The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-06-14
A Calamity.

- OssHssAAAheys
When about 70 clcss the weeks labors, on
Saturday evening, we were aroused By the
alarm Of fire, in the store of Messrs- Babcock
& Sonntag, on Water street, adjoining the
Journal Office. The fire sp.ead with irresist-
able rapidity, through the building, envei-
oping it in q few minutes, in a mass offames.
II soon made its way into the ell Of the same
building, occupied by Allen as q Saloon,
which fronted on Main street, and through
which it spread in an instant. The Journal
Ofice had thus fiery furnace on two sides
fit, with angry flames overlapping its parti-
ton walls, shooting their forked tongues, and
hailing down cinders upon its venerable roof.
II withstood the threatening assault for long
time, and obstinately resisted the embrace of
its destroyer; and could stream ofwater have
been poured upon its old, lofty cAPuT, it
would have resisted still, and been saved;-
but it was abandoned to its fate, to save more
portentious, but less substantial structures;
and its insidious assailant gained access
through some crevice or loop hole, and spread
ing through It's rooms. consumed it ut last,
with nearly all its contents. The old building
among the earliest brick structures in the
city-whose gathering was made at Princeton,
when that place was the emporium of trade,
and Evansville but cluster of houses, with
out q tinman-with all its historical associa-
tions-whosc sanctum has been the place of
political conclave and secret scheming-the
scene Of busy thought and midnight toll
where, TO Us, the best intentions and highest
motives that have ever swayed our conduct,
hive had their birth-wherc an altar to
patriotism and public good has had ever
devotec-is now blackened ruin. It's veneer
able walls, which every one thought ready to
tottle and fall with age, when its surrounding
supports were taken from it, stands now alone,
erect and firm, rcproach to the feebleness
and faithlcssness Of the work in the more mod
ern structures, that were built around it,
whose walls have crumbled and fallen to the
ground. To US it is a sad calamity!-it drives
Us from an old home, and an accustomed
place of business, and buries in its ruins one of
the best appointed printing establishments in
Southern Indiana, which we had just renewed
and completely furnished with Steam Presses
and other accessories, for large business. 1t
suspends, for few days, the publication of
our paper, for which, we ask the indulgence
of our friends. Our books and papers are all
preserved, and steps have already been taken
to obtain new types and presses and to be en-
abled in very short time to offer new and
increased facilities for doing all kinds ofprint-
ing.
The fire, besides consuming the Journal
dice, on the corner of w alter and Main streets,
destroyed Aliens Exchange-formerly Chas.
Babcock's Carriage furnishing store--on
Main ST.; and on Water ST., it swept away the
Hardware store of Messrs. Babcock & Sonntag,
with its entire stock; and the next store ofM
Elisha Babcock with its heavy stock of gro
ceres, and entered the building occupied by
the Canal Bank and John Ingle jr., the roof
and upper story of which was consumed, and
the second story badly damaged; but the bank
ing room escaped the flames, though it will be
necessary, we presume, to remove the bank.
The fire in pecuniary way, was one of the
most disastrous that has occurred in the city
for many years.
The losses in buildings and stock, cannot
be less than S., 900 or 100000. Many Of the
stocks in stores adjoining those burnt, were
removed and received considerable damage in
the operation. Mcssrs. Altering 81 Bremen,
q who KEEP. clothing store on the corner, un-
der the Journal Office, saved their entire stock
Msssrs. Babcock 4 Sonntag were insured for
S22, 500, which, it is supposed, covers their
loss. Mr.. Elisha Babcock's loss, we are told,
exceeds his insurance, by 5000 or $1,000
Mr.. Allen losses his billiard tables only. Th,
loss Of the Journal office is almost entire, bu
its insurance, made but the day before tn
calamity, with Doctor IIalloek, who, though
no papers had been issued, Acknowledges thu
contract for the honorable and responsible Of
fees he represents; will cover good porto
of the property consumed. Though the cos
of rsftting, the loss ofintcrruption of business
and the general arrangement of our organize
ton, makes the disaster very serious one
Us.
To the friends who gave rs their aid, {
save our property, and opened their doors I
receive and store our cifccts;-and to the fir,
men who struggled nobly to subdue Il
flames and save the property Of their fellow
citizens, We tender our most hearty thank
Our fremen are noble set of fellows
whose labors aud generous public spirit-the
seems to be no exhaustion or internissio
while there is a call for exertion. are most u
worthily supplied with engines to perfoi
their duties. The City Council. with mc
unwiss parsimony, to save a few hundred d.
lars, have purchased inferior secondhand
engines becouss they We're cheap. With b,
ter instruments the fremen would have co
quered the fire on the premises where it orr
mated, and saved more than half the hea'
loss. The city government in its condl
towards the Fire Department, has been nett
or liberal nor wise.
OTOn resolution introduced into {
House Of Representatives,, few da