New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-06
BIG ElEE OVER IAE RlNER-


EIGHT STEAMBOATS, DEsTRoYED.-Las night at
about 10 O'Clock, fire broke out on board the
steamboat Gen. Pike, moored in a line with other
steamers, on the other side of the river, above
Mgiers.
The flames spread with terrific rapdity, under
the wind which was blowing, and in less than an
hour eight steamboats, were enveloped in the con-
lagration.
Asa sheet of feecy clouds obscured the stars at
the time the light of the fire was reflected luridy
down upon the city, and the people at each end
of tire city fanced that the other end must
be burning down. That the bells did not ring was
for some time grand puzzle to everybody. The
fire was over the river, and Of course no alarm
could properly be sounded ON this side The FIRE
men turned out largely with their machines, ran
about at random and waited for the bells. a"
The boats destroyed were the telegram (best
boat of the lot) the Republic, "a large and yau-
able boa0 the Editor, "a hulk with no machinery
in) the .Hfudtson, the 1ensas, the Grenada, the
Gen. Pike and the DoHte Webb. Some were stern
wheelers, and some were tied up under Sheriff 's
seizure.
| The Gen. Pike, on which the fire started, and
two other boats, broke loose from their moorings
and went blazing down the river, leaving the other
| spectacle from this side was grand ore.
| The three drifting steamers passed the point of
Algiers, which iuts out opposite the lower part of
the city, and crossed with the current to the ship
| ping in the Third District, on this side. We had
not time to follow and find out the particulars
but az the telegraph sounded an alarm for the
Eighth Fire District, (ne4t below the Pontchar-
train Railroad, } the shipping and towboats down
there must have been in imminent danger. 'AE
the alarm soon ceased, there could not have been
any fire on this side of the river.
| As we close eur report, the armament is still
lurid with the glare of the burning hulks at AL,
giers, and with the light of the burning boats drift
ing down the river. The loss by this fire cannot
be less than $3.50 900.
| Since writing the above, we learn that the burn
ing hulls came in contact with the shipping lying
| in the Third District. One hull lodged at Post No
43, and soon swung alongside of large ship, the
name of which we could not learn, and commu
nicated the anes to her sides and portion of the
| rigging, which were, however, subdued through
| the activity of the fire department, but not until
the floating ineendary had taken its; departure fol
new victim, which was another large ship. al
Post 4a.
This last ship Jared worse aud was, no doubt
injured to a great extent; she was partly lader
with cotton, and quite quantity of that com
bustibe material was scattered all over the leVee
but luckily escaped ignition. In the meantime one
of the other halls had made a landing immedatel.
| in front of that new and beautiful towboat, TIL
Baltic, which for some time was in immn ent dar
ger, but eventually escaped not So however, di
fate ordain for the Conqueror; that staunch. an
noble old plougher of the Mississippi had to SUI
cumb, burned loose and drfted in front of tl
; Tobacco Warehouse, where her existence wa
, effectively terminated.