Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-03
TERRIBLE FIRE-GREAT DESTRUCTION or
PROPERTY.

From The Wilmington Journal, april SOFA
Yesterday morning at 20 minutes 70 l o'clock, fire
broke out in warehouse or shed, the western SIDE
of the Cape Fear River, some 200 feet .uih Of the
Ferry, which 10 opposite to the Market D.ci.
Ffcm this point it spread with anazilg rspidty, and
in ncSnceivaby short epacs o. tins every building
the side Of tbs river south Of the depot OF
the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad was enveloped
in flames.
When We arrived at the d7ck the whole western ba1k
OF 9 RIVER for several squtres was one Inns Of fame
aud it feared that the lairo.d Depot with the work.
sh ps of the company, would aIso be destroyed.
The destruction Of properly is very great We sum
il IS nearly as We a. follows:
TIE Csnfsdera.e GsTernnens list 500 bales cotton
burnt, of which about 200 Sea Isand-ssy $780,
600 Il lost also in mstefals and work in progress
Berrys Ship Yard, about 100000
T. Andres lost 800 bales Of cotton-300 OF II Sea
I.land-ssy 81 4S0 600
.Tuc Nashville Il Chattanooga Railroad Company lost
1877 Daes; w Thon.s, % bslss-say 5000 900.
In Capt. Halets Sheds there we're $50 bales Of cot
ton, Al OF it Sea land belonging to tie State of Vr
gnia AID sundry ohst parties Also rops and bageing
to tie amoant OF $l00. GOO. All burned Total loss
abolt 5000 600.
Rankin and Martin, Ro,is OIL Works. about SIC, O00
Inurance to the amount Of 81 900 b. Hsle.s loss in
shed ab,u; s25 O0O Irsursnce S,00O
Toe SouherI Express Company lost tive cars with
merchsGdis, also some MERCHANDISE in small wars
house Loss abou. 100000.
iona a. laylor, enes &C., ~ rerry, SlU,UUo.
Toe damage 10 the mschiuery ard tools At B. W. b
w. L. Ber,y's ship-,srd is comparatively light Nest
of the workmens tools saved They sIpec. 70 be
abs to resume work in about hree weeks. The sheds
aud saw mill machinery in rear Of the ship yard 10 the
principal loss. Estimates total, $25 000
Tee Wlmngton ana Manehes er Railroad Conpfoy
lost ths email wooden building in vbish tue President,
Treasurer Sup rntcl dent had their ices All tie
cont we're ssved The building was OF iltls value.
Tao chief O,s OF railroad properly was rs freight cars,
IL o. th,m belonging to the Georgia Central Road 8
TO the Wilmington aud Manchester Road, and TO the
Southern Expr.ss Company. Total loss in cars $780,,
600
Thus FAR We have summing up of about four mil
Lon eight hundctt thousand dollars but this does lot
include the itjury to quarter Of mile OF vhaliag
mainly ~ net nor the loss Of tina suede snd buildings
belonging to ,he Confederate government and to other
pa ties Nor the jury the cotton press These and
other thj gs not necessary mention hardly be
tmaed fer at the present lime, since II may be impos
sbls rep ace them and difhcu. 10 do without them
We happy, indeed learn that the press it
.et 10 expected to be in operation again in short time
liz is probable that when the whole loss 10 known, and
the wi aEyes buildings etc., have been included the
whole loss will fall little If anything short Of six mil
lions Of dollar,
Tao us-s ,ubts expressed to whether this tire
mendous fire accidental the result of incsndi,r
i'm Il may have beel eli her. We have not been ne
TO d any thing that will warrant US in saying that
it the the other, If excep. the astonist-
ing rapidy OF s spread which does look though it
tao repd TO be merely .enta and gives riss
.uspcions of foul play, al hough indeed the combus
hbiiy of all the materials the fire had to wosk UPON
coud hardly be increased.