New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-28
THE TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION
FIRE IN THE THIRD DISTRICT
EIGHT SQUARES IN ASHES
HUNDREDS Of FAMILIES HOMELESS
DESOLATION AND DIShrAY
ARREST OF INCENDTARIEs

toIHduoeS VI HdIc tndL swept Ln6 Cltles OF
Portland, Chicago and Boston. In the ter
ror and misery that it has caused to those
1t has rendered homeless. it is indeed equal
to that of Portland, and exceeds the later
one of Boston.
The latter city lest her magnificent blocks
of granite buildings which had been her
pride. while but few people were rendered
homeless, and the enormous wealth that
was represented in the burned district will
soon replace the blackened ruins with more
beautiful and solid palaces Of trade. But
the fire which devastated the Third District
yesterday, though less in area than either
Of those mentioned. inflicted more misery
in day upon the families living within it's
area than the four days Of destruction Of
the business centre Of Boston.
Starting at eleven o'clock yesterday
morning in the rear of the dwelling house
and stable of Dr.. Solaris. on St. Claude
formerly Goodchildrenl street, between
Vaudeville and Spain streets. the building,
naturally cOmbustible from the use 20
which it has been put, and rendered still
more so by tine warm weather and absence
of heavy rains for some time past, offered
no resistance to the flames. but yielded so
easily and rapidly that before the fire de-.
partment were well at work it had become
impossible to save any portion of it.
A second alarm was sounded as the fire
spread from this house to the DeSOto
schoolhouse which only fed the flame.
-
entire fire department. By this time the
whole square was IN flames. It was com.
posed almost entirely OF dwelling houses.
built of wood. and occupied 5v families in
moderate circumstances. The buildings re.
ceived the fire so quickly from those ad-
Joining. and were consumed so rapidly. that
the inmates had only time to save such few
Of their most valuable articles as their
presence of mind allowed them TO select.
In less than an hour the square bounded BY
Mandeyille. st. Claude, Spain and Rampant
streets was entirely consumed, and the
flames. grown stronger by the misery it had
created, led by the floating fragments that
the high wind drove before it. had reached
across Rampant street.
Gu, noble fire departrn ent were making
tremendous exertions TO check the flames
even 20 the riskins Of life, but the high
wind, the difficulty OF procuring sufficient
water, and the combustible material of the
dwelling houses, were obstacles go ;nsur.
mountable tia. another and another house
caught fire, added It's portion to the terrible
spectacle. and became heap of shoulder
ing em6ers. until the squares on Mande-
vile stree: FROM S.. Claude to Dauphine
street. en- Spain from ST. Claude 10 Bur
gundy formerly Love-; on Washington
from st, Claude TO Rampant. and parallel 20
the river; Dauphinc between Vaudeville
aud Spain; Rampant sud Burgundy be
tween Mandevillo and Washington, and St.
Claude between Aandeville and Music,
were o mass of Aane. Here and there.
amid the terror and suffering, a house would
be partially rescued by the desperate exsr.
tions OF band Of heroic firtmen, wnen
new and more frghtful emergencies would
summon them away, and the half consumed |
dwelling would be again siezed by .ts &c.
morse!ess enemy.
The streets were full Of household goods |
and gods. some placed where the owners |
were eure of their safety for the time. but |
on returning with what little additional |
they could obtain, found that they had |
counted without their host. and that the |
Unsuitable foe had devoured them.
Many families were SO taken by surprise |
that they were left with only the clothe. |
apoa their backs, and could only stand be. !
fore their burning homes and gaze sadly |
upon their destruction. Some few. with |
praise~orthy foresight or timidity. had |
their removal when the fire first
began to spread, and were thus compare
lively fortunate. The scene was terrible !
men, women and children ran
wildly around, q few of the fnen able 20 !
render assistance 60 their more unfortu-
nate fellow beings, the women IN tears /
Or checking the screams of the frightened !
shildren, the indefstigable fremen working
with superhuman energy at their almost
hopeless task the noise Of the working Of
'core OF engines, the shouts OF those in aul-
,hOrity, and the sheets of fame darting |
''CA hOso ohN opA' 'SA'hS Ah' 1ASI dhL iuE CACL !
over the doomed habitations made spec !
,sele which New Orleans had fondly hoped !
he could never witness. and which only
needed the darkness, OF night to coIsplete
ableac of horror.
Nearly one hunir-l aud htty houses and
etail s:ores were ~ tho grasp Of the fire
lend, over one hu:.re,i of which Will leave
,n!y heap Of aeil.s 20 mark where happy
lo.a.ee existed bU: twent,-fouc hours ago.
Ga St. C!.'.dc str.et thirty three houses,
~ kampar: - 'aty-nine, on burgundy
wenty.nne, On Vaudeville nine. on Spa:
it:esn. oa Washington four, were totally
destroyed. Between Burgundy and 1T.
Ilaade atrcets :hers are -:!U staining. but
realty damage, five h9u.as, o. washing
CT Only four.
Tho tEo-story brick building. s."nd
franklin Temperance 'IeI vas destroyed.
,Gn1 which there a. Az iIsurau.. ot sii oG0,
3 F!liCh noos not cover the loss.
Tho two houses CT Bacguady street,
'wned b. NJ. Pat. Manning, one ct them
'tcupied W Vincent Ha-e.. weta IL cured
or 5000.
10. Sc Of tie sarne street. occupied by
Ira Swan, sas .saprea :cs $500. No. 50