True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-11-26

Tremendous COnflagratiOn in St. Ieuis
---Great Disaster---City Block Razed
to the Ground---About Forty Business
Firms Burnt Ont.
We have just returned flom witness
ing one of the most serious conHagratious
that has occurred in our city since The
great fire which destroyed large portion
Of il some years ago. The alarm of FIRE
was first sounded by the boats at the land.
ing, little after 10 O'Clock last night, and
soon thousands Of cilizens were hulrying
to the City Buildings, being directed there
by the light Of the fast spreading flames.
The. City Block occupied the space be.
tween Market and Walnut streets, the
levee and alley behind. and consisted of.
we believe, thirteen distinct stores, Eve
stories high in 'front.' and four al the back.
'Fhe block was occupied by, probably.
forty different firms, the names of all Of
which we have not learned We are un.
able at this late hour to give an extended
account of the file, and will, therefore.
only state that in very short time the
entire BLOCK was mass of burning and
smouldering ruins, the walls having fallen
down in different sections.
The wind was blowing in steady and
strong breeze from the south east, and
carried The flames first over the unfinished
Chamber of Commerce, fine new build.
ing, in course Of erection; but as there
was little Of anything bur brick and stone
there. lit escaped comparatively uniniured.
Several if not all Of the hand engines
were speedily ON the spot, and the FIRE.
men, every one, as far as we observed.
performed their duties manfuIly, and
many acls of daring were performed by
them, in The sight of many thousands
who had assembled at the scene. Il was
scene of wild grandeur, but expressions
Of regret were frequent 10 be heard, that
this block, an ornament TO the city, should
be so ruthlessly destroyed. f9
The firms, as we wrote them down
from the sign boards on the front Of The
buildings, during the prcgres OF the fire
are these:
Anderson & Lanaroux, Naples Packet
Co.,, Scott & Whitelaw, L. ]. We,hereL
& Co., James E. Darst, s. M. Edgal &
Co., City Hall Saloon, Brady & Bro,
+. b Taylor & Co., d. Ridnell, ]. E.
Elder, Anglerodt & Barth, E. q. Angle
radt, Cochran & MnlhoIland, Bets Sr
Mellon, S. Sandersou, W. O. Wheeler,
Mason Johnson, NJ. E. Power, G. Clark
& Co., w. A. Jennings, Simmons e.
Leadbetter, G. p Theobald Il Co., H.
Whitmore, Sanford & Crane, M'Ennis e.
Co., John S. Roe.
These firms include boat stores, liquor
dealers. produce and forwarding mer.
chants, and other business. The entire
loss " i'll not fall short probably, Of 81 900
600. There was vast quantity of pro-
duce, &c. stored away in the cellars and
other parts of the buildings not 1.-THE
of which was saved, although hundreds
of men and boys were actually engaged
in rolling barrels of flour and carrying
out Of the way boxes and packages of ali
shapes and description. One fellow we
saw rolling away barrel, which he. said
he intended for his own use. He was
half tpsy, and we believed him. There
were several miraculous escapes, and mnst
have been several accidents. 'a' r't
About a dozen men and boys were a.
one time within the walls, when part
OF them crumbled down, enve'oping them
in dust, sparks and smoke. They, or
part of their number. were seen to make
their exit in hot haste, carrying, however.
each bottle or something else, as prize
for their pains. IL we remember arlght,
the city block was sold by the city about
a year ago, with The ground upon which
it was situated, to james H. Lucas and
others, for $lS3 600.