Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-12-19
SECOND DISPATCH.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

SECOND DISPATCH.
| FURTHER PARTICULARS.
RECEIAED, WILMINGTON, N. c., DEC. I2-2k P. NJ.
[Tbe following account the Charleston Mercury
of this morning. and is teegaphed the associated Press
| by the operator at Branchyle
About o'clock last evening the alarm rang out, calling
the citizens quell the beginning of the fire, which, in the
subsequent extent and rapdity of its ruinous sweep will
compare with the most terrible conagration which has
er visited the American continent
Before 10 o'clock the fire had begun raging several
different points in tie lower part of the city, the buildings
in the neighb being mostly of wood Old closely
built, and surrounded by small outbudngs of exceed
ingly indamable character.
As tenement after tenement enveoped in the fast
spreading flames, the panic became awful thousands of
poor bewidered families driven suddenly from their
homes, destitute of their scanty effects.
Towards midnight the fire had assumed proportions
of appalling magnitude. The regiments from the Race
Course came down double quick the burning wards
and cooperaed most earnestly in the labos the remen
From the precincts of Market Eas Bay and State
the confagraton had reached Meeting and Green
Streets The terror of families in many without
their protectors owing to the military exgencies of he
times contagious and much farther up the city
work of packing up vauables and getting ready to desert
their homestead became general.
To give anything like full account of the results OF what
will hereafter be known the great fire 1851 is impos-
sibe at present.
The fire began in Russell Co.'S. Sash and Blind Factory
at the foot of Hasse street. and the report vague one is
that it appeared in three places at he same time.
Crossing to the other side of Hasse street. has burned
Cameron & Co.'S immense machine shops, and under the
impulse acquired at that point and the stiff breeze from
the Northeast without sufficient supply of water, the fire
has become totally unmanageabe and RACES without the
hope of being able it, except at ce4tan points
Eleven O'Clock Oast night) The outbuiIdngs in the
Of Institute Hall have been fire by the span ks
The attention of the remen has been directed thhe and
they srainng every TO Meeting street.
The frame buildings Green smokiDg and will
presently blaze forth.
Twelve o'cock-Meeting street, from Market to Queen,
is one of flame. The Circular Church and Institute
Hall burning, and the Mills House is thought be in
imminent danger, while the fire to be stretching
around the Charleston Hotel
There has been general deseon of both hotels by the
guess, under the impression that they be saved.
One ocock-Toe track of the conf gratiol begins to be
clearly defined Leaving Church Street. on which block
excepting that next to Market has baen burned the
steadily pursuing its souhwardy towards the
of Archdae and Queen streets.
About half hour ago. it commenced drizzng and the
rain began falling, which may perhaps help in keeping
damp tops of the wooden houses exposed danger from
the sparks.
The people understand that the fire has stretched
this way furniture being far up as Mazyck
street.
Two o'clock AT this hour the fire is still raging with
violence scarcely ao&ted.
a
the house of L. w. Spratt, Esq, East Bay which
successful and with it saved the fac line of buildings
Hasse street, the fate of which depended upon
suit
Passing to the sOuthwesward the fire has swept the
tire tract to the of the Charleston Eote and the
end of the Hayne street ranges.
There buildings north of Market street, east of the
Hayne street sore still standing, except perhaps those Of
Henry Gerds and the Misses Piuckney.
Crossing Market street the fire has extended down East
Bay to Cumberland street, and thence Mills
House, taking in It's the Circular Church. Institute Hail.
the Charleston Theatre, and all the buildings upon King
street, from Clifford up to within few doors of Broad
Crossing King street the flames are approaching the rear
the Cathedral the Unitarian and the English Lutheran
Churches Whether it will to the covered by
these Churches, pass the Mills House down Meeting
street, is still uncertain.
The Fire Department is making Incredible exertions-
The are in the last stages of exhauso springng
ward each occasion with renewed vgoT exhi
billions of courage and endurance have been rarely witness
| ed.
Three o'eock.-The seeple of the Circular Church has
just toppled and fallen with heavy crash.
Gen. Ripley, who is moving fro, superintending
the movement of troops with characteristic energy issued
orders hours to blow certain buildings in the
track Of the flames The execution Of this order delayed
at first, has at length been accomplished.
Ever and during the hour the explosions have
rent the air in the lower part of the city. The fire his
done its work in thorough style It's path is burned
out, and nothing remains mark where has passed
iuD
walls and chimneys.
The Charleston Hotel is safe and Hayne street too The
wind has swept the danger further off to the South. Al
though the fire three sides the Mills
fine structure has not caught.
The Theatre Loyds coach factory opposite the Express
office, the old Executive building and all the houses
tween that point and Queen have been burned
The fire seems making slightly towards the Jail Com
MES of the have been ordered
possible dlsta banee among the prisoners confined
that building. The wind has abated somewhat.
-Four oclockA change in the wind has bent the course
OF the fire towards Broad street. The Lutheran Uni
tartan churches considered safe The Cathedra
seems now IN great danger.
The buildings the side of Friend street. near the
corner of Queen are burning ferce. ST. Andrews Hal
Is on he and the noble spire OF ST. Fnbas gtters
splendor of porenous import. The occupants of hCus
es on Broad street. beyond King, moving their effects
Five and quarter o'clock the clock of st Michael
tolls the quarter, the Cathedral steepe has fallen with
tremendous crash The athedral is burning frriously
j. likewise St. Andrews Hall.
In fact the whole of Broad street is on fire from Mr.
Gadsden's to Mazyck street. The residences of Messrs
Geo. NJ ofin JAS. L. Petgrew, and others by, arr
u consumed. -
The flames have now crossed Broad street. and as tn
wind has not nlied it is impossible say where they vii
), stop short Of the river.
There does not appear be any imminent danger of tn
hre again making he&dway either to the right the
e of the fnnow which has through the ty or
East Bay to King street, but the lead conf
great strides
Great indeed has been the calamity which has fallen upo
Is our noble old city, but let with smiling hope and cou
age bestH ourselves nd we hav
sustained and relieve each according his means
great suffering which the fire entail upon its poor viz
tlms
WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?-We fad the following in IL
a. a. Little Rock State Journal, of the 26th utuo
III CoNsPIRAcY.-We hear of a secres organic ltie
which has been formed in Searcy ara Van Buren, cou
ties' OF this State, and the rap'1catlons OF which
- extend TO other counties -Yhe OF many indvl
tn