Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-11-21
rolled up volumes of smoke. The air seemed
burned out and the heavens appeared dull and
lifeless. About midnight

rolled up volumes of smoke. The air seemed
burned out and the heavens appeared dull and
lifeless About midnight
THE STREETS WERE FULL OF MOVERS.
Here, there, and everywhere was to be seen
people with bundles of all kinds, hurrying
away from the flames. At almost every step
men were met carrying bundles Of books in
their arms, with the remark, "that is all we
could save" Thieves, with plunder, could be
seen "running the gauntlet" of the Gordon OF
police, while everywhere men and boys were
laden with clothing and other valuables,
which had been given them to save from the
burning elements. So great was the uncer-
tainty of the direction the fire would take, it
became difficult matter to decide what place
would be safe for the storage of goods after
they were rescued from the burning buildings.
When it became evident that stores and their
contents could not be secured, merchants gave
general invitation to on-lookers to walk in
and help themselves" and you can rest assured
many poor fellows are supplied with good
stock Of winter clothing.
The struggle with the fire was the most Sc,
we're on Washington street, and the 6remen
fought it inch by inch, amid falling walls and
terrible heat The buildings fell and the fire.
men retreated only far enough to get beyond
the crumbling walls. AS soon as the smoke
and dirt would clear away they went to work
again, only to be driven back in the same
manner.
At the beginning of the fire, merchants re.
moved their books and papers from their own
places of business to points quite remote from
the fire, but lost their valuables in the end, as
most of the fancied secure places Of deposit
were destroyed. Thieves we're in profusion
everywhere, and several persons who had Sc
cured valuables from the burning ruins tthe
risk of their lives, were assaulted and robbed
while on the way to their homes.
The fire burned telegraph poles, and lines
we're broken all through the burnt district
but by means Of extemporized Offices, Boston
was soon placed in communication with the
"outside world" and as I write hundreds Of
Operatives are at work all over the city put
ting up new wires.
kilograms having been received from New
York that large numbers of thieves were en-
route for this city, troops we're summoned
from Forts Independence and Warren and
stationed at the sub-treasury and at the Bank
of Safe Deposit, ready to give the New York
roughs warm reception. The marines from
the navy yard at Charleston came over and
assisted in guarding the places where it wa:
deemed necessary to protect the property o.
citizens.
AS is usual in such cases, there was heavy
demand for vehicles of all kinds, and people
who were fortunate enough to own horse and
wagon or hand cart, reaped rich harvest
A merchant who offered teamster $50 fol
the use of his team to remove load of valu
ables, was coolly informed that the team was
already engaged at 500 per load.
The daily Transcript Office, very recently
erected, and one of the finest printing Offices
in the United States, was entirely destroyed
Within this immediate vicinity all the daily
newspapers are printed, but the Transcrip
was the only daily Office destroyed. Eleven
monthly and fifteen weekly papers, besides g
large number of book and job Offices were
burnt out; and to add to the uncertainty Of
resuming business, all the type foundries were
swept away.
The Post Office was so badly damaged that
it is unfit for occupancy, and Fanueil Hall is
now the temporary quarters Of the postal de-
partment in this city. The new Post Office
was so badly damaged that it will be proba
bly, two years before it can be occupied for the
purposes for which it was being erected. The
Old South Church, described in former
letter to the ENQUIRER, and which has been
the scene of so many interesting events in the
history of Boston, has been leased to the gov
ernment for two years, and will be used fol
post office as soon as the necessary altera.
tions can be made.
Strange as it may appear, there was much
GOODNESS exhibited under all the heating cir.
cun,stances, and as an incident of this class, it
was amusing to witness the undisturbed as
pect of chestnut vender on one of the cor.
ners near the scene of the fire. While thou.
sands were hurrying past with boxes and bun,
dies of every conceivable description, this
child of "sunny Italy" pursued his humble
calling, seeming totally unconscious of danger
and while Boston burned the Italian roasted
his chestnuts.
Great excitement prevailed along all the
lines of travel leading into the city, and the
early boats and trains arriving on Sunday
morning were crowded with passengers to wit.
ness the effect of the fire fend. Every street
and avenue was crowded with curiosity seek.
ers, and it was with great difficulty that pc,
destrians were able to get along. Nothwith.
standing the great crowds Of people jostling
and pushing each other in their eagerness to
get glimpses of the great disaster, the best Of