The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-19
THE FIRE AT CHARLESTON.

We are enabled, by the dispatches received oD Wed
nesday from Baltimore and accounts taken from Rich.
mond papers lay before readers further particr
lars Of the great conhagraon Charleston S. c. on
| 1lth instant They differ somewhat from that which
published on sunday to the OF the Gre-that
portion Of East Bay running from Market Broad street,
State street, Hayne street, and portions Of Queen and
Chalmers between Meeting and East Bay, having escaped.
All the banks and newspaper Offices therefore escaped
| destruction
The theatre OF the fire embraced all the territory cont
prsed within the following sreets--East Bay, both
sides, from Pnckney to Hazel along Hazel westerly to
Meeting street down Meeting both sides Horlbeck'a
alley, along Horlbecks alley and Clifford street to Arch
dale, down Archdae to Queen, along Queen to Mazyck
down Mazyck to Broad, along Broad to Savage; making
clean sweep Of all the residences from this point, ID
Savage New Logan and Broad streets, up TO King; and
from here in northeastery direction Queen and
Cumberland to the northeast Of M"rAet street.
The fire. as we have before sSed is said to have orgi;
mated in Mr. Russes sash and blind factory corner Of
Hazel street East Bay, through the negligence o.
treachery Of negroes at about nine O'Clock me
night the 18th nst and in the short space Of sever
hours reduced to ashes five hundred houses the
principal portion OF which were dwellings Az last ac+
counts the flames Broad street and destroyed
oil the houses in Savage, New e"" Logan STREETS The
buildings in the burnt district were nearly all wood, old
and closely built and SO exceedingly inammable In lhcs
driving hundreds Of poor families from their homes in the
most utter state Of restitution.
Losses estimated at seven million dollars.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 10, 1861.
We have the Norfolk Day Book Of Tuesday, which con.
tsns extracts from the Charleston Courier and Ksrc
relative fire. but there is little additional to what
has already been teegraphed
W. P. Russell Co., owners OF the factory where the
FIRE commenced, say the establishment had been closed
the left. Tho proprietor did leave for
an hour and half or more after the work!
men. When he left everything was in order,
and there signs Of fire. In about hour and
a half afterwards Mr.. Russell heard the alarm From
these circumstances he infers that the fire set oc
the result OF carelessness tho part OF q
number OF country negroes, who had been quartered
under old shed adjoining his establishment allow:
ing their camp fires to get the better OF them After the
breaking out of the fire the flames continued to
in violence and with the scarcity Of water to
defy oil human efforts to arrest them. Keeping
a southwcsterly course, the roaring ele-
ments rushed through like forked lightning.
The work Of destruction King and Queen was
truly terrible Roof after roof fell in, and the fire rushed
OF the windows and Tapped around the buildings in
awfully sublime manner. The flames spread right and
left, making clean sweep of tho residences in Logan
New savage and Mazyck streets and the lower
end Of Broad could the work Of destruction and dc
ISOLATION have been stayed had it not been that the FIRE
exhausted itself for want Of material
In addition the churches already mentioned destroyed
was the Quaker meeting house in King street
The Savings Institution burned, and tho large
Southern Express building also gone The Mills House
only saved through almost superhuman oxertons,
and its blackened walls attest severe trial.
The Catholic cathedral was rated one Of the finest
architectural ornaments Of the city 1t was constructed
or brown stone, in very massive and costly manner.
The fine building of the Sisters of Mercy saved The
tensve foundry and machine shops of Cameron Co.
entirely destroyed. They embraced eight buildings, an
Office, an erecting shop, machine and fitting shop,
foundry blacksmith shop, two boiler shops, pattern
storeroom and iron room. The stock of material on
hand including large quantity for government pur-
poses was valued not less than $500 600 The nsu-
rance is not stated.
McCabe & Hauckels State cotton press also de-
stroyed. The value OF the building and machinery was
800 900 The building contained 800 900 pounds OF Sea
Island cotton belonging to Edsto and Johns islands plant
There insurance the cotton The press
insured for $4,000 Fistytwo bales of upland cotton
also destroyed.
Among the handsome residences destroyed were hoss
of Bishop Lynch, George NJ Coffin, Mr.. J. B, Haywards
Postmaster Huger, Miss Bowman John Laurcus Dr. Ha-
zyck Capt. Rutedgs John Bonnell, Messrs Middleton,
Nckaig, Gravely and Williams.
The Courier says tho most gratifying incident OF the
Are the zeal manifested by the slaves in their efforts
fremen and laborors. Tho entire population, male
and female, worked most earnestly Subscriptions for
the poor sufferers by the terrible conagraton had been
opened the Bank Of Charleston and 81 900 had been
subscribed.
The Commissary General had posted notice for food
and shelter for those deprived Of houses by the sad
lamity. Many obtained application to r. q
Holmes, at tho Soldiers Wsysde Depot corner Of Ann
and Navy streets.
The Mercury Of Friday says yesterday was gloomy
day for Charleston. Business universally suspended
aud with ore impulse our community united in giving
sympathy and aid to the victims OF the great public
lamity.
The Courier says the fearful conaagraton that has jase
passed over city will cause the 18th Of December,
1861 hereafter be remembered Of those dark
and trying periods which for the &c parayze
all tho long cherished hopes and bright anticpaons OF
future We have been visited by Of those mys-
terous dspcnsaons Of Providence which we cannot at
tempt solve. Our city has received terrible blow
which will take the work of years to repair. Let US
ourselves then for another START thankful we are
sti left with the bold spirit and strong arms, 70
make new and perhaps more substantial prosperity feS