The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-12-22

march when the harbor was reached, makd' OF
the wharf of the P. NJ. S. 5. Co. Everything
in the intervening space was consumed by the
devouring element. This includes the stable
and sheds adjoining the fire proof building where
the fire started; the cooperage adjoining on
Queen street; the store-house of Green, Macfar-
lane & Co. the cooperage of j. II. Bruins, Oh
Fort street the barrel factory and machine shop
of j. a. Hopper on the same street, and his rice
mill on Robinson's wharf; the old Jas. Robinson
& Co. g homestead-par of the coral walls Of
which are only left standing Allen-& Robinson's
sheds and piles of lumber; lumber belonging to
Levers & Dickson J. 1. Dowsett's wood sheis
the sheds and wharf of the government devoted
70 the use of the ocean mail steamers the piles
of coal belonging to the latter and to other par
ties; and lastly the fine large government ware
houses opposite the Custom House. These last
were supposed to be fre-proof, and would have
been SO under ordinary circumstances. but I'M
fortunately a large quantity of coal had been
piled lust to windward of them, and this getting
well on fire was enough to burst the walls of
almost any building. A large amount of prop
erty of various kinds was stored in the govern
ment warehouses-wOol, sugar. coffee, ETC., etc
which was all burned by 2 o'clock a. m, at
which hour the fire had reached its limit. The
only building left standing on its line of march
was that on the northwest corner of Fort and
Queen streets, occupied by a saddle and harness
maker.
The Custom House was at one time in great
danger, from its proximity to the burning ware
houses, but one of the engines played a constant
stream of water upon its heated shutters and
doors, and thus prevented the interior becoming
ignited. Collector General Allen was on hand,
directing precautionary measures.
We are glad to learn that the engine and
boiler of Mr.. Hopper's establishment were found,
after the fire, to be much less injured than was
at first supposed. They were in a building of
corrugated iron, with iron rafters.
At about ii o'clock the spectacle presented of
burning buildings, the forked and many tongued
flames mounting h~eavenward, lighting up the
harbor and the city and hills in the rear, was one
NOT of Z" magnifcence," as our contemporary
the Gazette has it, but-of terrible grandeur.
The thought of the hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth of property that was being Destroy
ed, and the utter helplessness of man to stay the
tide of destruction, was calculated to arouse the
sensibilities OF the most apathetic.
His Majesty the King was early on the ground,
and with the household troops remained through
out the night, working efficiently on the brakes
and otherwise. Governor Dominis, Marshal
Parke, Deputy Marshal Dayton, several promi-
nent citizens, and the police were also active in
rendering efficient aid in assisting the fremen
and in efforts to save property. The lower part
of Fort street and the esplanade was crowded
with spectators, male and female, natives and
foreigners, during the most of the night, viewing
with sad interest the unwonted spectacle of a
great fire in Honolulu.
We have been at some pains to ascertain the
losses of individuals by this, the largest fire that
ever occurred in Honolulu, and present the same
as a fair estimate