Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-17
[From the charleston Courier, Dec. 14th-l
The Great Fire In Charleston.

The Great Fire In Charleston.
The fearful CONFEDERATION, that has just
passed over our city viii cause the 18th
and 18th of December, 1861, hereafter,to
be remembered as one of those dark and
trying periods, which for the moment
seem TO paralyze all the long cherished
hopes and bright antieipations of the flu
ture. We have been visited by one of
those mysterious dispensations of Provi-
dence which we can not attempt to
solve G-E .1lTr-s
Our city has received terrible blow,
which it will take the work of years to
repair. Let us nerve ourselves then for
another start, thankful that we are still
left with the same bold spirit and strong
arms to make new, and, perhaps, more
substantial prosperity for our beloved
city.
As was apprehended at the time of
closing our brief report Wednesday night
the flames continued to increase in viru-
lence, and with the scarcity of water,
seemed to defy all human efforts to ar
rest them. Keeping on in Southwest
erly course, the roaring element rushed
through almost like forked lightning, and
commenced a work of destruction on
Queen and King streets, truly terrible.
Roof after roof fell in; the fire rushed out
of the windows, and Tapped round the
buildings, presenting an awfuIly sublime
appearance.
All of sudden it was announced that
that beautiful architectural structure, st.
Johns and st. Finbar's Cathedral, was
in flames. The pride of that portion of
our city was doomed TO destruction, and
its beautiful spire soon fell with ter
rife crash, unding high above the noise
of the devouring flames.
The fire rapidly extended 10 both SIDES
of Broad street, igniting several fine man
sions near the corner of Logan and Ma
zyck streets, and including the time
honored structure in Broad street, S..
Andrews Hall, which, in a short time,
had nothing standing but the bare walls.
The flames spread right and left, destroy
ing and making clean sweep offine res
licences in Logan, New Savage, Mazyck,
and the lower end of Broad Streets
Nor could the work of destruction and
desolStion be stayed had it not been that
the fire exhausted itself for want of ma
terial.
Having crossed the city from the Coop
er to the Ashley, the flames seemed to
make one hast desperate struggle for ex-
istence in enveloping the large mansion of
Mr.. W. lizard Bull, at the foot of Tradd
street, and then yielded to its fate, send
ing its dying Kisses, as though scOrning
the powers that so CALAMITY resisted his
progress.
The loss of property has been variously
IA Of from five N mil
of dollars
Five churches, namely: The Circular,
| the Cumberland Methodist Church, st.
Peters Church in Logan street, st. Johns
and ST. Finbar's Cathedral in Broad
street, and the Quaker Meeting House in
King street, are included in the ruins.
St. Andrews Hall, Institute HAN, The
two Savings Institutions, the Theatre,
and the large Southern Express buildings
also gone. The Mills House was only
saved through almost superhuman exer-
tons, and its blackened walls attest the
severe trial it has undergone.
We have endeavored to obtain correct
list of the houses consumed, with the
name of the owner and occupant. First,
we will commence with the place where
it was first discovered, issuing from the
sash and blind mandatory of W. P.
Russell & Co., foot of Hasell street, north
side.
Mr.. Russell thinks it the work of an
incendiary. The establishment had been
closed, and the furnace of the boiler COW
cred with wafer before the men left
The proprietor did not leave for an hour
or more after the workmen. When he
left everything was in order, and no sign
of fire or anything approaching toit. In
about an hour and half afterwards Mr..
Russell heard the alarm Of fire, and learn
ed that his establishment was on fire.
From these circumstances he infers that
the fire was set or was the result of care
lessness on the part of a number of coun-
try negroes who had been quartered un-
der an old shed adjoining the establish
ment, in allowing their camp fire to get
ahead of them.
In addition to the above, the Mercury
says Capt. j. E. Bowen was somewhat
injured by an explosion during the blow
ing up of the houses; and also that the
negroes of the city worked with will
and a zeal worthy of the highest COM
mendation. IN sv.5
INoENpIARIsM IN HAWKINS CoUNTY.-A