Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-28
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

About Q o'clock this morning fire broke out in a
warehouse in the rear OF block of two-story frame
Stores, on Water Street, midway between Princess
and Chestnut Streets occupied by MessrS Evan beVah'
A. Kaufman, ]. & II. Samson, and Walker & Steven
son.
In a short time the buildings, owned by O. G..
Parsley. ESQ.,, and Mrs. Noyes were consumed, and
the fire crossed over Water Street to some story
frames owned by Mr.. Parsley and occupied by
Messrs. Bauman & Groljen, J. & H. Sampson and by
Russell & Bro.
These buildings with their contents were pretty
soon in flames and destroyed
The fire spread North to a block of brick buildings
owned by Mr.. Parsley, and occupied by Messrs Al
derman & Bizzel J. & D. McRae & Co., Russell 6
Bro, and Captain Owen Burns.
The store occupied by Captain Burns was complete
1y destroyed-that occupied by Russell & Bro some.
what injured and Messrs. J. & D. McRae & Co., and
Alderman & Bizzell, suffered more less loss from
water, from the taking out of their goods, etc.
On the South, the brick store occupied by Messrs.
McDuffe & Co., and J. j. Lippit, was considerably
scorched, and some loss from tumbng things in and
out. The store belongs, we believe, to F. J. Lord
Esq. The wharves are considerably injured,-per
haps to the of two to three thousand dollars
or even more than the. largest OF these sums
We can hardly make any accurate or even prox'
mate estimate Of the value of the naval stores and
other produce on the wharves which were destroyed
Four 10 five thousand dollars is about as good guess
as we can make. Daniel L. Russell, Esq, is the
heaviest loser in this way.
The Rock Spring Hotel On Chestnut Street, be-
tween Front and Water Streets, owned by Mr.. Pars.
ley and occupied by Mr. Alderman although in great
danger, escaped with sharp scorching. A frame
kitchen attached TO it was totally destroyed.
Commencing at the Northern limit of the fire. we
place Messrs Russell & Bros loss at about So, O00,
covered by insurance. Captain Owen Burns, $4,000
to So, O0O,-also covered by insurance; Mr.. Bevan,
$1,000, no insurance MI kaufman, we believe, pla-
ces his loss at about So, O00- insured Messrs. J. &
H. Samson had heavy stock of goods, Ibut the
amount of loss cannot now be reached-insured. In
the store occupied by Messrs Stevenson & Walker,
Mr. W. T. Higgins had hay and some other articles,
which were lost to the value of something like $500.
MesSrs Beauman & Grotjens loss will be between
$4,000 and $4,000, of which $500 is covered by Ia
Surance.
!, All the buildings burned or seriously injured be-
longed TO o. G. Parsley, ESQ., and Mrs. NoyeS. Mr.
Parsley ie the heaviest loser The buildings them
selves were not, ntrinsicaly, of much value but as
it is not allowed to put up wooden buildings in that
part of town. the cost of replacing them with brick
edifces will be quite heavy. We believe MIR. Pars"
ley had no insurance.
Of course, considerable loss by water, abuse, break
age and, we fear, stealage was sustained by other
parties whose premises were not actually reached by
the fire.
There seems to be every reason for believing that
the fire was the work of an incendiary. But, as We
understand the authorities have instituted, or are
about 10 institute an investigation, orbear remark
for the present