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Javiumaic §*% §ieratd.
BF 8. W. MASON AND 00.
SAVANNAH. SATURDAY. JAN, 28. 1866.
GREAT CONFLAGRATION.
\ MAGAZINE DESTROYED.
Terrific Explosion of Shells
and Cartridges.
Several Blocks Burned.
fiOSS OF lilFf^.
•
I.ast evening, at a little before eleven
o'clock, commenced the greatest eoufla
gra* ion that has occurred iu this city
since 1830. To the usual horrors of an
extensive tire were added the dangers of
a terrific bombardment, attended by
more uncertainty, and so occasiouing as
much excitement as an attack ar
tillery.
ORIGIN OP TUB FISK.
The fire was evidently an incendiary
• me, and was set in a stable in the rear
of the building known as the Granite
Hul, formerly used by the enemy as a
naval magazine, at the corner of West
Broad and Zubly streets.
TUB FIRST ATTEMPTS To EXTINGUISH THE
FLAMES*
The alarm was promptly sounded, and
the tire companies repaired immediately
td the spot. Several officers, who arrived
in fortunate time, either officially or ac
cidentally, at once comprehending the
danger, organized the bystanders into a
force for the removal of shells and other
ammunition from the building, before
the tire should reach it. A strong wind
was blowing, and the Harries spread very
raoidiy. Troops wen; called out, as a
guard, a patrol, to assist in the removal
of the contents of the building, and to
aid, in working the engines. Lieut.
O 4. York, Provost Marshal, and Capt.
C. C. Casey, Chief Fireman, worked to
gether most efficiently, the former as
signing troops to aid in working the en
gines, and the latter superintending the
vi ,*rking.
-■"adirge number of shells were remov
ed, and every effort was made to stay the
progress of the flames, but In vaki.
Before midnight the ammunition was
reached, and then commenced a series of
terrific explosions.
THE SCENE AT NtGHT.
The roar and crashing of the explo
ding shells awoke many a sleeper from
his quiet repose. People rushed from
1 hear houses half dressed, and ran to and
-fro in phrensied excitement.
la the Pulaski House there was a rich
scune of excitement. Some run down
Muirs almost breathless, fully convinced
that the rebels were upon us, and that a
tierce siege was going on. Indeed, the
o'Xfiosion of the shells would deceive a
war-tried veteran, for they rushed forth
ml continued succession, as if fired from
a well sustained battery.
The excitement was considerably al
layed when the real nature of the firing
was ascertained.
But anew fear now occurred, the
sparks of fire rising from the burning
house were borne by a strong northernly
wind, threatening to set the whole town
on fire; besides the pieces of shells were
Hying around, rendering it unsafe to go
-out.
Between twelve and one the scene i
was sadly, savagely graud. The flames |
from the burning piles of buildings had
spread in one lurid sheet over the city
with a black cloud of smoko like a fune
ral pile hovering over them. Every mo
ment hissing, shrieking shells would
mount in the air, dashing their hurtling
fragments around.
To add to the panoramic beauty of
this sublime scene, a shell struck the
side of the reservoir, and a jet-de-eu
sprang forth, rivaling in beauty any
fountain, and looking iu the fiery glare
like a shower of molten silver.
About this time we ventured toward
the scene of ruin and conflagration, and
the scene it presented was heart-rending
in the extreme. Women and children
were rushing around in panic-stricken
confusion, some striving to save a little
of their effects ; others wildly escaping
the flying missiles. With death staring
them in the face, the fire companies were
on the spot actively striving to subdue
the devouring elements. What made
the moral courage they displayed the
greater, a report got currency that sev
eral barrels qf powder were in a build
ing contiguous, toward which the fire
was rapidly advancing.
We saw a few dead and 3ome wound
ed men lying ou the street or being car
ried away. Women and children were
huddled iu groups under shelter of walls
ana houses, trembling both with cold and
fear.
In the confusion families were separa
ted and it was painful to see mothers
rushing back through the flames and
flying missiles, seeking their children,
and when found, frantically embracing
them and bearing them from the living
flames.
We have seen towns sacked, we have
witnessed many a oattle field,but so fear
fully grand and appalling a sight we have
scarcely ever witnessed
About 3 o’clock, most of the shells had
exploded, and citizens and soldiers were
collecting to render all the assistance
they could. All night they were busily
engaged trying to stay the devouring el
ements, and rescuing those in the burn
ing houses.
SCENES AFTER THE FIRE.
This morning the appalling extent of
the ruin and devastation could be fully
realized* The buildings on both sides of
West Broad, ou to Ann street and St
Gaul, with the buildings along Congress
street, Pine street, Broughton street and
Zubly street, were ail in a heap of ruins,
with nothing but tall, spectre looking
chimnies and smoking piles remaining.
An area of some twenty acres of land
and over one hundred houses must have
been burned down. The trees along
Broad street wen* shattered and torn by
the fragments of shells,and even some of
the houses, which had escaped the fire,
suffered considerably.
So violent had been the explosion, and
so desperate in its effects, that the streets
were covered with fragments. Some of
them even struck close to the Green
Monument and Pulaski House, others
reached the harbor, threatening the
vessels at anchor there. The streets and
walks were covered with fragments of
broken shells, and the surprise is that a
larger number of lives have not been
lost.
In the stable, in rear of Mrs. Morrell’s
house, where the fire is said to have orijri
nated, were the burned skeletons of two
cows and several hogs. Just at the cor
ner of Broughton and Broacl streets, the
charred remains of a human body was
lound lyiug. It presented a most ghast
ly spectacle ; all the flesh and hair and
some of the limbs were burned into
cinders, while the head ami trunk re
mained, presenting the appearance of a
much decayed mummy. It had been
dragged out of a house near, and wheth
cr an inmate or one of the firemen, we
have not ascertained.
It was a sad sight to see house
less women and children weeping
over the rain3 of their late homes.—
They were now outcasts as poor and
shelterless as Lazarus. Many, who con
soled themselves that they had their
comfortable homes spared them from the
wreck of war, where they could nestle
and toil througn the world anew, now
felt the cold hand of utter hopelessness
press upon them.
AMONG THE SHIUVING.
As the fire increased in volume, and
spread with rapidity, the excitement
among the vessels laying in the river in
creased. It looked as though the entire
citj ; was doomed to destruction, and pre
parations were made to get away from
the docks and drop down the river out of
reach of the flames. All the steamboats
were tinder way and weil down the river
before two o’clock. Preparations were
made also to tow the sailing vessels out
of danger. Fortunately the necessity of
moving did not arise, although the ves
sels were somewhat exposed to the fly
ing fragments of shells. The Daniel Web
ster was hit by apiece of shell, but sus
tained no damage.
The revenue cutter Nemaha, Capt.
McGowan, dropped down to the cotton
warehouses to cover and protect them.
THE LOSSES OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
It is impossible to ascertain as yet the
loss of life and property.
W e have heard of some six or eight
being killed and a large number wound
ed. In property the loss must have
been very large. The block of houses,
with several detached residences, that
have been destroyed, must in themselves
be worth an immense sum, independent
ly of the fumit ure, goods and property
they contained.
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BUILDINGS.
Granite Hall was owned by Mr.
John R. Wilder.
Mr- Wm. Warner owned the blocks on
each corner of Broughton and West
Broad, from Zubly to Orange street,
back to Ana street.
Mrs. Morrell owned the stable where
the fire originated, and several of the
small buildings.
The first building next to Warner’s on
the Bouth of Broughton street was
owned by the heirs of John G. Falligant.
Mr. F. Blair and Mr. DeWitt owned
the next two residences.
James Mclntire owned the first resi
dence at the corner of Tefferson and
Broughton street.
On the north side of Broughton street,
next to Warner’s building, the residence
of Mr. Stevens 'was destroyed: and the
residence and store of Mr. John, and
two large brick buildings owned by Mrs.
Marshall, and occupied as a boarding
house, were burned.
On West Broad street was the Gib
bons House, owned by’Win. Gibbons,
and two buildings owned by John It.
Wilder, one occupied by A. Fawcett
and the other by himself. These were
entirely destroyed.
We have been unable to get the names
of owners and occupants of a few of the
buildings.
Among the sufferers was Mr. George
Ulmer, a compositor on the Savannah
Daily Herald, who reside ! at the corner
of Broughton & Montgomery streets. He
lost all his furniture and household
effects.
OTHER INCENDIARY ATTEMPTS.
During the night several other incen
diary attempts were made.
Near the Arsenal, towards morning,
were found two boxes of powder suspi-
ciously placed. Shells were bursting
all around, but the powder was removed
to a safe spot before it got ignited.
Between two and three o’clock Oapt.
Henry E. Lord, C. S., with T 0. Wood,
one of his clerks, while passing St. An
drew’s Hall, discovered signs of fire
above. They entered the building, but
at the head of the stairs were halted and
ordered down by some unknown person,
whom they supposed to be a guard. On
arriving outside their suspicious were
again excited, and they again entered
the building, accompanied by Mr.
Havens, chief operator of the Military
Telegraph. They were unchallenged
this time, and proceeded to the upper
part of the building, where they found a
fire kindled among some mattresses.
They succeeded in extinguishing it, but
did not discover the person who first
challenged them.
An attempt was also made on the Ex
change, and on several other buildings
in the city during the night.
Large Fire Last Eveaing*
LOSS OF COTTOff, BUILDINGS, FUR
MURK ISO GOODS.
NARROW I>ICAPEB.
Last evening, about 6 o’clock, an alarm
of fire was sounded, and the flames found
to issue from the cellar of a fine iron
front store on the north side of Brough
ton, between Bull and Whitaker streets,
the property of Mrs. M. Frendergast.
The lower part of the building was oc
cupied by Jfc*. Thos. Daniel as a boot
maker’s shop and his residence was
above. A Mrs. O’Brien also had a mil
liner's shop in the lower story.
It was only by the most strenuous ef
forts of the firemen that the fire was con
fined to this building, and that the walls
of it were saved.
The inmates of the building, among
whom were several women and a child,
saved themselves by jumping from the
upper windows, on mattresses held be
neath by the soldiers.
Tne loss consists of a lot of eight or
ten bales of cotton, the millinery stock
of Mrs. O’Brien, and the greater part of
the shop and house furniture of Mr.
Daniel There is no way of estimating
the loss correctly, but it is supposed that
of all parties will not fall short of $15,-
000.
Arrival of a Mail.— The steamer
Cumberland arrived at Hilton Head yes
terday, bringing passengers and mails
from New York. The mail for this city
arrived this morning in the steamer Cres
cent, and will be distributed at an early
hour at the Post Office. The Cumber
land’s news is only to the 20th, and has
been anticipated.
The Rebecca Clyde, the first vessel
that reached this city with supplies for
the needy, to-day for New York.—
May her voyage be a pleasant one. Her
name will long be remembered by the
citizens of this town.
Burley, the Hake Eric pirate, whose
case has been on trial for several days at
Toronto, has been remanded for extra
dition.
Corpulent Mail. —Another huge mad),
much larger than any of its predeces
sors, reached our Post office yesterday,
trom Sherman’s gallant army. There
were precisely eighty bags, to sort the
contents of which, required the labor of
forty clerks up to a late hour last night.
Twenty-five men found abundant em
ployment in cancelling the stamps alone.
— N. Y. limes, 21 at.
