WIN al miami child retired TO rest in the Captains room
On lie hurricane deck, about 10 O'Clock A; about 4
O'CLOCK hey we're awakened by an alarm of fire. which