The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-19
from the Newbern Times-Extra of Sept. 18th. I
GREAT FIRE IN NEWBERN.

A terrible fire broke out this morning at
the furniture store of G. A. Nelson & Co., on
Middle street, supposed to be the work of an
incendiary, about 1 o'clock, and rapidly
spread right and left, until both sides of the
street, from Broad to Pollok, were in a light
flame, and now Lie in ashes. The vacant lot
between Stevenson's corner and the brick
building occupied now by Robbins & Co.,
checked the fire in that direction, but it
swept down to Pollok, and turning Dissos-
ways old corner swept everything up Pollok
street to the residence of VIM. G. Hall, ESQ.,,
which building is now being blown up,
three heavy explosions having taken place
since we commenced this writing, so that the
entire block facing Middle and Pollok streets,
from Stevensons corner round to the Rail
road, may be considered acomplete loss, and
all that portion of Middle street, from the
Episcopal Church square up to the old Court
House corner.
Nothing but the most extraordinary efforts
of the fire department saved the entire block
on the South side of Pollok, between Middle
and Hancock, which had it caught, would
have communicated to the block bounded
by Middle and Craven and Pollok, and South
Front, and thus swept out the entire bus
mess portion of the city. So that, to arrive
at Just estimate of the services of the fire
departments on this occasion, it is only ne
cessary to estimate the value of four entire
squares of the business heart of our city, for
without it no human effort could have staid
the ravages of the devouring element until it
had swept down to the water edge. Our
whole male population was on the street, and
all did what they could. The tops of the
houses, in the vicinity of the fire, were covered
by citizens who by wetting blankets, extin-
gushing sparks, and extraordinary exertions
in various ways, rendered incalculable SER
vices.
The fire was so sudden and spread SO ra-
pidly that Mr. Nelson and family, who re-
sided on the second floor of his store were
compelled to jump from second story win
dow in order to save their lives, in doing
which two female members were slightly in
jured. We heard of one other lady getting
limb broken by a similar process but did
not learn the name, and several persons were
more or less injured. by explosions and other
wise, but fortunately we have heard of no
lives lost.
The losses by the fire, of course, cannot be
estimated, but cannot fall short of one hum
bred and fifty or two hundred thousand dol
lars, and may be more. We could not ascer-
tain, but our impression is that very few
goods or other property were saved. BY the
extraordinary efforts Of Capt. R. A. Shot
well, assisted by the corps Of CASTOR House
walters, saved nearly or quite all of the stock
of Henry w. Jones & Co., on Middle street,
but as general thing, we think nearly every
thing was consumed.
This calamity will fall heavily upon many
of our citizens who had just began to recu-
| perate from losses heretofore sustained, and
| to get into a condition to live.
| We suppose the losses in many instances
were covered partially or wholly by insu-
rance, but to what extent we have, as yet
| no means of knowing.