The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-09-26
Terrible Tire Mt New Orleans..ExpIosisn n


Terrible Fire ut New wOrleans..ExpIosisn N
and Loss of Fifteen Lives.
ii Ere, destroying $4,000 worth of proper
ty. took place in New Orleans on the night of
TIE llst inst. 1t commenced in Karstendeck
& Co.'S liquor warehouse, on TchoupitouIas
street. During its progress a terrible explo-
sion took place, killing fifteen persons. The
Delta says:
i loud explosion was heard-the liouor ba r
rels yielded to the devouring element-a q
frightful crash followed. An upper portion.
one story, OF the building of the lower
store, No. 1Ol, of Messrs. karsteudieck &
Co, came down by the force of the explosion
on the building next ii, three tory one. said
to be that Of Evans Co, -four and commits
sion merchants, on the corner of Lafayette
and Tchoupitouias streets. BY this wall fall
ing 1t carried in the corner store roof and
hurled the outer or side wall Ton I.afayeIte
streeD of Evans & Go. to the ground with
electrical velocity How we shudder to report
The scene. From $50 TO 300 persons were near
around, aud in this building of Evans &c Co.
some firemen, some labJrers, some policemen
some merchants. and others, young aud old,
OF our citizens.
From 25 to 30 laborers, firemen and others,
were engaged IN removing and rolling barr els
OF -four and merchandise out of this store, as
there was no fire within it at the time. Pre-
NlouS 10 the fail of the wall standing on the
sidewalk and In the middle Of Lafayette street,
crash was heard, aud the walls gave way, their
CONSERVATION was truly deplorable to behold.
Not less than 50 or GO were buried in the ruins.
The flames ragged III broad and fierce grain
deur from the exploded liquoI barrels, and a
scene of ruins, as il ny dramatic magic so
sudden was the who's calamit0us change OF
things, appeared amid d profound silence of
the awe stricken beho!ders. The heat was in
tense, and when the scattered pOpulace re
turned 10 the spot Of disas ter, one of the
blest anG praiseworthy examples of bravery
on the part of firemen and police, citiZens
young and old, took place. The stupendous
cry that arose from the crowd was terrific. 1t
was followed by death-ilke silence q breath
less suspense of a moment; and some brave
men-five or six firemen, whose names we re-
gret we could not learn-rushed to the smok-
ing pile calling upon others to follow them
There were many strong arms and willing
hearts, but the attempt was next to impossI-
ble-hundreds rushed forward and had to run
back scorched and singed, so intense was the
heat.
The half dozen brave prime movers. nerved
to their noble task, did not seem TO feel the
heat, but went 10 work pulling out the hot
bricks, and breaking the half charred tim bers.
They were followed by others, and as the
great heat subsided, the crowd of Workmen
Increased. The first man taken out was Mike
Sneehan, member of No. Il. He was badly
cut in the forehead. The brave fellow shook
oft The dust and ashes that covered him, ard
his first words were There are others there!'
With this he turned TO help throwing out the
bricks, hut had to give up after a while.
Every now an then the groans OF the suf
ferers would reveal where they were to be
found. As the rubbish was cleared away,
some spoke aud told their names. Each new
announcement was received with gladstone
cheers, and gave new courage to the workmen.
The names of those whose bodies We're re-
covered are, Alfred Corner, Ferdinand Guer-
renger, Alfred Delaronde, ard Ed. HJy.-
Among the missing are. T. J. Barletsen, Wal
ter fiAvtOp Eahil1 Harrandaz WD1
Fitzgerald, newsboy, taken out after remain
ing an hour under the ruins, did not appear
to be dangerously hurt. The Picayune adds:
Many, many more remain buried under the
ruins; as we left the scene, two had been
heard 10 speak, but could not be reached and
horrible 10 relate! they stated that the fire
was burning the timberS underneath and
gaining upon them. A large crowd is d,
work, and every effort is made to save the
poor fellows, but ii will only be late to-day
that the number of lives lost will be ascer-
tanned Besides the number OF workmen en-
gagged IN rolling out goods, there were many
gentlemen about the premises merchants or
sierks, who had interest in the goods, and their
tate stIil remains unascertained.
w hIlst this terrible scene of suffering was
going on, the fire proceeded with its work OF
destruction. The store of Bredow 6 Wust-
hoH was totally destroyed. The fire was
stopped on that side by a vacant lot
On Foucher street, the heat was SO intense
that after burning the wooden bridges acros.
the street, the flames attacked q warehouse de-
pending of MaIllots liquor store and situated
In lis rear, and the adjoining warehouse, cor
ner of Lafayette and Fuucher, owned by w
Florence and occupied by the f. Carver Com
pauy OF mills, &c, 5. Ii. Gilman, agent.
a large quantity OF pork and whiskey was
also stored in this warehouse. Both were
damaged, Fiorerce's slightly and Maillot's
more extensively, but they were not destroyed
Beyond Mailiot's warehouse is a large lot
where new building is in course of construc-
tlon. The fire proceeded no further.
1t is not possible at the late hour we write
10 calculate losses, but we think we are safe in
estimating property destroyed III S Sl5O,0O0 the
whole of which, we believe, is covered by in
surance.