The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-16
Great Conaagration In 81. Louis.
THE STEAMERS PARTHENIA, PRAIRIE CITY AND
TWIN CITY BURNED-ovER Sl00,0 900 WORTH or


PROPERTY DEsToYED.
From the ST.. Louis Intelligencer, Dec. 81
Between four ard two O'Clock yesterday evening smoke
was discovered issuing from the hold OF tbs steamer
Parthena lying AZ the whsrf the foot Of Chestnut
street. and In few minutes the flames burst through
the deck just the boilers An alarm
was given by the ringing Of all the bells Of boats
At the wharf, and in remarkably brief space the
engines were on the ground and energece remen
ing al their exerions to sutdue the dame was all in
vain, however In short time the boat burned to
the waters edge. where the wreck remains.
The James T. Woodruff valuable boat WAS lying Inn
mediately above the Par thena and immne at dan
ger from which sbe saved by being towe b. the
Brunette, which just leaving port Both boats
are owned by the parties Capt Gould and others.
The Twin City was the next boat we and being cut
loose, ea against the farthena which BY this time
was mass OF flames and in an instant she too fire.
and rs she continued TO float down stream burned
until she was totally consumed
The Grand Turk which lay next above, towed into
the str am by the Hghye and oated down Duncan
Island, where she SAFELY moorei. At time she
came in contact with the burning wreck of the Twin City
and caught IRE by the bows but the Hsrnes lin
guished almost instantly with but slight da mage.
Tbs Praire City lay next above the Grant turk and
there being considerable her and the
ing boats her position perfectly one bat by
some inconsderaeness her lines cut and she aoat
ed into contact with the two burning boats, and shared
their fate.
In ,out twenty minutes from the first alarm all ihrce
boats were consumed 10 the waters edge The PsrheniA
was Illinois river packet running between thi. city
and Isae and Al the time IL her loaded
with about two hundred tons Of valuable freight for that
port md had steam up ready 70 60 out She owned
BY Capt. heed her commander Mr.. Beaseley and Mr..
VOORHEES, the frat clerk and valued sIs 600 aud
insured for t12 coo IN various city Offices The clerk
succeeded in saving the looks money and al the yalusbs
papers sbe bad eighteen passengers board, whose
baggage al lost Some Of them also had furniture
on board which was lbewi.e lost.
The Twin City recently purchased by Capt. Bali
her nder Tor 5000 and partially insured In
various tGices She had Just commenced loading fr
keokut and had but lev dray loads Of freghg board
The Prairie city recently purchased by Capt Devin.
ney for SO 900 and prepsr ing 10 load for Eew0saos
she had no freight ON board she insured partially
In various Offices.
There great deal ~ excitement duting the pro-
giess Of the fire snd many boats not all In danger
were pushed out into the stream. II known toere
Wa roIne powder board the parthens hut not how
much and this fac, kept the actors and spectators In
constant state of alarm. Finally II exploded. nat With.
out doing any damage We learn that the quantity
bet two kegs
Our estin ate ~ the oss may appear be large but
when Is considered that the boats alone were worth
nealy half that sum- Il vii hardly be supposed above the
mark.