Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-10-17
The Great Fires Of the Past.

tHat OF LONDON 10 september, lOOOi VIII a.
ways stand pre>cminent for its terrible de.
structiveness, It followed upon the great
plague, which had carried of onO>third oftho
population in the previous year, and swept
over nearly fvesixths Of the space included
within the city walls at that date 1t lasted
four days, and tho ruins covered 1876 acres, 1t
destroyed 50 churches (iucludiug St. PaulS)
the Royal Exchange, tho Custom House,
Guildhall, Zion College, and many other pub.
lie buildings, besides 200 private houses.
-Four hundred streets were entirely laid waste
and about 100000 Of the inhabitants Of the
city were obliged to encamp for some time in
the open fields Of Islington and RighgatO.-
The most disastrous FIRE in London since that
date occurred on the Goth of March, las,
when 200 houses in the COrnhill Ward were
destroyed. Many destructive fires have oc~
CURED in the British metropolis at later dates,
the most recent worthy Of special note being
the burning Of the cotton and other wharves
Of TooIey street, in June aud July, 1861. The
fire. continued raging with greater or less fury
for nearly month. Several persons were
killed aud property was destroyed to the value
of f2,OOOO0O
Ga the 9TH of May, 1912, Gre broke out
in the city of Hamburg, Germany, which ragged
with great fury for four days, destroying
about one third Of the city. Sixty,oue streets,
containing LII houses, werC utterly laid
waste aud thousands Of people were rendered
homeless. There were few public buildings
Of value destroyed, aud that portion Of tho
city was quickly rebuilt in much more subs
stantinl manner than before.
Iu this country great f'cs, especially before
the day of improved irc.engines, have been
comparatively frequent. In New York during
September, l77G, soon after the city came into
the hands of the British, Eve hundred houses
we're destroyed, forming at that time a large
part of the town. The buildinge were rather
huddled together at the lower eud Of the
Island, aud were mostly of wood, aud the dis
trict west of broadway and below COrtlandt
street was swept bare. New York was visited
by another great cOnaagration, the greatest
in its history, on the 10th Of December, 1885.
six hundred warehouses, and property to the
extent Of over 20,O00,UOO, were consumed.
On the 9th Of September, 1880, the city had
another severe visitation, when forty six build
iugs, aud property valued at Sl0,00O,000
were destroyed. The next coudugratiOu of
large extent took place on the 10Th Of July,
1915, when three hundred aud two stores aud
dwellings, in the lower part Of the city were
destroyed These, however, were Of cOmpaFu-
lively inferior value, the whole loss amount
ing to SG,OOO,OOO. -Four lives were lost on
this occasion. Since that time, owing to tho
increased efficiency OF tho meaus employed to
prevent and cxtiuguish fires, they have gem
orally been confined to single building or
small group.
Ia the same year Of the last great FIRE in
New York, 1915, Quebec suffered terribly
from the same destroying element. On the
18th of My fire broke out in the Fuubcurg
St. Roch which destroyed 1900 buildings be.
fore it could be quelIed. Several lives were
also lost Exactly one month later 1890
buildings were burned, and by these two con-
aagrations nearly two,thirds of tho city was
luid in ruins. Tho pecuuiury loss has been
the, the lslh Of .Iuue, nearly the whole town Of
St. Johus, Newfoundland, was destroyed, and
5000 people were rendered homeless.
Albany suffered from great conaagration
on the 9th of September, 1915. Six hundred
buildings, besides steamboats,, piers, ard other
property, valued altogether ut sS,0OO,OOO
were burned. Twenty four acres fland with.
in the city limits were covered with ruins.
St. Louis had great fro in May, 1910,
when fifteen blocks houses aud twenty three
steamboats, were consumed, causing loss of
over SS.OOOUUO.
Philadelphia has been fortunate in having
few great fires, bu, one occurred in that city
unthG 9Th of July, 1861, which destroyed SoV
buildings. These were OF inferior value, and
the whole loss was but si;aVV'VVV' though
twenty five persous were killed. niue drowned
aud l2O injured,
A large portion OF San francisco was De-
stroyed in ls5l' on the I'D OF NAY nre
broke out which consumed nearly 2,'VV oul'a'
ings, causing loss OF sS''oO'VV9 aud sew
cral lives. A little over month later, on
the 22d Of june SUo 0, more GSo buildings were
burned, valued ut s3rooV'VVV or more
Twelve acres OF land in Syracuse were