New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-04-16
THE STORM

.
citement in New Orleans
THE STORM
Yesterday morning was as stiff with wind as wet
with water, as fiery with lightning, and as deafen-
ing with thunder, as any we have had for year or
two past. 1t began at about o'clock, and was
absolutely terrific till near daylight Trees, fences,
sheds, were ripped up and prosrated by the gale,
whilst the flood raked in its usual harvest of bridge
p!anks, boxes, barrels. and other foatabe things.
At daylight yesterday morning the whole back
part of the city stood in lake of water, such as
has not been seen for many years, as a result of
the rain alone.
Yesterday there was some sunshine and partial
dry-up, but last evening there was more wind and
more rain in sudden dashes, the wind growing
chilly as it blew. We never saw the weather in
April more Aprilish
THE GRAND EPISODE
OF yesterday mornings terrific storm, was the
fire at the corner of Benville and TrGme streets
The large and long three-story brick building at
that corner, for so many years known as one of
the largest resorts for candestine dissipation in the
South, was the house that burnt.
The fire started, as we learn, from the bursting
Of gas-pipe in the hall of the second story, over
the entrance on Bienville street; and it started
just after the thunderstorm came along. The
shrill alarum of the tame lightning on bells was
shattered on the ear by the heavier discharges of
the wild lightning in the heavens; but the iremen
listened only to the tame lightning, as best they
could and, like so many neal descendants of
Ajax, defed the wild lightning and water and
everything else in their determination to reach the
spot which the gongs in their engine houses had
designated.
They all got very wet, long before they got to
the fire. They waded kneedeep, and, in their
haste and their ignorance of hidden cutters and
holes, waded bellydeep, and some of them over
hcad-and-ears deep, before reaching the fire.
For the first time within our remembrance, the
firemen had to complain of too much water. The
burning house stood, like Yentian palace in
sea of water: the moisture from above descended
in overwhelming cataracts. 1t was something of
crosss between Venice and Niagara, and the fire.
men were the crossest or the most crossed of ALL
Whilst they were dragging their machines into
position and getting their suction ready (machines
and men being hub-deep and thighdeep in water)
the mud and other things under the water took
suction upon their boots, shins, and tempers
Drenched, staggered, blinded by the terrific storm
which ragged, the burning house still belched forth
to them its dersion in laughing volumes of flame
and smoke.
The hand-engnes got to work, but did not throw
well; there was too mach crater! [Epoch, in the
history of our fire Department. Each down-lick
OF the brakes was splashy baptism of brakes and
breakers. The boys couldn't tell which throwed
the best streames, their machines or Heaven; and
the roar of the storm was so infernal or supernal
that each thundercIap disseminated itself into
sound closely resembling that of the fall of three
story brick wall.
The fire defying steam snorters of No. I and No,
$ got there with fire and steam up but speedily
down. The builders of the steam.en-
gines had forgotten to put the furnaces on top To
sum up, the tiremen were overcome by the over
presence of that element, whose alb
sence they have so often and so heartily cursed.
They did their best, but had to give in. The dis
aster was more of a water than fire. All
the firemen looked very wet and some of them
ill-humored. John 1ounnes looked like mud.
turtle, and Dave Bradbury looked like crab
The nymphs, who had been so suddenly aroused
by the sudden fire in the midst of the roaring tlun
der storm, were scared, frantic, reckless in their
anxiety to save life and dry goods. The street was
for time scene of the most wonderful interest
The beautiful Ncnuses of the modern ideal now
appeared as true daughters of the Venus of old
more or less nude, and quite wet and sloppy
They screamed, called for help, waded and plunged
about in the water, and were thoroughly in dis
trcss, that many men went to their aid and hclDad
them with willing hand.
The storm blew the smoke of this fire down so
lOw and distributed it so well through the streets
that many people tancied that half the town was
burning down.
The two upper stories of the house were
destroyed, nearly to the rear.
THE COURTS.
FIRST DISTRICT CorRT-.1ldge H,tnt.-Bernigne
DominaqueZ and Francisco Laeabarta charged with
and wfuy receiving stolen goods,
were. on motion of the District Attorney, dis
charged by nolle prosequi, and the charge dis
missed.
John Hanford, charged with larceny, and William
Woods, charged with larceny, were severalIy ar
'aigned, and pleading " not guilty." remanded to
await their trial.
William H. Harrison, pleading guilty of larceny
was remanded to await the sentence of the law.
Thomas Ellsworth, charged with robbery was |
IN motion of the District Attorney discharged by |
lOlle prosequi.
The Court adjourned until Thursday, the 18th
ns., when it is expected Judge Collens will take
lis seat.
RECORDER BLACHE's CoURT.-John Murphy was
'harged by the affidavit of Louisa Schneider with
;nteltllP neF mousse Ill the nlPhl llme ana eOnlOuS
y taking theretrOm, a gold chain and lOcket, of
he value of eight dollars, thereby committing the
rhine of larceny. Mr.. Murphy was sent down to
ensure due appearance to answer the charge.
W. Gomez flied an affidavit, charging John Sher-
ing with assault and battery in entering his domi-
Ill, at an early hour OF the morning. and commit
ing an assault and battery upon his person. The
ccused was committed to the Parish Prison. for
ue appearance.
RECORDER LoNG's CoURr.-A few aflidavits were
yesterday made, charging breaches of the peace.
he war fever has so absorbed domestic, haCCha- |
al, and other fevers, in the Third District, that
espitc the paradox, peace there holds court.
RECORDER ADAMS COURT.-JacOb Joest charged
y Antoine Bomeke with having assaulted and
truck him last Sunday on Josephine street, he
ween Rousseau and Fulton streets, was yesterday
ned s..
VIM King, who, about three months ago, threat
ned to destroy and break up the coffeehnuse of P
!. Bnnloig, situated at the corner OF Water and
bout O'Clock, in company with one Thos. Ward
the bar-room of said cOt1eehOuse, and endeavored
} raise fuss for the purpose of carrying out
Is former threats Both were therefore charged
y Bouloig with disturbing the peace, and they
ere bound over to appear on the 18th inst. Ward
AS also charged by deponent with carrying CON
ealed weapons.
ONE OF THE MEEK AND LowLY Y."-Says the
oston Post:
The Rev. Mr.. Hunting, of Manchester, N. H.,
lid he WOul6 rather @ lpt for thOusopd |