The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-13

FIRE IN MEMPHIS, TENN.--The Memphis papers
report the most des, uctive fire that has hap
pened in that city. The Eagle and Enquirer of
Thursday morning says Early yesterday morning
our city was thrown into intense excitement by the
occurrence OF one of the most extensive and fearful
conflagrations with which it has ever been visited
involving not only an immense destruction of prop
erty, but of human life Nearly the whole SQUARE
from Adams to Washington street. on Front row,
Is one complete mass of ruins. Amidst the coniu-
sion and excitement which such scene of disaster
produces, it is quite impossible to determine with
accuracy to what extent losses are sustained and
the whole number of those on whom they fall
The fire is supposed to have originated in a bowl
ing saloon, kept by w. j. Whitsitt, which was near
y in the centre of the square, and is thought to be
the work of an incendiary Some however saw
that it originated in an adjoining house, kept by an
freshman as boarding house 1t was about four
O'Clock yesterday morning when first discovered by
Mr. Teutel, who was one of the first who gave the
alarm OF fire, at which time the wind was blowing
from 5. w. to N. E., but changed from S. to
N, causing the flames tospread through the square
with astonishing rapdty. Nearly Quarter of an
hour had elapsed from the time the alarm was
to the difficulty of getting water, and the strong
wind that was blowing at the time, the flames soon
made such Roadway, that all efforts to subdue them
were unavailing. About fifteen buildings were de-
stroyed, most of which were brick, and three-story
houses
The Memphis Bulletin saws:
The greatest losers by this fire are Messrs For
QrOcorS
cupied the store the corner of the alley between
Washington and Adam streets They had in store
large and valuable stock of goods valued at s4O,-
ooo all OF which was destroyed. They had insu-
rance on their stock Of goods to the amount of S2O
0OO Mr.. Jameson, member of the firm lost in
Jewelry and valuable papers, about 50 900 in addi-
T ton to the above on which he had no insurance.
The building occupied by Messrs FORSYTH Jameson
d Co., was owned by John NJ. Lea, ESQ.,, of Nash
VILE, and we presume was insured.
Messrs. j. W. l.. Sturgis d Son, grocers were
the next greatest sufferers, their loss amounting to
near $4,000, on which they had an insurance to the
amount of s., 600
After a list of names of sufferers, the Bulletin
adds:
The district burned was, perhaps, the most dense
~ populated in the city, and by this sad visitation
many poor families have been left without homes
This fire has occasioned perhaps, more real dis
Memphis.
We understand that the insurance companies re-
presented here by Samuel Putnam agent sustain
losses to the amount of Sl2 900 or 900 and the
companies for whom j. r. Chadwick is agent lose
about like amount. We could not learn whether
or not our home companies sustained anv loss
man named James Beaverton, a gas filter was
crushed by the fall of a wall and when taken
from ron the ruins was quite dead. He was about
thirty-fve years of age.
THE GREAT EIGHr-WHEEL CAR SUIr-Tbe case Of
Ross Wlnans, against the New York and Erie Rail
ROAD Company, Tor patent covering the eight
"
Judge n. X. Hail. in the Circuit Court of the
United States, at a term held at Canandaieua, N
NJ ~, IN which Judgment was rendered against
Winans by jury, under sthe ruling of the Court.
and then appealed by him. was on Monday, the
10Th INST, decided against Winans in the Supreme
Court of the United States. That highest Judi
cal tribunal affirmed the Judgment of the Supreme
Court.
Thus ends one of the most important patent cases
that was ever tried in this country, involving as
It dd IN its issue, millions of dollars, and affecting
States.
This decision establishes the fact that Gridlev
bryant, formerly Superintendent of the Quincy
haiir9ad, Boston, and now Sctuate, Massachusetts,,
ana Horatio Allen, formerly Chief Engineer of the
south Carolina Railroad, and now of the Novelty
works, New ork, were the first originators of the
eight wheel cars now exclusively used on the Rail
ROADS In this country, and destroys the only eight
wheel patent ever granted for originating the
eight-wheel car-the one to Ross Winans, of Balti-
more.
A number of omnibus and car drivers were badly
frozen in New York Monday. Several were
taken from their boxes in an insensible condition
and others had their feet and hands frozen. Seve-
RAJ OF the Scotchmen curling on Central Pond had
their ears frostbitten.
The Scotchmen in New York are enjoying them
selves on Central Park Pond. On Monday the CAL
edonan Curling Club had forty pair of stones at the
pond, and the Thistle Club was also well supplied
Inc two clubs intend playing match during the
month. The New York Herald gives the following
description of the game
TOBACCO CULTURE IN New JERsEY.-The Salem
Sun6eom says that Mr.. j. O. Fairchild of New
Vernon, near Morrstown, has now ready for
market about three tons of tobacco raised by him
las summer, on three of land Mr.. w. C.
Tucker, of the same place. has also cultivated an
acre and half of tobacco. Quite number of
farmers have experimental the past season by cul
tvatng small quantities Oft. Tobacco raised in this
latitude has been found to be much superior to any
south OF us this side of Florida The editor of the
Sunbeam records his qualification at smoking
cigar made from tobacco Of this years growth,
which raised by William A. Goodwin, on his
farm In Llsinboro' township, near that city.