, 1866-04-13
FROM HAYTI.
Destruction Of the Hayt1en Capt.
tai by Fire.
A Terrible Scene-One Thousand Rousez
Deatfoyed-Eigh ght Thousand People
A0u2eteas-
Correspondence OF the Cleveland uera,d.1

Correspondence OF the Cleveland uerad1
PoRT AZ PRE1ck. March p, 1855
The steamer Tor New York has not ret ar
rived, and have time to write you brief
account Of the dreadful misfortune which has
befallen this poor people-the almost entire
fire. It happened on Monday morning the
191h inst. We had Just arrived IN the city
frcm our little country place, about seven
O'Clock in the morning, when the alarm OF
IRE was raised, aud before We could ruu to the
scene, 1t was sWeeping With terrific fury,
out In the most tbickly settled district, and
the sea.
The houses we're as dry as finder, parched
for many months BY the hot tropical sun, 1t
being the dry season at this time, and the
least spark on the ahingle roofs WAS sufficient
to set them In blaze. Such scene of CON
fusion and terror / never before witnessed.
The inmates had barely time to catch 8 few
articles aud run for their lives. Many were
still IN bed and escaped With nothing but
their night clothes. The women were running
ha1f clothed, and the men were entirely in
capable Of doing anything to arrest the
flames. One or two broken down engines
were found, but not one could raise stream
higher than the caves Of the houses, and there
was no water to iced them except the con-
There was no system or order. great many
generals, dccked ont with gold lace cpaulcts,
were riding furiously around, running over
people and yelling ont orders which were not
needed in the least. Many Of the men we're
engaged in pliierine the houses and getting
a fen stumbled info the f1re. and we're either
burned to death or crushed BY ialling tim
bers. One poor woman had lost everything,
and In the frenzy Of the moment rushed into
the flames and was dragged out . blackened
corpsc.
cd, and In fact all over tho city. the confusion
was almost a. great. The streets were crowded
with people. carrying their furniture and val
uables where they thought they would be Sc.
| cure. and rushing beTe and there with psnlc.
| stricken faces.
and most valuable things to the ships in the
harbor or to dre-ptoot buildings, and many
| or them look their money on their shoulders
| in cotIec-bags and held 1t there for lack OF q
saief place.
In the meantime the fire ran with marvel
lous swiftness, and before ten O'Clock 1t had
| gone from almost the centre Of tho town and
laid low everything in its track to the seq.
/ More than zoo houses were IN ashes already,
| and we hoped that It would rest here. Every
one believed that It had fairly spent Itself, but
We were doomed to bitter disappointment.
Inc lana DEeeze Qlt0 Away auQ ue!urE l0u g
! In came tha seR breeze, and famed the snoul-
| dering enhers Into flames once more 4 few
houses that had been aaved by great e1crtion
| had to succumb to the terrible returning wave
OF IRE which NOW came back over It's former
track. It now commenced burning every
thing toward the limits Of the city, and
swept on With fearful rapidity. I was struck
wifi the seeming eagetness with which It
would leap over SOME houses and burn those
beyond first. The people were now absolute
ly Wild with terror, for 1t seemed as though
| every house In town would be In ashes before
night
Swarma Of men were drunk with stolen
liquors and lying he1ple.sly IN the streets.
The women, shrfeking With fright with theis
children, and hugs bundles on their heads,
were coming to the large field Just out,
side Of the town. Such a scene can ouly bu
imagined. ..
At O'Clock in the afternoon the fire had
burnt the last house on the edge Of the toWn.
and again died away for want Of fresh fuel.
It had done fearful work. More than two
thirds Of the city werelo ashes, many hundred
houses destroyed, and thousands Of people
made homeless. Nearly NIL ofthe principal bust
aesz houses are destroyed and millions OF dol
lars worth Of property. How mauy hare been
killed or Injured ! do not know but fear
that the mortality Il heavy !;