The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-12-28
The Destruction OF Charleston

From the accounts we are able to obtain of
the fire at Charleston, which although not very
full are apparently authentic, it is probable that
the entire business portion of the city s in ash
es The most fashionable part of the town, where
the planters had their winter residences, and
where were the finest churches, hotels and other
public buildings, is certainly destroyed, and
without much doubt the whole lower part of the
city is consumed, leaving only the poorest part
of Charleston, which has long been the pride
and the boast Of the whole South. Among the
public buildings burned are the custom house,
and the post Office, both having accommoda-
tions in the same building, the City hall, the
court house, Hibernian hall, Institute hall, where
Breckinridge was nominated for President in
1860, st. Andrews hall, where the ordinance of
secession Of South Carolina was passed, and the
theater, which was built more than hundred
years ago. The hotels destroyed included the
Mills House, the finest hotel in the southern
states, the Charleston Hotel Planters Hotel and
Jungb,uth's. The churches destroyed are the
Church of st. Michael said to be the oldest
church in America, the magnificent Catholic Ca
thedral, the Circular Congregational church, the
French Protestant church, the First Presbyteri-
an church, and St. Phillips Protestant Episcopal
church The offices of the Mercury and the
Courier shared the general destruction, and it is
supposed the large wharves projecting into the
Cooper river were burned, together with all the
buildings and stores upon them, and it is thought
that the larger portion of the provisions in the
city we're stored in the devastated region. The
iron foundry Of Cameron & Co., where have been
manu- actured shot and shell for the rebel army
ever since the war commenced, was one Of the
first buildings destroyed.
While this sudden annihilation Of whole city,
causing so much misery to thousands of people,
and resulting in the destruction Of property
worth millions of dollars, must fill every heart
with pity, the loyal people of the country cannot
resist the impression that Charleston has met
with lust retribuiion. She has always harbor.
| ed the most malignant spirits, who would seem
enough to draw down the curse of Heaven on any
CITY, In the days of the revolution it was the re-
cognized hiding place of tories; several years
later notification was hatched here, and here
was born and nourished that monster, Secession.
II the destruction was as complete as appearan-
ces now indicate, Charleston will never be re-
built. The demands of business will not require
its reconstruction, for there is no commerce
there And even if it was desirable to rebuild
the city, it would be simply impossible in the
present state if finances at the South. Beaufort
has many natural advantages over Charleston,
and added to these the Yankee enterprise which
will be carried there before the war 10 through,
| there is the strongest evidence that this place
will hereafter be the emporium of the state.
The ruins Of Charleston only will remsin to mark
the site where the city once stood that had plot.
Ited the overthrow Of the best government in the
world. p4 t,.,.s.-.,
If later accounts should confirm the report
that the fire was caused by the slaves, the desc
laticn will be still more significant. It will show
that Charleston has nursed in her bosom that
VIPER slavery, till it has stung her to tho vitals
and the cry Of distress that now comes up from
this doomed city, is but the beginning of wal
that will soon arise from all tho, South. 1t can
not be otherwise. The malo population of the
South to large extent are doing military ser
! vice, and the slaves have fearful power. Tks
only question is, will they find it out and use IT,
and there is no other SO sure method Of arousinf
/ them, as the beholding of such q panic as ha!
fallen on the inhabitants Of Charleston. Il i
terrible to think Of the ruin that is impending
over the South, which like the sword OF Damo
cles, is only restrained from falling by q singl'
hair.-[S springfield Republican.
Two Russian officers in Warsaw, Count Lam
bert and Gen. Gerstenzwig, recently got into
1 quarrel and could only settle il by duel; bu
as duel at that time, between two high person
ages, presented sEreat inconveniences, the bel
ligerents decided that one Of the two should xii
himself the same evening, and that lots shoul
be drawn to decide which it would be. The 10
fell on Gen. Gerstenzwig, who accordingly she
himself through the head as per agreement
The Richmond Examiner of the nth has
mournful pIaint over the federal recognition q
the State of West Virginia, urges its restoratio
a by the Confederacy as the sine qua non Of tn
i war struggle, and says: "Western Virginia |
indispensable to Eastern Virginia and the Cor
| fodorscv Anart from nolitical consideration,