The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-12-17
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN CHARLES
TON s. C.

TON, s. g.
From the Charleston Mercury of Thursday, Dec l2tt
About 9 O'Clock last evening the alarm ran,
out, calling the citizens to quell the beginning O
a fire, which, in the subsequent extent AM
rapidity of its ruinous sweep, will compare wit
the most terrible confagrations which have eve
visited the American continent. The wild worI
of the flames, and the immense destruction 0
property which has thus far taken place is chief
attributable to the sudden and unfortunate change
IN the weather, which occurred almost smutane
ously with the breaking out of tile fire. The
mild and spring like canIness of the atmosphere
during the last fortnight 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 n mile in a South
west direction, and the whole city brightly lit
mp by the dreadful and widening glare
Before 10 o'clock, the fire had begun raging in
several different points in the lower part of the
city. The buildings in the stricken ncichborhoods
were mostly OF wood old, closely built and sur
rounded by small out-buiidings of an exceedingly
infammabie character. As tenement after tenc-
ment was first licked by and then enveloped in
the fast spreading flames, the panic became awful
i he fierce and roaring march of the fire was
indeed horrid scene; but far more heart-rending
was the 81 ght of hundreds-we ought, perhaps to
driven suddenly from their homes, destitute even
OF their scanty effects. All the available carts,
drays, handcarts and wheelbarrows, We're immed-
lately brought into requistion; but these were
altogether inadequate to remove even 1.-THE of
the novables beyond the reach of the devouring
element
Towards midnight the fire had assumed proper
tlon OF appalling magnitude. The circumference
which 1t embraced was such as to reader the most
70 of, &C c.
paratlve insgnfcance. The regiments from the
Race Course came down at the double quick to the
burning Wards, and co-operated most earnestly
and lndefatlgably in the labors of our undaunted
nrenen. But still the Northeastern gale famed
the lire with its desoatng breath, and the people
began almost to despair of checking the progress
OF the disaster. From the precincts of Market
East bay and State streets, the confaglation had
now reached Meeting aud Queen Streets The
terror OF the families lin many eases without their
usual protectors, owing to the military igencies
OF the times) was contagious and much farther up
into the city the work of picking up vaIua bes and
getting ready to desert their homesteads became
general.
The fire began in Russell & Co.'S Sash and Blind
Factory at the foot of H9seil Street. and the re-
port-thOugh vague one--is, that it appeared in
three places at the time. Crossing to the
other side of Hasell Street it burned Cameron &
90. S immense Machine Shops and under the iul-
pulse acquired at that point and the stiff breeze
from the Northeast, without sufficient supply of !
water it become totally dnmanageable and ragged |
without the hope of being able to arrest it, ex-
cept at certain stragetic points
Meeting street, f ON Mark ct TO Queer was one !
mass of fame. The circular Church and Insti- |
tute Hall were burnt.
AT l o'clock the track of the confederation
began to be clearly defined. Leaping Church ;
street, lon which no block, excepting that next to
Market, was burnt,) the fire steadily pursued its
south-westerly course towards the corner Of Arch
dale and Queen streets.
A splendid effort was made by the fire comma
nies to save the house of l.. w. Spratt, Esq. on
East Bay street. which was successful; and with it
Vas saved the fine line of buildings on Hasell ST.,
he fate of which depended upon that result.
Passing to the south, westward, the fire swept
the entire tract to the rear of the Charleston
hotel, and to the end of the Hayne street ranges
There are no buildings north of Market street,
md east OF the Hayne street stores, still standing
except, perhaps, those Of Henry Gcrtds and the
Misses Pinckney. Crossing Market street, the fire
extended down East Bay to Cumberland street,
md thence across to the Mills House, taking, in
is way, the Circular Church, Institute Hall the
charleston Theatre, all the buildings upon King
treet, from Clifford street up to within few
ioors OF Broad street. Crossing King street, the
lanes approached the rear of the Cathedral, the
nitarian and the English Lutheran churches.
In the lower part of the city, the fire has done I
is work in thorough style. Nothing nov remains
o mark where it has passed, save smoudering ;
'iles of cinders and gaunt and smoking walls and
himneys. The Charleston Hotel is safe, and
dayne street, too. The wind swept the danger l
H. further to the South. Although the fire ragged
IN three sides of the Mills House, that fine struc
ure did not catch. The Theatre, Lleyd's Coach ]
factory, opposite, the Express Office, the old
Executive building, and all the houses between
hat point and Queen street have been burned
A change in the wind bent the course Of the
Ire towards Broad street. The buildings on the {
vest side of Friend street, near the corner of {
queen and St. Andrews Hall were consumed
Great, indeed, has been the calamity which has
allen upon our noble old city But let us, with {
lnfaing hope and courage, bestr ourselves at
nee to amend the losses we have sustained, and
o relieve each according to bis means the |
reat sufferings which the fire must entail upon
Is poor victims. 4
SOUTHERN CONGRESS .