New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-18
NUMBER 245
The Great FIre--Furthsr Particulars.
From the Charleston Mercury, 18th inst.

yesterday was gloomy day for Charleston.
Business was universally suspended, and with enc
impulse, oar community united in giving sympathy
and aid to the victims of the great public calamity
Our report in our iast,issue, of the progress of
the lire closed at quarter past O'Clock yester-
day morning, when the majestic spire Of the Cathe
dral had just tottered and crashed heavily through
the burning roof. Fronthat time the disaster may
be said to have assumed new phase. The flames
leaped mady across Broad street. and fefsaking,
the business neighberhoods which they had already
4 desolated they seemed to devote their whole fury
against the elegant private residences which have
so long been the pride of the southwestern portion
| of our city. As these beautiful homesteads sue
cumbed, one after another, to the resistess march
/ of the destroying element, the scene was awful.
The fire advanced steadily onward stopping
only, when, having reached the river, it had moth
| ing more to burn. We give some notes Of the dis
astrous results: E5-Eg
| THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. FIEBAR.--Ths splendid
structure, built only about eight years ago, was
justly rated one of the finest architectural orna-
! ments of our city. 1t was constructed Of brown
stone, in very massive and costly manner. Ali
the sacred vessels were saved. The Bishops resi-
dence, attached to the Cathedral contained very
rare and valuable library, portion of which was
| saved.
! THE CIRCULAR CHURcH.-The site recently oc-
cupied by the Circular Church was formerly, in
the memory of many of our old citizens, the locus
IN quo of a brick CHURCH, known as the 'sWhite
Meeting" 1t had its origin coevally with the set
tlement of the city in 1850. The congregation was
| originally Presbyterian but probably united both
Congreg gatonalists and Presbyterians. In 1884 the
latter separated and commenced worship in new
wooden edi6ce, on the site Of the present Scotch
tChurch." The pulpit has been filed for a period
| of one hundred and seventy-fve years by seven
teen pastors commencing with the Rev. Messrs.
Pierpont, Adams and Coston, in the latter fifteen
Rev. stobo, Livingston, Bassett, Parker, Smith,
Edmonds, Hutson, Bennett Thomas, Tenent, Hol-
linshead Keith, Palmer and Post. ee, q
On the 18th of May, 1906, the new building was
e.
| exercises. The new building was circular in form
and eighty. eight feet in diameter In 1888 the ad
dition of lofty spire, ls2 feet hgh added to the
appearance of the building.
waited, at an expense of $40 900, rendering it one
OF the most beautiful and consistently arranged of
our city places of worship. The numerous tablets
were reset-the old fashioned pulpit gave place to
the more appropriate rostrum-the pews were re-
| arranged, and the manner of lighting the entire
building, from the center of the dome, secured
soft and equally difused light. The building is 8
total loss.
THE CUMBERLAND STREET (METHoDIsT) CHURCH.
This was plain, substantial structure, .affording
commodous apartments for their large congrega-
ton, with galleries and basement rooms for very
large membership. 1t was swept away in the
great fire of 1888, and rebuilt soon after. It s
again entirely destroyed. a..
Sr. PETERS (EPIscoPAL) CHURoH.--This build
ing was located on Logan street, between Broad
and Tradd streets-was neat and well-arranged
edifce, with ground floor and galleries. The CON
gregaton is quite full one, and it has been for
some time past under the rectorship of the Rev.
Mr.. Prentiss. 1t is entirely destroyed.
The FRIENDS MEETING -HoUsE.--This unpretend-
ing structure on King street, south of Queen street.
was burned to he-ground.
THE ST. ANDREWS HALL.-This weknown and
historic building in which the Convention of the
People of South Carolina held its sittings, and
agreed upon the Ordinance of Secession, on the
10th of December Of last year, is now in ruins.
lie
consumed. We learn that the splendid full-length
1 portrait of Queen Victoria, by eminent artist
J which has always been considered one of the
, attractions of the room well the portraits OF
Tunno, Robertson, King and others, were removed
in time. ,s
: INSTITUTE HALL. - This magnificent hall, the
largest in the South is lost u.s. and we feel sure
that it will be seriously missed-connected, as i
was with the popular heart by the fact that, with
in its walls the first uprisings of the people o
Charleston in this revolution had utterance; and
more than all, because the Ordinance of Sc
cession was ratified there. Those who but shor
n year ago, were witnesses of those sonl-strrine
scenes which ended in Secession, will deeply re
: gret the demolition of the Institute.
> The EXFREss BUILDING.-The Office of the South
r ern Express Company was burned to the ground
f and large quantity of miscellaneous goods wa
lost. The Express office, we understand, will b.
re0pened in Meeting street, opposite the Charles
| ton Hotel, in few days.
The SAYINGS BANK.-This institution is sufere
to the extent of its convenient Office. All the pa
. pers books of accounts records, etc., were saved
!. ! We regret to hear that the Treasurer, Henry S
! Griggs, Esq., who resided on the premises, lost al
of his household furniture, and portion of yer,
valuable collection OF paintings, which he hat
= = been collecting for some years.
- THE APPRENTICES LIBRARY is, we learn, tota
loss. To no one will this be more distressing thai
q to the octogenaran gentleman, Dr. Jos. Johnson
under whose care the society has been for so man,
q years. In addition to this, the Doctor is, we be
lieve, himself sufferer by the confagration.
, CAMERON & CO. ''PHoENlX Iron WoRKs."-
This extensive foundry and machine shops is aga
in ashes, being the second time in the last tel
years that its energetic and popular proprietor
y have been visited with fire. The entire premise
a are in ruins, including large quantities of shot
SHE'LL and other ordnance stores ready for deliver
= | to the Confederate States; amongst which wer
r valuable and improved machinery for rifng can
+. non, making percussion caps, etc. The powerful
" steam fire engine, which was prominently a
y y work during the conlagration at different points
was built at this establishment. We sincerely trus
\ that our stalwart friend and his co-workers will
= soon, phenix.like, arise from their ashes, an
overcoming all obstacles, furnish another llustra
y ton of their ability tie meet the most disheartenin
n reverses with manly fortitude.
- 1NCIDENTs.-Capt. Steedman Yeadon did yeC
y mans service at the fire as engineer He handle
y the powder with marked success, and in almos
: every instance where the operation of blowing
! | houses performed, the most complete sueces
:. was the result In this hazardous work he WE
10 assisted by Capt J. E. Bowers, who was injure
| | we regret 10 say, ABOUT HluulBnt, ana was take
T. home by his friends. We trust be is but slight
injured.
One of the most gratifying incidents of the fire
!. | Wednesday night was the zeal manifested by OF
slaves, in their efforts, as fremen and laborer
# The entire coored population, male and female
AZ worked most earnestly; and not unfrequentl.
70 | masters and their slaves could be seen workn
~ together in removing the household goods an
M valuables. We noticed one instance particularly
~ where white haired old body servant was givin
A. way to his feengs-sobbing bitterly7-at the los
"a of the family mansion, where we been libbn q
~ our lives"
~ The Saceep of the Confag'ation--The followin
'e is the course of the fire from Cameron's foundry
~. On East Bay the fire extended, on the east sid
n from the residence of Mr.. j. S. Bird to the corne
a. a of Market st, eet, burning out Mr. Henry Smyze
w Mr. c. H. Heissenbuttel, DR.. Prtchard, Mr.. Jaco
:, son and sundry others. On the west side, fro
u Mr.. Geo. Kinoch's to the southwest corner
!. Market street, inclusive, was destroyed.
n n On Pritchard street, the property of Mr.. job
" Torrent, Mr.. Tavel, Mr.. Artope, Mr.. Cordray an
80 Others was destroyed
~ On Market street, from East Bay to Church stree
", ,d south side, was destroyed.
i i On Anson street, east and west side, from Clau
% sens Mills south, sundry buildings destroye
to Market street. Clausen's fine -four mills wer
n. most fortunately preserved.
ne On State street. either side the flames sprea
ur destruction from Market to Cumberland. Cumbe
ur land street to Meeting including its elongatio