Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-11

Destruction OF Port au Prince by Fire
The Whole Town in Ashes-ThOusands
of Families HOuseIeSs-TOrEk Of Incen-
diarisns.
A correspondent writing from Port au Prince under
date of March q, says:
| forward to you copy of lie BIen Public, from
which you will gather correct account of tho disas
trous fire of the 18th and 10Th inst by which the
entire town OF Fort au Prince has been laid in ashes
ana tnous2nds OF families rendered hOuSeless and
helpless. 1t is not in the power of pen to picture
this occurrence that one, stranger to this country
and its people, conceive its horrors for the wild
savage excitement of the is due to the people
who are powerless to act incapable of realizing the
event and knowing but yells and piIlaxe and blum
der. The fire first discovered in the quarter of
the white wholesale merchants; and from the fact
that but one year ago fire occurred in the vicinity
OF the white retailers, and their increase cause the
natives to feel they have reason to hate the whites
growing out of the Bull Dog affair." it is strongly sus-
cendiarsm.
Still the it is believed, as two attempts have,
since the 10Th, been made to fire the three remaining
fre-proofs, occupied by white dealers. The vicinity
as also the burned quarter is strongly patroled night
and day by both whites and blacks but the general
indifference the blacks have manifested, and the in
activity of the Government to interfere in the matter
Is subject of comment at least if the suspicion is not
justidabe, measures have been taken to Danish it.
effort was put forth to prevent the flames or
subdue, as strong indication perhaps of the real
state OF feeling In this matter. can well be ex-
The Government has been quiet during all this af-
fair The President left the Palace few moments
on the 18th inst. to view the scene but was adv ed
to retire. lest his presence might ncite the popuace
to rebellion He is rapidly losing favor and an out
break at any time would surprise no one.
sky of calmer blue, studded with brighter stars
never looked down upon more heart-renGing scenes
than the night OF the 18th of March. it formed the
only canopy tor hundreds of women and children,
whose bed was the dried and smoked turf of the
Champs de MaTs-the only available place Of safety,
just at the limits OF the town.
As natural consequence of such an event in such
country. all business was at end, and the markets
closed the bakers either burned out or fright
their labor. hrpod
were attalnable The utmost hospitality of the few
whose houses were undiSturbes was unable to minis
ter to all. though the residents, both native and
foreign. did all that possible to alleviate the dis
tress OF the sufferers: Several American gentlemen
deserve great credit for their incesSant efforts to sub
tive.
Another account says:
80, "A great fire broke out in PORT Prince the
10Th ult and half the Capital of Hayti is in ashes
In no city in the world could fire extend more
rapidly than here, where the houses being built of
wood, rapidly become prey to the Gevourng ele-
ment. No engines have ever been bought to extin-
Euish fires, notwithstanding the calamity of Feb 2S
1865, when nearly half the city was burned and
great numbers OF families were ruined. The people,
of 5 heRn S to GP the n Of the fire.
rob and plumber The educated classes of the foreign
ers did their best to save the city. The Government
men do when they only had at their disposal a few
buckets and but scanty supplies of water.
The fire burned for 30 hours. The cause of it is
unknown, but it is fact that efforts were made by
some men to set on fire the houses that had luckily
escaped. DOCKS were completely burned
down, embracing about 1000 houses Eight or nine
thousand people without home many not
being able to clothes for themselves and
children. There is great distress in consequence"
---susz--
THERE is church at 0berwyl, in Switzerland, in
which the parishOners have Just erected very fine
new organ. great number recently went to hear it
played the first time, and, delighted with its deep
growls and trembling rumbngs, they crowded in the
gallery and on tho small staircase; indeed so great
was the pressure that young lady, Of slender FORM
crushed against the low baustrade had the miSfor-
tune to lose her equilibrium. and to tumble over into
the of the church. Those in the gallery shut
their eyes and screamed with horror. A few who
were below looked up at hearing the cry, and what
was their astOnishmPnt to see the lady slowly and
quietly descending in the midst of an enormous bell
shaped parachute. The fact is, the crnoline was
enormous and the lady light, the initiation of the
former buOyed up the latter and the frightened fair
enc descended on the hard marble pavement light
ly as if she bird duttcring down from the lofty
roof.
A PoIYT SETTLED.-General Howard has written
letter to General Fisk, Assistant Commissioner of
freedmen for Tennessee and Kentucky, denying tho
charge made by Governor Brownlow, in n recent
speech that before the passage of the Freedmens Blu
reau BILL he General Howard) read it to the PreSi-
dent who approved oft General Howard says: Il
sent my report to the President recommending sub
stantially, many things embraced in Senator Trum-
bulls bill. did converse with the President with
regard to these recommendations but never read nor
discussed the said bill with him before its PASSAGE.
PidS5Urg Commercial.