The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-15
Burning or Observation-Disclosures Negro
1msurreciiOn.

We publish this morning details by telegraph
Of the almost total destruction by fire of
the business portion Of the city of Charles
ton-ore of the most extensive couhagra-
tons which ever took place on the American
continent, The news in brief reached this city
yesterday forenoon, and created the greatest
excitement. But the particulars which we fur
nisl our readers this morning are appalling in
the extreme.
II appears that the fire broke ont abou. nine
o'clock on Wednesday night, in Russell Il Co.'S
sash factory, in Hazel street. at the intersection
OF East lay street, close TO the Cooper river,
and extended across the street to Cameron's
great iron foundry, where rebel cannon have
been manufactured ever since the rebellion
broke ont. 1t extended along East Buy
street to Broad, and through Broad street
in the direction of Meeting street. By
reference to the map which We publish
on our first page, it will be seen that
the burned district extends from East Bay on
the east TO King street west and from Broad
street south TO Queen street north. But the fire
was still raging, and had crossed TO the south
side of Broad street in one portion of that
street. How far il may have since travelled
south, north and west it is impossible 10 tell
As it is, the heart Of the city is burned out,
and property to the amount Of ten millions of
dollars is consumed.
IT is worthy of remark that Institute halt
where the Democratic Convention was held
which split the party and split the nation; the
theatre to which the secessionists retired to
hold separate conventions st. Andrews Hal!.-
whore The Mozart faction figured: the Charles.
ton Hotel aud Che Mills House where The war
ring factions respectively held their headquar-
tcrs; Hibcrnan Hall where the secession ord
nance wa passed: ,be cannon ard ammunition
foundr'es. the treason shops of the Nercuv
and t9aItef, and tie Headquarters OF Governor
Pic&enshayc been ali laid IN ashes. Doc ro4
look Ike a retrhution of Providence ti,t +
omen ard type of the future desirt,c, "a of
the rebellion!
What was the precise origin of tho fire is not
yet satisfactorily settled. But there is q Gene
raj belief that it WAS The work Of thc inccnli-
ary Among the poor whites there is a,nple
cause for discomfort oppression OF the drest
kind Whether any Of these have taken the
present opportunity to avenge themselves, or
whether they have acted in concert with the
negroes, We are unable TO determine II is
stated that quantity of arms was found under
the floor OF negroes cabin. ''all new and in
good order he could have only obt;ined
Them from white men. Other negroes were found
to have knives and hatchcts secrctcd. Ii is
stated indeed, that a negro who has been az
rested is the incendiary, and that his act was
but the carrying out Of plot revcaled by
some of The negroes to their nasters In tiris
connection II may he observed tlat, in the alb
sence OF the fremen III the army, the
negroes were called upon to WORK ,he en-
gincs. md they broke the two beat Of
them We are informed that he negro
instruction was promptly suppressed. But
of that the evidence is not very satisfactory
for we are told that they were to be joined by
large bands OF negroes from the country, who
were TO come in armed at night Another &C.
| count states that servie insurreetion had
actually broken out in the country two days
previous 10 thc Gre and that i: Was sii!l in pro-
| g,ess: but this is no. confirmed. 1t is evident
that the terror which prevailed could not have
I been tie result Of an accidental FIRE, however
| extensive. We are told that families were
barricadng their houses and that the greatest
CONSERVATION prevailed.
| 1. will he recollected by cir readers that
| General Drayton. who commanded The rebel
| force at Port Royal took pains to state that
| the slaves were all quiet, and showed 10 dispo-
sition 10 leave their masters OF join the federal
! standard. We thought at the time that this
statement. looked suspicious; and it il probable
| that ci.hcr Dyayton was disnmbiing or that
Ike negroes dissemblcd in order that they
might !ul suspicion. The slaves ale cumming
and tbs is just The course they would be likely
| to Pursue if they meant mischief
Should the news o. the insueeetion prove true
II will spr MI terror and constcrnation ali over
IN. Sou,n, as Ola N. T9rnes,s negro innrree-
ton n Virginia in 1884. and the negro iJ'safsee-
tioa Of Denmark vcsey in Charleston Itself IN
1872, which wa fomented by abolition enis-
saries from St Domingo and New York. Al
that tame six thousand ncgroeS We're enrolled