Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-31
GREAr FIRE n ELIZABETH crrr.-A Cores

GREAT FIRE N ELIZABETH CITY.-A CORES
pondent of the Petersburg Democrat, CIV
the following ~succinct account of the recent
destructive fire in our sister city, that has
carried ruin to many of our friends. We
sincerely sympathise with them in their heavy
losses, and would suggest that a tangible ev-
idence of the sympathy Of our people be ex-
tended to such sufferers as may stands in need
of it.
ELIZABETH CRY, March q. 1858.
Last night our devoted little town was the
scene cf a terrific visitation. Shortly before
midnight, soon after retiring, | was startled
by an alarm of fire" To leap from my bed,
hurry on my clothes and rush into the street
was the work of a moment. Following the
direction of the crowd, [ soon discovered the
s~torehouse of Mr.. N. A Cohn. on the west
side of Water street, to be in flames. There
is but one engine in the place, which was
soon on the spot, but in spite of all our efforts,
the fire continued to rage with increasing fu-
ry. A high wind swept it along in one broad
sheet until no less than thirty-five dwellings
had fallen before its devourlng march. 1t is
impossible to describe the wild confusion,
| upEOdT anu OODSICI ndtAO1 tAiO tOtSAS0
throughout the city. Men, women and chill
dren, mutually affrighted and alarmed for each
others safety, could be seen by the lurid glare.
h~urrying to and fro in almost phrenzied tre-
pidation and dread. The excitement has not
vet subsidized The fire IS believed to have
been the work of s8H@NSs-iend in human
form. A man named COIN, with his family,
have been arrested and committed to custo-
dy to undergo a trial. The following is a list
ofthe principal sufferers by the conaagration:
Messrs. Cohn. Laverty & White, Culpepcr,
Thos. Allen, Abel Roberts, w. B. Burgess,
B B minister, j. T.. Mccoy, Hinton &, Dash
f iell, Spruill, T. D. Knox. w. Fl. Clark and
others. The NJ Urine FL ,spital was also redu-
ced to ashes. The aggreglte losses are esti-
mated at about S100,0 900, on which there
was a small insurance-not much over $780,
900.
News FROM UrAH.-A letter from Camp
Scott brings intelligence to January 31st.-
The nail from the States had been robbed by
Brigham Young's spies who had managed to
be appointed mail conductors, their afinities
with the Mormons being unknown. Brigham,
, it is said, has in his possession a complete set
of brass lock Post-Od ice keys belonging to the
, Salt Lake City post-ofice, and there would
De no ul1ICulty, CucF0IOTC, Ill opening ana
closing the sacks.
, The letter says-The road from here to the
States our expressmen report as being in ex-
cellent condition and free from snow. Mr..
, Thompson will be taken care of.
!, The whole camp was thrown into excite.
: ment last night by the report of the escape Of
the Mormon prisoner, Stowell, together with
a corporal, who was in confinement on ac-
e count of some misdemeanor. They were il
O charge of the guard of the 10th Infantry
Just after dark they obtained permission t.
go out of the tent on some excuse or other
If in charge of a sentinel they had no sooner
reached the bushes which line the creek neal
the guard tent, than they started and ran
, and, although heavily ironed with chains ex
he tending from one foot to the other, they sue
a. ceeded in concealing themselves in the bush
es, and making good their escape.
TIL sentinel who was sent out to watct
them fired at them when they started to run
ut but without effect. Several companies wer,
n, Immediately ordered ont in pursuit, and tn
q bushes were thoroughly searched, withou
= success. During the IGght several bodies o
III men were sent out, with ten days provisions
in different directions, in order to retake then
if possible, in whatever route they nigh
nv take. Up to this time, however, no trace ha
:, been found of them.
:" St1weli is an adjutant in the Mormon army
and was taken prisoner on Hams Fork, to
er gether with Col. Taylor. Stuwell had on hi
Nm person. at the time of his capture, severa
dispatches Of "a most reasonable nature from
Brigham Y rung and others. to the Mormon
lie forces on Green rive", Taylor made hi
# escape on IA very stormy night, a few week
after his capture.
ne The sentinel who had the prisoners i
Ill charge was Immediately arrested, and is nov
in confinement.
h 1t is strongly suspected that there ar
many traitors in camp, and that this Who'll
affair was preconcerted.