Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-16
THE GREAT FIRE III CHARLESTON.
A Negro InsurrectiOn i'll Charleston
REPORTED INSURRECTION OF SLAVES IN
TIE INTERIOR OF THE STATE STILL
RAGING.
The Charleston Fire Still Burning at
last accounts.

FoRTREss MONROE, Dec. 13.-The Norfolk
Day Book has the following -
"BRANcuyILLB, Dee. 12-Passengers just
arrived report destructive fire last night at
Charleston The telegraph wires in that city
were destroyed by the fire. The fire com
menced last night, at o'clock, in Russell &
Co.'s sash factory, at the foot Of llazeI street,
and communicated 10 the opposite side Of Hazel
street, to Cameron & Co.'S machine shops
Under the Impulse thus given, and a stiff
breeze, with a small supply Of water, the CON
fllgratlon assumed formidable character
nearly equailing the most extensive conhagra-
ton on the American continent The theater,
Floyls coach factory, opposite the express
office, the old executive building, and all the
houses between that point and Queen street
are burued The whole of one side of Broad
street is destroy ed, from Colonel Gadsdun's
residence to MazyCk street, A considerable
portion of the city from East Bay to KING
street, is destroyed. Among the prominent
building burned are TIE Institute aud St. An
drews Halls, the thegtgr, the Cathohc cathe,
dral, and the Circular church.
BRANcuv1LLE, Dec. Il. 5 P. N M-The fire is
still raging. a thousand bouserss persons
are huddled in the streets
BALTIMORE, Dec II The Old Point boat
brings report OF the discovery, and prompt
suppression by tile military authorities OF a
negro insurrection at Charleston. The aC-
count states that the plot was disclosed by
bJdy servant Of a military officer who said
that the negroes OF tHe city were to be armed
by a large baud OF negroes from the country,
who were to come in armed at night. He
said the sash factory had been fired by free
negro whom he designated, and who las been
arrested. A small quantity OF arms was found
und.r the floor OF "a negro cabin. They were
all new and in good orier. In other negro
cabins, knives aud halchets were found secret
ed. The greatest CONSERVATION prevailed.
Families Were closing and barring their WIN
dowS. Fire companies were being formed
composed Of men not engaged on military duty
etsew here, lire engines were worked by negroes
who broke and rendered useless the two best
ones. The offices of the Courier and Mercury
are said to be destroyed.
Another account states that negro insurrec-
tions had broke out III tie interior Of South
Carolina two days before the fire and remained
I unchecked; but tie last report is not well au.
thentiCnted
BALTIMORE, Dec. 15.-The captain of the
NOtluik bOaJ was lulOrmth ny Tue captain 0i
the sieamer Illinois which has arrived at Old
Point from Port Ro, al, tiat he passed within
six miles Of Charleston harbor, at 10 o'clock
on Thursday night. The tremendous confla-
grafton was then eyideaty at its height The
reflection OF it on the clouds exceeded every
thing he ever saw, and the whole bay, with
the dark outlines OF fort Sumter, was brightly
Illuminated. 1t didnt appear like a r, fl .ction
from sm0ldering ruins, but from Il raging, un-
conrolabe condagration. This is later than
the Norfolk Day Books dispatch.