Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-10
The Banning Of Fort lafayette.


The New York papers contain further
particulars Of the burning Of Fort La
hyetle. The Tribune says; Id
Everything Of an inflammable nature
in Fort Lafayette was destroyed on
Tuesday afternoon and night. All dan
ger from the explosion OF the magazine
having passed, the residents below, who
fed for safety, have mostly returned,
and again occupy their homes. The
Brooklyn police guarded the residences
of the deserted village all night in order
10 prevent robbery, OF which there was
some apprehension Nothing occurred,
however, to require their active inter
ference. Clouds OF smoke and vapor
we're on Wednesday to be seen issuing
from the ruins in the interior OF the fort
but the exterior appearance is scarcely
altered. Inside the scene is one OF utter
devastation. The supports OF the huge
guns have been burnt away, and they
now lie useless among the ruins. The
magazine remains uninjured, with the
exception of the burning Of the outer
door. The explosion Of loaded shells
caused some damage to masonry, and
cut large holes in the iron doors. Some
unexploded shells are still among the
ruins. An examination into the origin
of the FIRE was instituted by Assistant
Fire Marshal Ready, from which it APP
pears that workmen, for the purpose Of
warming their coffee, had made FIRE in
the large fireplace Of the chimney on the
night OF the gale, and that sparks fell
from the chimney upon the roof over the
gateway and communicated the fire,
which spread with extraordinary velocity.
When first seen the fire was less than
foot i'm diameter. Buckets could not at
first be found, and the vicinity was
speedily deserted for fear of the explo-
sion of the magazine. The loaded shells
lying in the fort were scarcely less dan
gerous."
The loss is estimated at about $780,
COO. The Herald furnishes the follow
ing "reminiscences Of this fort:
Here it was that Colonel Burke pre-
sided as chief custodian and jsiler Of all
refractory prisoners of war and State
during the memorable period of the re-
bellion. Among the prisoners of note
confined there was Admiral Buchanan,
of the rebel navy, who lost his leg and
was taken at the capture of Mobile, Ala.
S. r. Mallory, Secretary of the Confed-
crate Navy, occupied casemste here
until the tenth day of March, 1866.
Charles James Faulkner, formerly min
lister to France, and for several success
sivc terms member of Congress from Mar
tinsburg, Virginia, was confined here,
aud Assistant Surgeon WIN. N. Page, Of
Virginia, also, James Branch, Mayor of
Washington; James Hayde, of Balti-
more, Nd; Senator Hill, of Georgia;
General Fitzhugh Lee, son of Robert E.
Lee; Cole, the pirate of Lake Michigan;
each dwelt for q term within the narrow
limits of this celebrated work. Kennedy, |
the New York hotel burner, spent the |
last hours of his life here, and here finally |
paid the penalty of his crime. His body |
is inferred in the reserve ground near
Fort Hamilton. Brigsdier General Stone,
of the United States army, was also con-
fined at this fort several months for some
reason or other, which was never
divulged by the War Department
A later account says:
1.-THE loss BY the FIRE at Fort Lafayette
is estimated at $780, 900, upon which there
is of course no insurance. The loss by
the partial destruction of the fort is esti-
mated at $50, 900. The amount of ord
nance destroyed is not known here, nor
the actual amount of powder stored in
the magszine, as the record is Oh file at
the War Department in Washington. OF
the armament there we're destroyed
twenty-five ten-inch Rodmsn guns, with
their carriages, together with one dis
gun, ten one hundred pound
Parrot guns and carriages, and twelve
thiriy-two FOUNDERS with wooden car
risges."