The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-23

holders would only show any liberalitv
IN regard to rents, which it is said they
hoid at such exhorbitant terms. that
lew capitalists can be found foolhardy
enough to venture upon an investment.
IL Is to be hoped these gentlemen will
see the folly of their course, and become
'Iractable and liberal-if not for their own
sakes, why for that of their beautiful
city. A great many wooden shanties
Nave been put up at different points in
the ruins in Which the proprietors are
ooing small business in a small way
selling lemonade, spruce beer, green ap-
pies, sour oranges and molasses candy.
In passing up Main or Cary street to
the Spotswood, we walk for half q mile
amid ruins surrounding us on all sides,
and go cropping our way through broken
granite and piles of blackened bricks.
now avoiding a tottering wall thatsways
In tn. wind, and threatens to fall out and
crush the careless pedestrian, now draw
Ing back on the verge of cellar or other
yawning abyss. How different the pic
lure four years ago, when these great
thoroughfares were crowded by the elite
ana fashion of the city, its wealth and
'solldity. How have the mighty
fallen! Ruins of Richmond, We are fit
emblems ofits ruined denizens Broken
bricks are broken merchants, tattered
ana torn walls fit representatives of its
impoverished people. Fallen and pros
tfate columns, that once stood forth in
graceful beauty, We are the beauty and
fashion Of the Southern capital whose
glory has departed
These ruins do not include in the area
we have given the State Court House nor
the War Department, the former of
which is in the public grounds, and is a
complete wreck, nothing but the walls
being left-and it now serves as, a
Kitchen for the soldiers, where we
judge some 'judicious' cooking is exc
cuted. The War Office was at the upper
angle OF the square, on the block opposite
the Spotswood Hotel. TWAS fine large
brick building, of which scarce one
brick was left upon another. The offices
OF war being at an end, the War Office,
went quietly and quickly out of exist
ence, and the Secretary started on a
visit to Cuba, where, it is to be hoped,
he will enjoy himself and the flavor of
an occasional fine Havana" while he
meditates upon the grief he caused the
people of Richmond by the destruction
of their beautiful city. AS the fire was
blown in great flakes to different parts
ofthe city, houses were destroyed, or par
TALLY so, far from the scene of the great
confiagration, and many We're with
difficulty saved by the exertions of the
owners and their employees. The WIG
newspaper office and also the Sentinel
wegeseveral times on fire, but escaped
with but little damage All unite in
declaring that droves of negroes Joined
with the Penitentiary convicts in break
ing open the stores and exchange offices
and firing them, after having secured
all that was portable and valuable. Al
likewise, unite isss,..sss,.aes credit to tht
Federal soldiers, under Weitzel, for theil
noble efforts to stop the confagration
and aumit, freely and thankfully, that
: but for them the entire city would have
been destroyed.
But must now carry the reader t.
upper ruins, caused by the burning
z Vie Petersburg railroad bridge
y This noble and useful structure, clever
hundred yards in length, spans the
James River at the foot of 9Th street
and was very costly work. Prepare
tions had been made on Sunday to burr
r1t, and the timbers were completely
saturated with turpentine. At sever
O'Clock on Monday morning, and while
the fire lower down was raging, Brock
enridge rode up to this bridge on his
J war horse, and directed the torch to be
applied which was instantly done, and
4 then accompanied by his brilliant staff
the Secretary of War galloped to the
rear, taking the road leading to the
Northwest The flames from the bridge
soon communicated TO the railroad de-
pot, and the government works on
either side of 9th street. The laboratory
. n ldTSe tuIet-SOOIy puAiuluSy was Tic uTSt
to take fire, and as this was full of shell
and shot and grape and canister and
prepared ammunition, the pyrotechniI
display soon became grand and terrible
The loaded shell with which the build
ing was filed, began to explode, and
were thrown to great distance, causing
much havoc among houses situated sew
eral squares distant, and greatly fright
ening the remaining Inhabitants, though
~ fortunately injuring no one. For nine
hours the explosions from the shells in
the laboratory were continuous and
unceasing, sounding like the fearful
wage of terrific battle. The fire continued
to rage in this locality till it had DIES
troyed all the warehouses and arsenals
!. between Eighth and Fifth streets, ant
the river and canal, and crossing the ca
nal destroyed several buildings on the
opposite hillside. Many of these houses
We're occupied by poor families, who are
very much incensed against the authors
of their woes They lost all they pos
sessed and were compelled to flee fol