The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-05

their ewes toward the scene, nust hax9 ff;I
tbe c;tv wos being laid III ashes. WoItie ian a
to describe the picture; 1t was ohe w oni5ed on
NAV fervently wish never again " ''o 0"A''N
to chronicle.
BUILDINGS INJURED.
The buildings all around the actual ;onm;Si ar;i
oroiion were not only placed IN lmmilens % peddd'
But in nearly every case very maUn na,,;cea wb;ch
In addition to the signs and colmcss WHICH
cn,,@bt Ia o fire as previously noted, the signs
which we're untouched were drawn INTO al
sorts Of fanta site shapes, blistered up and ut
ferlv ruined by the heat. Stone fronts, the
pride of the city, were discolored, and in some
cases 30 much drawn from the straight ine as
not cnly to mar their beauty, but to cause g Sc
rious apprehensions for the safety of the
buildings. Large panes Of plate glass were
shiyered from top to bottom and heavy doors
were yrenohed and twisted to an extent scarce
" credible without an actual view. Inside
there was devastation. The coplous streams
of wster which had been showered down upon
them had in many cases so damaged the STOCKS
az TO render them comparatively worthless.
The amount of loss from this source it ls I'M
possible to ascertain, as the places were gen
erally closed and not opened to inspection. we
are able to take no note of this important fen
ture of the ruinous scene.
REMOVING PROPERTY.
AS the flames threatened to reach new 6ulld-
ings, the inmates and proprletors would Take
the alarm, and, calling upon the bysUnders 10
assist, would rush frantically In and carry OUT
loads OF goods, furniture, or whatever they
could lay hold of, and deposit them IN tne
street or the nearest place Of safety. Gener-
allv those whose places were deemed safe WILL
hngly opened their doors for the reception OF
the property of those menaced by the names,
but occasionally one, fearful lest it r1lght en-,
danger his own stock by theft or lire, refused
admittance to those less fortunate tnan hlm-
SELF Great stacks of clothing, boxes OF o4ots 20.
and shoes, dry goods, and boarding house fur.
niture of all Descriptions were scattered about
the streets. much OF them damaged about as
much in being saved as if they had been le1t
untouched. The Adams House, which at one
time seemed doomed, and the Richmond, wh!ch
was seriously threatened, were CROWDED "lCn l1'n
boarders and others, who watched WITH tne
utmost interest the approach OF the names,
packed their effects ready for move when To .
worst came. The streets in places we're Hood
ed with water from burst pipes and elppery
with ice and sicet, White the cold, taBt lpcreas-
ing in intensity, made the labors cf the nj nre-
men almost impossible Of continuance. MOI,
withstanding this severity, crowds OF men ana
many women and children continued TO gaze,
half frozen, at the scene which for terror
and sublimity has rarely been equalled.
FROZEN WATER.
The streets, owing to the intense cold, did
not present the sloppy appearance usual at
much less extensive fires than this. Inc water
froze as it fell, and formed fancifu1 ridges OF
ice and snow-ike spray, cut up INTO n1liocKs
while vet soft, or pulverized by the hurried
tread Of thousands OF feet after 1t had harden
ed. Here and there the long length OF hose
meandered along the street in sinucus course:
and the numerous leaks sent forth clouds Oh
spray which covered the spectator with quick
ly-formed coat of ice, almost impelvlous as u
coat Of mail.
MIMIC BATTLE. "
After the Burch Elock had fall,m together,
with terrible crash and roar, curious noise
proceeded from the ruins. 1t was in perfect
imitation Of battle. Every few moments the
air was filed with the distinct yet s1llen roar CT
heavy artillery, occasioned by successive e1'-
plosions, while for the space OF two hours was
heard the uninterrupted rattling or cracking
Of musketry. The imitation was decided sue
cess, and attracted q great deal CT attention.
The cause for these strange noises is q mysterY.
Many curious people undertook to investigate
the matter, but the result proved entirely un-
salts factory.
THE TOTAL.
The buildings burned were the following
First fre-Nos. SO, Al, 4S and As Wabash
avenue.
: Nos. SO, So, 81, SO and II Lake-street.
Second fire-Michigan Avenue; one number.
Lake-street-Nos. 4, 8, 8, 10, IL, "a, l6, IL, O
and %.
Twenty numbers, or five hundred feet of
front, besides side frontage not reckoned.
All totally destroyed.
Twenty-Five firms. were elected: by the two
fires. y D. .l - -,
The total loss was about. =. .sa,070,00O
Total insurance about. l,4S6,vO0