Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-12-26
Crcn, Fire in Charleston.

even miles distant. Cooper and Ashley
vers are from thirty to forty feet decp-
Jooper being 400 yards wide, and Ash
cy 2l00. The city is regularly built, and
xtonds nearly two miles in length and a
nile and half in breadth Some of the
treets are from sixty to seventy feet wide
nd some are narrow-lor instance King
treet the Broadway of Charleston. Many
If the houses are built of brick, and in a
tyle Of elegance, particularly around the
Battery but large number are of wood,
.ome Of them neatly painted, but more
Of them very dingy, and inhabited by
negroes.
The streets are mostly parallel to each
other, running across from river to river,
and intersccted longi:udinolly nearly at
right angles. They are shaded with the
Pride of India and other beautiful trees.
Scvc al Of the houses are embowered in
profnsion of foliage and flowers. Many
OF the dwellings have piazzas and are or
with vines and crecpers, while
the gardens attached to them bloom with
the orange, the peach and other trees, and
shrubs in great variety.
The population in 1850 was AZ, 0S5, of
which IA ,692 were slaves.
The chief exports are cotton and rice.
The average crop of Sea Island cotton in
South Cardinals % 900 to 5000 bales,
about two-thirds Of which go to Charles
ton, the remainder to Savannah.
The rice crop of the State is 10000
tierces, of which Charleston receives near
lv ALL In 1854 Charleston exp orted "a
7Gl bales of Sea Island cotton. 40S 27S
bales of upland cotton, 32S,0 ,06S bushels
of rough rice, about as much cleaned rice.
and %, S44 $50 feet of lumber. Charles
ton exported more rice than any other city
in the Union, and was surpassed only by
New Orleans and Mobile in the exporta-
ton of cotton. The great extent of rail
roads that open communication with the
interior afford Charleston superior advan-
tagcs for inland trade.
The city of Charleston is one of the
oldest in the United States, having been
founded in 1912. Its population was
recruited some years afterwards by Hug
enot refugees who emigratcd from France
and settled in considerable numbers in
South Carolina. From this stock many
Of the first families Of that region claim
to be descended. 1t was not till 1888
that it was incorporated as a city. Fifty
two years previously, in 1871, it contain
ell six hundred houses and five churches,
and thriving business was done in its
port. During the Revolutionary war the
possession Of the harbor of Charleston
was the object of more than one British
expedition. A garrison of 400 on Sulli-
vans Island, under command Of Colonel
Moultric, achieved great distinction by
the rcpulse, on the 2Sth of June, l776, OF
British squadron Of nine ships of war.
On the 10Th of May, 1880, the city was
surrendered to Sir Henry Clinton by Gen
Lincoln, the Corporation and principal
Inhabitants refusing to cooperate in its
defence, and offering to acknowledge the
sovereignty of Great Britain. The Brit
ish held it till May, 17S2. 1t contains
some thirty churches, thcater, several
excellent hotels, cotton presses and fac
tories, engine and machine factories, ship
yards and large dry dock. 1t has sult-
cred greater disasters by fire than almost
any other city in the Union. in 1878,
there was 252 houses consumed in 1856
nearly a third of the city was destroyed, +,
involving loss Of property to the amount
of $4,000 900. Again in the great fire
OF 1898, the loss was estimated at S5,
| 900 900.
THE BURNT DISTRICT.
This portion Of Charleston comprises
the most compact and all the business
parts Of the city, except some wholesale
houses aorthward. Nearly all the public
buildings were consumed and should the
fire extend in the direction in which il
was moving at last accounts, it would
sweep all the fashionable residences down
to Ashley river. 1t appears that the
docks and arehousos along the Cooper
river have not been touched owing to tho
wind blowing from that direction. But
the fire had crossed the Eastern side o
Broad street. and should it proceed in
that direction the destruction would be
immense rs very many Of the buildings
are frame in that quarter
The city generally contains so many
frame buildings as to partly account for
| the extensive nature of the conHagration
! The high wind did the rest. Among the
buildings included in the burnt district
are t,co iron .tonnierieS, one Qf them lately
empioyed IN the manufacture Of cannon,
onR tie other IN naking cannon bals and
SheNs, Several churches and nearly all
the public buildings, Banks and Insur-
ancc Offices became prey to the flames
King street is the chief street of the city,
though not much improved in its build
ings. Broad street was very important
street, containing newspaper offices, In
surance Offices, Banks, stores, &c. We
have no evidence of the fire having eX,
tended south of the Post Office, on Broad
street.
East Bay street contained all the Offices
of the cotton factors and loading commits
sion merchants. 1t is the nearest street
to Cooper river, running parallel with it.
The short streets which run down from it
to the docks also contain important Off
ces and warehouses. Meeting street CON
tainS the Mills House. Charleston Hotel,
Institute Hall, the Market and Theatre.
Tho new or Charleston Theatre is simple
and unpretending in its appearance, but
quite commodious and well adapted to
theatrical purposes. Meeting street pro
sents many other fine public and private
cdiiccs, interspersed among many build
ings of early date. Meeting and King