The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-16
GREAT FIRE IN CHARLESTON
TERRIBLE LOSS or PROPERTY,
Great Distress and Suffering.
LIST OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
&C., &C.. &c.

10 De remembered as one OF those dark ant
trying periods which for the moment seem Il
paralize all their long cherished hopes ane
bright antici patlons of the future. We hav,
received Charleston papers of the 18th inst.
bringing full particulars of the great fire In
that city--the loss of property, list of suffer
ings, &c. The elaborate teiegraphic repor-
which appeared in orr columns on Frida,
last gave an account OF the progress Of the fir.
up to II O'Clock, A. NJ, Thursday. TIL.
Charleston MgcaTp. of the 18th inst, fFri
oay,) furnishes us with the following add
tionsl particulars
Yesterday was gloomy day for Charles
t"n, business WAS universally sus pended
anu Win one impulse, our community uni tee
III giving sympathy and aid To the victims O.
the great public calamity
tur report, in our last issue, of the progress,
OF the lire closed at quarter past five O'Clock
on yesterday, when the majestic spre of Lhe
Cathedral had Just tottered and crashed heav-
ny through the burning roof From that
unte The DISASTER may be said TO have rs.
snIned 4 new phase. The Han es ieaped madly
aci pss Broad street, and, forsaking the bust.
hf ss neigh boThoods which they had aIread y
dessated, they seemed To devote Their wh ole
Jury against the elegant private residence:
which have so long been the pride Of the
southwestern portion of our CITY, & thest
beaAtil III homesteids sUcCuIajod, one sitter
smother, - the reSistless march OF he de
stroyln.- element, the scene Vas awful.
The fare advanced steadily onward, stop
ping only, when having reay! ell the river, il
had holnng more TO burn. We give some
notes OF the disastrous results:
q rHE CATHEDRAL OF 81. gIsP4R.
This splendid structure, built oriy about
eight yeai ago, was Justly rated one Of the
finest aroni tee turAi ornaments 81 our city
Ii WAS cons ted OF brown stone, III Il very
massive Il ad costly manner. All HE sacred
vessels w>re saved. The Bishops residence
attached 10 the Cathedral cen tanned a rare
and yalua bic library, portion OF 4ch was
saved.
THE CIRCULAR cHUs0z.
The site re,ently occupied BY the Circular
Church was formerly, in the memory OF
many OF our old citizens, the l0..,s T.. ga 81 a
brick church, uown is the " hite Nee ting.
l. bad ITS origlE cOeyaily with tie settlement
OF the city IN 1850. The congregation was
originally Presbyterian, but probably united
both CohgTegatlonaiists and PresbyteTidns.
In 1884 the later separated and commenced
worship ii a new wooden edl1oe, on the 81 te
OF the present scotch Church" The pull
pit has been filled for period OF 10 years,
by seventeen pastors, commencing with the
Rev. HesSTs PIeTpOnt, Adams, and Cotton,
i'll the latter fifteen wears OF the 18th cen fury.
and foiiov wed by the Rev. Stobo, Livingston,
BGssett, Parker, Smith. EdInonds, Hutson,
Bennett, Thomas, .aenent, Hoiilngshead,
Keith, Palmer, and I'ust.
On the 18th May, ls06. the new building was
opened for the first time, with appropriate re-
llgious exercises. The new building was cir
GUAR in form, and = feet ~ diamter. In ls3S
the addition of u lofty spire, - feet high, ad-
ded 10 the appearance OF the building.
i few years since the Church was entirely
renovated, at an expense OF so, 900, rendering
1t one OF the most beautiful and consistent ~
arranged Of our city places of worship. The
numerous tablets were re set-the Old fash =
Toned pulpit gave place to the -2oTe appro-
PIRATE roStrum-the peWS were re- arranged,
and the manner OF lighting the entire build
irr r.,yg h. -
5. IL and co ally diff light. The building
Is total loss.
TIE CUMBERLAND STREET CnETHoDIsT) CHURCH.
This was q plain, substantial strUcture, al
tording commodious apartments Tor their
large congregation, with galleries anu base
ment rooms for a very large slave neln Der
ship. |. was swept away III the great fire OF
ISIS, and rebuilt soon after. 1t Is again en-
tirely destroyed
ST. PETERS (EPIsCOFAL) CHURCH.
This building was located on Logan street,
between Broad and Tradd streets - was
3 neat and well arranged eaitice, with
ground floor and galleries. The congrega-
tlon Is quite Il full one, and IL has been for
some time past under the rectoTship OF the
Rev Nj. PGeHtiSs. 1t is entirely destroyed.
The FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE.
This uDpretending structure on King
street south of q Ueen street, was burned TO
the ground.
THE ST. ANDREWS HALL.
This we'll known and historic building, in
which the Convention Of the People OF South
Carolina held its sittings and agreed upon
the Ordinance OF Secession on the 10th Of
December OF last year, is now in ruins. The
walls are standing, but the interior is en- tireiy
consumed. We learn that the splendid full
length portrait OF Queen Victoria, by an
eminent artist, which has always been con
eidered one OF the attractions of the room, as
we'll as the portraits of TnnLo, Robertson,
King, and others, were removed in time
INSTITUTE HALL.
This magnificent hall, the largest in the
South is lost 10 us and We feel sure that il
Will be seriously missed-connected ii was
with the popular heart by the tact that with
i'll Is walls the first uprisIngs of the people OF
Charleston in this revolution had utterance
and more than ALL because the Ordinance OF
Secession was ratified there Those who, but
Il short year ago, We're witnesses OF those soul
stirring scenes which ended in secession, will
deeply regret the demolition OF the Institute
TIE EMPRESS BUILDING.
The office OF the Southern Express Com pan y
was burned 10 the ground, and alarge guam
THY OF miscellaneous goods was lost. The
Express office will, we iearn be re-opened IL
Meeting street, opposite the Charles ton Hotel
III u few days
THE sAvINGs' BANK.
This institution is Il sufferer to the extent OF
its convenient office all the papers, books OF
accounts, records, Nc, were saved. We regret
TO hear that the Treasurer, Henry $ Griggs
Esq VINO sesided on the premises, lost all Of
his household furniture, and portion of a
very valuable collection OF paintings, which
he had been collecting for some years.
THE APXRRNrIcEs' LIBRARY
Is, we learn, y total loss. To no one will
This be III ore distressing, than to the octogena-
riAn gen tlemau, DIR. Jos. Johnson, under
whose ct}re the Society has been for so many
wears In add ton TO this, the Doctor is, w.
belieN Z, himself L suHerer Dy the ConHdsfd
ton.
CAMERON co.'s "PHGSlx Iron woRKs.''
This extensive foundry and machine shop;
is again in ashes being the second time in The
last ten years that its energetic and popular
proprietors has been visited With nre. The
entire premises are In ruins, including large
quantities of shot, she'll, apG other ordnance
stores ready for delivery to the Confederate
Government, amongst which were valuable
and improved machinery for rlfilng cannon
making percussion caps, &c. The powerful!
steam ire engine which was prominently al
work during the confiagration at di(ereui
points, was built at this establishment. We
sincerely trust that our staiwart friend and
his eo-workers will soon, phoenix like, arise
from their ashes, and overcoming all obsta-
cles furnish another illustration of theiI
ability TO meet the most disheartening re.
verses with manly fortItude.
INCIDENTS
Capt Steedman Ieadon did yeonan's ser
vice al the fire as engineer. He handled the
powder vii tn marked success, and in almost
every instance where the operation OF blow
ing up houses was performed, the most com
plete SUCCESS was the result. In this hazard
Gus work he was assisted by Capt. Il. Bow
ers who WAS in lured, we regret to say, about
midnight, aud was taken home BY his friends
We trust he is but slightly nlured
One of the most gratifying incidents of the
fire ef Wednesday night, was the zeal mani
tested by our slaves, in their efforts, as fire.
men and laborers. The entire colored popn-
lation, male and female, worked most ear
nestly; and not unfrequentiy, masters and
their slaves could be seen working together
in removing the household goods and valua'
bles We noticed one instance particularly
where Il white- haired old body servant was
giving way TO his feelings-sobbing bitterly
al the loss of the "tamily mansion. where we
been libbin all our lives"