New Orleans daily crescent., 1858-03-01

CAlN5tIDUuG
the st. Louis Leader Of the 22d we extract the allow
ing particulars: - i.s
The Pacific Hotel, located on Seventh and Poplar
Streets opposite the Pacific Railroad Depot was dis
covered 70 pe 10 anes at the unfortunate hour Of
CLOCK, Saturday morning. The building was crowded
ae WIN guests many Of them having arrived on the
Pacific Railroad, and were fatie1ed with fravel
Consequently deep sleep prevailed in the snsirs
oulidIng All were wrapped In that intense slumber
peculiar 10 the hour that preeedes the wakinc M,
hotel was constructed OF light and fragile rsteriaIs
The result Of conaagration under snel, evr,,a
stances. can easily be imagined, and was AZ the a.
quei viii show
The fire was first discovered by officer slatteyv AZ
quarter past O'Clock. He was standing on tbe
corner of Gerre and Seventh streets when = bri1ht
light attracted his attention and he in coapanv Win
officers Thesarkf and o OBrien, who had Just come %
with him, proceeded up street 10 investigate the mat
ter. They found, as they approached the buildsue,
that the rear was entirely in flames which shot up
amidst dense black smoke to fearful height casting
lurid glare over the horizon and Illuminating every
window in the vicinity. In fact by the time OF theft
arrival (athough they made all possible speed) the
entire rear Of the hotel was at the very extreme OF
connagration. They saw no one stirring aud imme-
dnteiy rushed up 70 the front of the hotel and by
pounding with their clubs and haoing at the tops Of
their voices, endeavored advise the unconscious In
mates OF the peril which surrounded them. The
alarm succeeded partially. and those who lodged in
the front OF the hotel half suoeated by smoke not
fully aware of their condition. awoke 10 find them.
selves almost paralyZed by terror. Mr. Strader one
OF the propretors of the hotelit appears had been
awakened BY the barking Of his dog Just as the Off
GERS had given the alarm, and at once realizing his
position Immediately set himself about eectne with
great GOODNESS and Judgment the Of his guests
The alarm had now become general, and was heard
py an VINO were destined TO awaken in this world.
ln that moment, doubtless the flames and smoke had
done their work for those in the OF the building
and their spirits had taken their fight from earth
But 81 now comes the sonlharrowing spectacle Of the
enorts Of the living to effect their escape from i'm
pending death. Then was reenacted all those insane
exhibitions. which always mark the conduct Of hus-
bands and wives, mothers and children intensely ex.
cited Tor each others safety and strong men, i'm
PEELED by the instinct OF selfpreservation each frantic
with terror and controlled BY every impulse rather
than by cool judgment. T1
Men and women appeared at the windows shout.
ing and groaning-the fire and smoke pressing upou
them and cutting of all access to the starways-the
hard, icy pavement below They had but the alter.
native OF death by burning. or by crushing fall,
They seemed to choose the latter, and jumped Sev-
era were killed in this way. Some had been fortu-,
nate enough to escape by the doors. Most, doubt
less, awaited themselves Of the lower windows and
boarder in the house, by axng sheet 70 the rail
Ing oil piazza descended wi b himself and child.
Others may have saved themselves ia the same way
But We have no evidence that there a general
disposition manifested the part of the inmates to
avail themselves Of the beds and bedding as auxilia
ries TO their safety. In some instances beds were
thrown out and an effort made to jump upon them.
Beds were also held by the people who had gathered
below, and upon which those jumping were received.
The 6remen were soon at their duty. and although
faithful IN their exertions, labored to but little par
pose. They could only prevent the spread Of the
contagration. No property was saved. With the
exception o. the contents Of the china store of
which WAS saved, every vestige of property in the
entire building was destroyed. ~.
Those who were called from their homes by the
alarm came only to take care Of the dead and tender
rehef TO the wounded. Those who were injured were
carried into the Pacific depot and as soon as con-
yeyances could be obtained, were conveyed to the
Siters' Hospital
Besides those who were killed by Jumping from the
windows the bodies Of six persons severely burned
have been recovered. Two were found on the floor
over the clothing store, where they had gathered in
their attempts to reach the main entrance and fell
suffocated when close to it, or as some think thew
were sleeping there. The Coroner has in his posses.
sion an agreement for the sale of patent churns.
signed By Ephraim Doan, OF Salem Ills, and A. "
Smith, of Ottawa, Mich. A shirt bosom, having the
name OF N. Gregg ON it, also found on the body
OF one OF thcm The bodies were terribly burnt and
dis6gured to render recognition iupossible The
body found in the backyard Is supposed to be that
OF servant in the house. His face was a complete
cinder. TTr-Tr r-lss.rI srssss
woman who sprang from a window and was
Killed, mas not been recognized. Masonic breast
man who jumped from a window and a child
thrown out comprised the remainder Of those known
to be killed nine in ALL These bodies are now layng
az Hogers stable, on Franklin avenue. The Coroner
wishes all persons interested TO call there and make
such examination as they may desire. The invest.
CATION Will occur tomorrow at the City Hall.
vi the sufferers, we have in some respects TO make
favorable report. -
Mr.. James r. Geary, Local Reporter of this nanar
is seriously, but we believe not fatally injured as re-
ported. He is severely burned about the LEGS and
ances and slightly upon his body and head the hair
being almost entirely gone. He was much better
iast night at O'Clock, when we made our last visit
Henry Hubbard and wife, of New York-the lady
fatally injured. '
Henry Sharp, of England. doing well. t,f
Mr.. Hays, of New York, doing WELL
Mrs Geary is now at the Planters, under the kind
care OF Messrs Scoly and Stickney. She is suffering
only from cold and exposure. The child has severe
burn upon the throat and bruise on the hin or side
but will recover perfectly.
Mr.. Strader thinks there were probably ol,s 6np
persons in the house, Many OF those supposed 10 be
injured or lost have been discovered Tie Coroner 4
Of opinion that it will finally transpire that there
have not been as many killed was at first appre-
hended. An examination OF the ruins will take niace
to-day The heat was so intense yesterday as then 10
render any such undertaking impracticable
All sorts OF reports are In circulation in regard 10
the number killed. but we have labored rather to give
facts they have been obtained from reliable sourca
than to annoy and perplex the reader by recording
every matter OF gossip that has come to our ears from
the hundred tongues of rumor which have been in
dustriously wagging all day. We hope and trust the
result VIII prove that so many individuals will not be
found In the ruins as have been feared.
In addition to the above we find the following in
the Republican of the Esd
lis hoped and believed that the number of dead
bodies burned in the ruins Of the Pacific Hotel IL no,
definitely known. Laborers were at work removing
the rubbish, from an early hour yesterday morning
until about6 o'clock last evening. During the day
five more bodies were extricated but SO bnrnsJ
he nh liz,