Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-15

having large interests at stake, had been
present at the fire from an early hour.
PREPARATIONS FOR EXPLODING GUN
POWDER.
After repeated solicitations on the part
of business men, owners of real estate and
others, Chief Engineer Damrell, Just be-
fore 2 O'Clock, gave the order to rope off
the streets leading into Milk street, prepar-
atory to blowing up the buildings on the
south side of that street, A body Of
United States marines fro m the navy yard
marched up Washington street about 8
O'Clock, and rendered their services on po-
lice duty, which We're immediately ac-
cepted.
Shortly after o'clock
A MEETING OF CITIZENS
was held in the mayors parlor in the City
Hall, Mayor CASTOR being present, ami
Chief Engineer Da1nrell occupying the in
formal presidency.
On motion CT Gen. Vim. L. Burt. de-
tail of citizens was authorized to take
charge of all the streets leading directly to
the fire, and have exclusive control of
them, with the, assistance of the police, With
authority to take any action they might
see tit in the emergency. The detail con-
sisted of Gen. Burt, Alderman jerks,
Colonel Shepard and other we'll
control of inteIsectinG streets, with full
liberty to use powder i'll the stoppage CT
The deVouring clement, in case hey should
consider 1t eHpeGient, and with the consent
OF the chief engineer of the fire depart
ment. 1t was also authorized that in case
of necessity the military should be called
out.
AT the above meeting lis honor Mayor
Castor expressed his perfect Willingness to
call out the military to relieve the police
| men, and he even desired to issue the or
der at l O'Clock this morning, but as none
of the military officers present knew how
their men could be notified before t-moT-
row, Sunday the matter was held in
allegiance, and it is very much more than
probable they will have to so on duty this
| forenoon.
REPORTS OF THE EXPLOSIONS. ~
O'Clock, A. M.-The report of build
| ings blown up, indicating that gunpowder
was being used to stop the fire, was heard
| at five minutes past 3 O'clock, and was the
most welcome sound of the night, for it
| betokened a fearless, honest, radical effort
to save Boston from ChicaSo's fate. Three
| discharges were made in block on Devon
shire street, and these threw the buildings
| partially down, out
WITHOUT APPARENT BENLFIT,
for the flames jumped over the gap almost
| instantly. The block was close to the fire
| and unless blocks more distant are speedily
Frustrated, the effect Nill, Of course, be
simply nothing.
| The trains were laid in Federal Street
| about 2 o'clock, and the street was imme-
diatGly cleared for action. At 3:45 O'Clock
this 4. IN. the destruction Of buildings in
the path Of the conilagration by the explo
| IF he nd NJ
earnest, the
SHOCKS SHAKING THE CITY
to its foundations. IT. is to be hoped tl!2t
the city may be saved by this means, as
nothing else will.
The firemen, though exhausted Try Iheil
arduOus labOrs. are still working with anvil
but it is plain TO be seen that water alone
offers no weapon powerful enough to fight
the fire fiend. At 1908 o'clock most Ter
rife explosion took place, which undoubt-
edly did good service. At 4::}O buildings
on DevOnshre street We're
| BLOWN To ATOMS.
determined effort is being made to
| prevent the further progress OF the flames
| nOrthWard. The Transcript building
caught fire just before o'clock, the flames
| bursting into the rear and spreading with
such rapidty that all hope of saving it was
at once dispclled. At 4 O'Clock this Morn
ing the fire extended from Washington
street on the west to the Wharves on the
east, and from Milk street on the north to
the Hartford and Erie railroad bridge on
the south, the area of the burnt district being
roughly estimated at seventy five or one
| hundred acres.
The estimate of wcll-knOwn real csta' G
man is that the loss on buildings W i'll ave
rage $l2 per foot for this area, AMI there
| fore we have grand total loss in buildings
alone of upwards Of 500, 100000.