Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-14

TIE fIzH LAST MIGHT - Between seven
and eight o'clock last evening the a!srm Of
fire was given, and in an instant, as it
were, the whole city was illuminated by
the outbursting flames. Men and wo-
men, boys and girls, pushed down to the
seeney and hundreds on hundreds of people
filed the streets In the neighbOrhoOd of the
IRE, and lined the banks overlooking the
fne speotaele.
Although no ore could tell how or pre-
clsely whore the FIRE originated, It evident
ly started in the old ricksty frame building
owned by Levi johnson, Just below and ad-
joining the large establishment of Robert
Hanna & Co., on River street. This build
ing was occupied below, on the dock side,
and used a. junk and carpenter shops by
Hefsrs. Mott and Corlett. It was stated
that the contents of these shops were in
sured to their full value. The front part
and second story Of the building was Occu-
pied, we were told, by miscellaneous set
of very disreputable people of low and in
temperate habits, and the Are no doubt had
its origin in their rooms.
Mr.. johnson had no insurance on his
building, and, perhaps needed none, for it
was so completely valueless that he pro-
posed tearing it down this spring and erect
ing brick block on It's site. He is saved
the trouble of removing it.
While this building was in full blaze,
and itburned like piece of paper, the wind
was blowing fresh from the north, and
the destruction of Mr.. HannaiS establish
ment seemed certain, as the flames were
lifted high enough by the wind to reach
above and pour over like 8 wave upon the
roof. But the wind soon shifted TO the
opposite quarter, and drove the flames upon
Abbey Co.'S. stOneWare establishment,
which was separated from the burning
building by . very narrow alley on itu
northern side. As this building was wood
en- and dry a. finder, the FIRE made rapid
and irresistible headway in it, and quick
ly communicated with the adjoining frame
building used by Mr.. V. Swain as 8
sail loft. It was not checked even by the
double streams thrown upon it by each Of
the three steamers on the grouud, until the
buildings last named had been nearly de-
stroyed, as well aa the bulk of their con-
tents.
Some of the ware was plucked out of the
building by scores of men whose efforts
were organized By Mr.. Thomas Jones, Jr.,
who supsrintended the "svacuation," j" and
quite considerable amount of sail, cord
age, &C., &C., was removed from SWANS
loft before the heat drove the men from
the building.
The.ire ragged with fury about an hour
and half. During that time the wind
shifted three or four times, threatening
now, with intense heat, the long row Of
blocks on the side of the street opposite the
burning buildings, and now, by the shower
of sparks, putting in extreme danger the
steamers Lac La Belle and Ironsides which
were moorsd on the opposite side of the
river. Happily thewind finally died down,
and with the aid of the frsmen the fire
was hemmed in and cheked. The loss OF
G. N. Abbey & Co., ranges from $4,000 to
$I2,e He was insured in the sum Of
IS, 500. Mr.. Swain's loss, which was only
partial, was about $1,000. Mr.. Abbey got
out his safe and all his papers, so he can
easily compute his exact loss.
1t was one of the finest spectscles we
have ever seen. The hill was crowded,
terrace aboVs terrace, with men and women,
and the lurid light bathing them and il
Eliminating the row of humsnity-crowded
blocks which blistered in the heat and
glare, and making by reflection the river
q river of fire and the craft vessels of an
other element,-the scene was almost too
weird for reality.
We don't know what effect this outside
exhibition had on the amussments of the
evening, Every Sami1 in Cleveland,
nearly, was at the FIRE, and saw the specta-
Gle gratis, and in fact the whole city seemed
to be emptied into the neighborhoOd of the
6re-the great exhibition of the evening.