Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-18
GREAT FIRE IN CHARLESTON.


The following particulars of the destructive Dire
in Charleston, S g., of which we had time simply
to announce in our last, are cleaned from the Her
curry Of the 18th and 18th instant: 1928
This morning dawned drearIly upon a night of
terror and disaster. About o clock last evening
the alarm rang out, calling the citizens to quell the
beginning of fire, which, in the subsequent extent
and rapidity of its ruinOuS sweep, will compare with
the most terrible conhagratiOns which have ever
visited the American continent. The wild work Of
the flames and the imHerSe destruction of property
which has thus far taken place, is chiefly attribute
bic to the sudden and unfortunate change in the
weather, which occurred almost simultaneously with
the breaking out of the fire The mild and spring
like calmness Of the atmosphere during the last fort
night was broken by heavy gusts of wind which
swept the dust and smoke and sparks hither and
thither in binding clouds Great flaming bits of
wood were borne in dense showers for distance Of
nearly a mile in Southwest direction, and the
whole city was brightly lit up by the dreadful and
widening glare.
Before 10 o'clock, the fire had begun raging in
several different points in the lover part of the city,
The buildings in the stricken neighborhoods were
mostly of wood, old, closely built and surrounded
by small out-buildings of exceedingly inflamma-
BILE character
The fire began in Russell G. Co.'S Sash and Blind
Factory at the foot of IIasse Street and the report
though vague one-iS, that it appeared in three
places at the same time Crossing to the other side
OF Hassell Street. it has burned Cameron Co.'S
immense Machine Shops, and under the impulse ac-
CURED at that point and the stiff breeze from the
Northeast, without sufficient supply of water-ior
it is dead low tide-it has become totally unman-
ageable, and RACES without the hope Of being able
to arrest it. except at certain strategic points, upon
which extraordinary interests depend
The fire advanced steadily onward, stopping only
yhoph Lol,
to burn. We give some notes of the disastrous re-
suits:
The CATHEDRAL OF ST. FNBAR-This splendid
structure, built only about eight years ago, was
justly rated one of the finest architectural ornaments
of our city. 1t was constructed of brown stone in
a very massive and costly manner. Ali the sacred
vessels were saved The Bishops residence attach
ed to the Cathedral, contained very rare and val
liable library, portion of which saved.
The CIRCULAR CHCRCH.-The site recently occu-
pied by the Circular Church was formerly in the
memory of many of our old citizens the locus que
Of brick church, known as the white Meeting"
1t had its origin coevay with the settlement of the
city in 1850.
On the 25th May, 1906, the new building was
opened for the first tme with appropriate religious
exercises. The new building was circular in FORM
and IS feet in diameter In 1888, the addition of a
lofty spire lS2 feet high, added to the appearance
of the building
4 few years since, the church was entirely reno
waited, at an expense of so, 900, rendering it of
the most beautiful and consistently arranged of our
city places of worship.
The CUMBERLAND STREET MErHoDIsT) CHURCH.
This was plain substantial structure, aifnrding
commodous apartments for their large congregation
with galleries and basement rooms for very large
slave membership. 1t was swept away in the great
fire of 1898 and rebuilt soon AFTER 1t is again en-
tirey destroyed.
G. IN. NJ
street. between Broad and Tradd Streets was q neat
and we'll arranged edfce with ground floor and
galleries The congregation is quite full one, and
1t 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 ofQueen street,
was burned to the ground.
TIE ST. ANDREWS HALI--Ths well known and
historic building, in which the Convention Of the
People of South Carolina held its sittings andagreed
upon the Ordinance Of Secession, the Doth of
December of last year, is now in ruins. The walls
standing, but the interior is entirely consumed
INSTITUTE HALL-This magnificent Hall, the
largest in the South, is lost TO us, and We feel sure
that it will be seriously missed-connected as it was
with the popular heart by the fact that within its
walls, the first uprsings of the people OF Charleston
in this revolution had utterance; and more than all,
because the Ordinance of Secession was ratified
there.
The Office of the Southern Express Company was
burned to the ground, and large quantity of mis-
cesueous goods was lost The Express Office will,
we learn, be reopened in Meeting street, opposite
the Charleston Hotel, in few days.
The Savings Bank is sufferer to the extent of
its convenient office; all the papers, books Of
counts, records &c, saved. We regret to hear
that the Treasurer, Henry S. Griggs, Esq, who
sided the premises, lost all of his household fur
nture and portion of very valuable collection Of
paintings, which he had been collecting for some
years.
The Apprentices Library is We learn total loss.
To no will this be more distressing than to the
octogenarian gentleman Dr. JOS johnson, under
whose the society has been for so many years.
In addition to this, the doctor is, we believe, him
self sufferer by the confagration.
CAMERON & Co.'S "PHGNIx IRoN-woRKs."- This
extensive foundry and machine shops is again in
ashes, being the second time in the last ten years
that its energetic and popular propretors have been
visited with fire. The entire premises in ruins,
including large quantities of shot, shell, and other
ordnance stores, ready for delivery to the Confede-
rate States amongst which were valuable and i'm
proved machinery for rifng cannon, making per-
cussion caps, &c. The powerful steam fire engine,
which was prominently at work during the con6a-
grafton at different points, built at this estab
lishment
One of the most gratifying incidents of the fire of
Wednesday night was the zeal manifested by our
slaves in their efforts remen and laborers. The
entire coored population, male and female, worked
most earneStly-and not unfrequently masters and
their saves could be seen working together in re-
moving the household goods and valuables. We
noticed one instance, particularly, where white
haired old oody servant giving way to his feel
ings-sobbing btterly-at the loss of the family
mansion wbar we ben libin' all our libes"