Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-12


that escaped was the custom-house,
which was, fortunately, fire proof.
The fire lasted for two days, and burned
All the banks, newspaper offices,
Telegraph Offices, most of the churches
land among them the handsomest in the
city), nearly all the public and business
The loss was estimated at
ten millions of dollars, and was about
half covered by insurance. When the
FIRE was subdued at the close OF the sec
ond day, about one-fourth of the popula-
ton was left homeless, after all the build
ings remaining undestroyed had been
filed. Canvas tents and barracks were
hastily erected TO accommodate these
sufferers, aud in the meantime snbscrip-
tions were started in every town in the
Northern States and Canada for their
relief. About 100000 in money, cloth
ing and food was thus collected. As
soon as he ruins were sufficiently cool,
the energetic citizens commenced TO re-
build their city, and at the present day
hut few traces remain Of the terrible fire
of &c.
COLUMBIA AND ATLANTA FIRES.
Columbia, South Carolina, was one OF
the Southern cities that suffered most by
the late civil war. 1t was surrendered to
General Sherman on February II, 1865,
and soon after taking possession il was
burned by the Federal troops. Bales OF
cotton, private as well as public property,
were taken into the streets, ripped open
and set on FIRE. A perfect gale was blow
ing Mt the time and scattered the burn
ing cotton through the city, and every
where it struck the fire was at once com
munieated to the buildings. To add to
the extent of the disaster. the Federal
soldiers fired the arsenals and public
buildings, and the doomed city was swept
by the angry flames in dozen places Of
once. The abatement of the wind alone
saved it from utter destruction, but as il
was, but little was left Of the beautiful
capital Of South Carolina.
Since its occupation and destruction
by Sherman, it has been 10 great ex-
tent restored, but it still bears traces Of
the ,conquerors torch. g.a.
The destruction of Atlanta by the
troops in 1864 was very nearly
MS cohlpitte he tnut "hiNn NJ" scSho ="
have visited Chicago. The loss OF pro,
perty was by no means so large, owing
to the vast difference in the size OF the
places, the grandeur Of their buildings
and the extent of their commerce. The
q Gate City" has risen from the dust
hnu hnu asn.s sn.sn 80 an ~ LII harseT IN
~ ,haanTas anSrns nf ssnSnasisr ana 49," ~ -" 6 ID
''s 'oDe' " P''0D'pSiSs'' iHa Il
1t' THE MOSCOW FIRE
Moscow, the commercial emporium of
central Russia, was destroyed by the
Russians, in 1872, to dispossess Ma
poleon. The events connected with the
destruction of the city, and the shbse-
qdent and consequent disasters Of the
French army, are matters of history.
The city was soon afterwards rebuilt,
and so greatly improved that the fire
was an actual benefit to it. Previous to
that timeithe principal streets presented
irregular rows of buildings, ia WHICH the
palaQe was neigbbor to the hovel. The
kremllh has been completely repaired
ard the new and more uniform rows Of
bui,dipgs present a stately appearance,
more III conformity Win tHc uioou
streets Of the city, and better adapted
TO modevn civilization. aecH
y,n 1oNpoy FINE
,See .,a -. 60 ,r
~ the ysEr iyoS, lne grea' nre y
London, whlen uhs neel rsssIuya Us .ne
most desuuctiye ~ hut csSl 'T.tg w
city occurred. ne @ noiaou .t =, auGnn stn. at
differed very wlds'y irol % M tne sonton n,: o oeI
the present ums; ilAe sne por.,o" o. VI
v Sh'sn sie p'-s%rs go aood "a
ohe punSipgs .nse "0ss y. GoSI, opi..
Inc summer o. t1oo was rs,a"IAaoiy en- rsno.
dry one ior EnSanu, anu sne '.,ss. sneees
were narrow uhae, @ Auen clreS S 'nS'a,oeo '..oa
and win powerlul eAs' Higi " sp;eaJI
the connagra'ion wnen hrst Epinse
headway, tne e1.eat ~ ~ ,o s"1ee 10y WIS ~S-
only i,niteu T py lne lna'e,t' sc - W .s;Jio nj
calamity are well described in history
a nd re familiar 10 many of our readers.