Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-12-26
Tho Fire mt Charleston.

W. H. H. LIGGETT.
The Fire Mt Charleston.
From the Richmond Examiner, of the
18th. We get details by letter Of the Char
lesion fire:
The alarm wat given at 9 o'clock, on
the evening of rhe 1lth. Before ten the
FIRE was raging at different points in the
lower part of the city. The buildings
we're of wood, mostly, and closely built.
As tenement was enveloped in the fast
spreading flames, the panic became awful.
Thousands of poor bewildered families
we're driven suddenly from their homes,
destitute even of their scanty effects.
Towards midnight the fire assumed
proportions Of an appalling magnitude
The regiments at the race course came
down at double-quick to the burning wards
and co-operated most earnestly in the Ia
bors Of the fremen.
From the precincts of market, east of
Bay and State streets, the confagration
had now reached Meeting and Queen
streets.
The terror of families, in many cases
without their protectors, owing to the mil
itary exigencies of the times, was very
great. D.
Contagious to the fire, and even further
up into the city, the work of packing up
valuables, and getting ready to desert their
homesteads, became general, and it is i'm
possible to give anything like a full &C
count of the results of what will hereafter
be known as the "great fire of 1861"
The fire began in Russell Old's sash
and blind factory, at tine foot of Hazel ST.,
and il is reported that it occurred in three
different places at the same time. Cross
ing to the other side of Hazel street, it
burned Cameron & Co.'s immense machine
shops, and became totally unmanagable.
Eleven o'clock.
The outbuildings in the rear af Institute
Hall have been set on fire by the sparks or
flakes of fire. The attention of the fremen
has been directed thither, and they are
straining every nerve to save Meeting st.
The frame buildings on Queen street are
smoking, and will presently blaze forth
Twelve o'clock.
Meeting street, from Market to Queen
streets is in one mass of flames. The Cir
cular Church and Institute Hall are burn
ing-Thsre has been a great desertion Of
the Mills and Charleston Hotels by the
guests, under the impression that they
cannot be saved.
Two o'clock.
At this hour the fire is raging violently,
and has scarcely been abated. Passing to
the southwestward, the fire has swept the
entire track to the rear of the Charleston
Hotel, and to the end of the Hayne street
range. There are no buildings north OF
Market street. None of the Hayne street
stores are still standing.
Crossing Market street, the fire. has ex-
tended down East Bay to Cumberland
street, and thence across to the Mills
House, taking in its way the. Circular
Church Institute Hall, the Charleston
Hotel, and all the buildings upon King
street, from Clifford street to within few
doors of Broad street. Crossing King
street, the flames are approaching the rear
of the Cathedral, the Unitarian and the
English Lutheran churches. -
Three o'clock.
The steeple of the Circular Church has
just fallen with heavy crash.
Gen. Ripley, who is moving to and fro,
experimenting the movements of the tro'ps
with characteristic energy, has ordered,
several hours ago, that several buildings
in the track of the confagration to be
blown up. The execution of this order,
delayed at first, has at length been accom-
plished. Ever and anon, during the past
hour, the explosions have rent the air in
the lower part of the city. The fire has
done its work in through style. Its path
is now burned out, and nothing now re-
mains to mark where it has passed but
smouldering piles of cinders, and gaunt
and smoking walls and chimneys.
The Theater, Loyd's coach factory, Top
posite the cypress OfGce), the old Execu-
tive building, and all the houses between
that point and Queen street, have been
burnt. e4I
The fire seems to be making advances
towards the Jail. Companies of the re.
serves have been ordered out to repress
any possible disturbance among the pris-
onsrs confined in that building.
Four o'clock.
"A change Of the course of the wind has
oent somewhat the course of the fire. The
ouiloings on the west side of Friend street
near the corner Of Queen street, are burn
ing fercely. St. Andrews Hail is on fire,
and the noble spire of St. Fineb.r plisteus
with splendor of portentious imnort-
The occupants of houses on Broad street
beyond King, are moving their effects.
Quarter-past five O'Clock.
As the clock of St. Mithaels tells the
quarter, the Cathedral steeple has fallen
with tremendous crash, and the Cathe-
DIAL is burning furiously, likewise St. An
drews Hall-in fact the whole of Broad st.
is on fire, from Mr.. Gadsden's residence to
Mazyck street. The residences of Messrs.
George NJ. Coffin, James L. Petigres and
others near by are consumed, The flames
have now crossed Broad street, and the
wind has not lullsd. 1t is impossible TO
say where they will stop short Of the river.
The Charleston Mercury says that fve
hun ndS >I o,I e,.,.... -. L.