The San Antonio Ledger. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 6, 1851 Page: 2 of 4
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HE LEDGER.
0$ct on Commerce Street, nearly oppoúU
Nava to house.
ikt
SAN ANTONIO.
tmntsDAYTFEBRUAnr e: is i.
Foa Congurea ruom thk Wkster.s District
VOLNET E. HOWARD,
OR PAW AXTOXIO.
We are authorized to announce JOHTS"
JAMES as a eandulate te represent the county
of Bexar ia the next Legislature, at the general
election in August next.
CALIFORHIA.
The following is the substance of ccnver-
sationshad with our fellow-townsman. Sam-
uel Newton, lately returned from Cali-
fornia.
city nearly two years ago, and went by way
of El Paso, with pack mules. lie speaks
fiff h'is'journey ás TieTñg attended with a
great deal of hardship and suffering. Their
greate.it suffering was want of water in
crossing the desert, through which New
River now runs. When Mr. N. and his
I
strÉljy
tablishing schools, and endeavor si
to enforce the laws, but with the material
with which they had to deal, the floating,
foreign and transient 4M pulation, upon
whom none of the restraints of the laws of
God or man operate; it is sadly too true,
It will be recollected that he left this ™at life and property are often insecure,
and the rule t.iat might makes right, is
oftentimes more strong in its force and ef-
fect than the constitutional laws of the
country, enforced with all the the rigor
the civil authorities are capable of.
It is a matter of remark, though not of
astonishment, that there are so few women
in the country. It is really a court treat
have been living in the hottest parts of the MORE INDIAN NEWS! j We have certrn Hews thct the Indians ; presently it fell with a great crash, crush-
South for a long while and never heard
tell of such a thing before. But we do re-
collect of reading that they burnt all their
olÜ women at Salem, nigh unto the place j
Tw° ,yn..C'Pt" FOrd'' !¡n ,argC m,mberS PasseJ f0®" j Washington',1^hioh a "hi" m!"Í
We are indebted to the Hon. Ham. Bee ITT""11™"' ü? ,llT
jompany are doing all they can. I j0hn Llagan, Esq., who had it executed by
Irino-tiie country in all direotions. | the best artist iu Italy. Ouwent the flames
where this defence is published, for witch- j of making and peace-loving in- The ™llaut Cant. has been too sick all j ia their mad career, while the willing wiuds
* 1 t ... í i* _ t*. _ *11 i a! _ 1 <í8fh¿ilpv'kín j a
for the following intelligence of the doings
Fords com
it is scour
es.
Companion? crossed, no river or sign of wa
ter was to be seen, and Le supposes his i to be admitted to spend a social evening
Burring of the St. citarle* Hotel. ' tras the last party crossing before this j with company and in the presence o( in-
New Orleans has been visited by a ca- phenomenon of nature took place; a party j telligent women, and how clearly demon-
lamity not exceeded by any thing since the J going through a few days after him report- strated it is, that
burning of the old St. Charles thc-atre.—
The St. Charles Hotel, the pride of New
Orleans and the noblest structure in the
South, has been burned to the ground and
nothing is left but a heap "of ruins. The
fire is supposed to hare been caused by
the bursting of one the chimney flues. At
one time the whole of the second munici-
pality was threatened with entire destruc-
tion. Dr. Clapp'" fihuasV mgwith
ed a running stream, and could hardly be
made believe that so short a time before,
all there was a barren waste. The first ap-
pearance of a settlement and prospect of
finding any bodily comforts after crossing
this waste, caused such an overflow of joy-
ous exultation as was hardly -ever before
given vent to b\j wearied travellers Since
Mr. N. travelled this route it has become
íefl'.vX -vi _ >-t «.Taveíleu witn
appei on PoydrsLS sti much less difficulty than wheuhe passed it.
the Methodist
were burned, aothing left of them but tot-
tering walls. The entire loss by tbo fire
exceeds half a million of dollars, while the
insurance will not exceed 8180.000.
It is said that preparations are being
made to build up the ruins. The St.
Charles is to be re-built on agrander scale
than before. The Hotel Company, assis-
ted by a loan of 8200.000, will have it done
by the 1st of January, 1852.
Anotiieu Fire in San Francisco—
Loss of Property over 8100.000 !—A let
On his arrival in California, he found
the country open for speculation and en-
terprise, (ho being but a little in advance
of the crowds that Hocked there by land
and water iu the summer and fall of 1849,)
and then it seemed there never would lack
room for the emigrant. But a few months
changed the face of things; all sources of
employment were filled up, and nothing
was left for the emigrant to do but that
precarious employment of working in the
mines. The chances of fortune, by labor
in tie mines, arc uncertain in the extreme.
ter received by a gentleman of tnis citj , jj js on|y alotted to a few to besueccssful.
from a friend in San Francisco, states that
another destructive fire had visited that
city on the 15th of December last. Loss
of property over 8100.000.
Out of a hundred men digging side by side,
all with equal prospects of success, only
one may find. any reward for his labor.—
He says that in the Northern mine's, it is
thought, that of the thousands at work
Í there, four fifths of them had not the means
i '
_ . , ' of returning home; and of this number, a
City, says that Congress is progressing but . .
! Jarire proportion were m actual want and
slowly with business. Our liepresenta- ~ .
J r 1 s tittering.
Congress.
A letter from a friend
in Washington
_ , . , . ... . „. In the Southern mines the pro-
tive. (Col. Howard) is doing all he can to i ,. e ~ . , .
. \ ° . . ., portion of suffering was not so great and
have tiic volunteers on our frontier paiu j. , ■ .,
, - T . I labor was generally attended with more
at an early day. In connection with this, ¡ ,r XT a t • • t
... . , ,, ' success. Mr. N. spent his time m the
we would branch out in the way ot a good í . . , , . ,
... ... ... .... ' ¡southern mines and represents them as be-
seoldmg, ll it would do any good : for it is !. , , ^ . . ...
. , ° . \ irig the best for health and winter digsinas.
a shame that Cougress cannot find time to! m, , . , , , ^ °
, , „¡ I he Northern mines arc looked upon as
make an appropriation for the payment of,
onr volunteers. Could they be here and " "
see as we do, the faithful men discharged
time after time, with no pay, and sec with \
richest summer diggings. He
siij s we can scarcely conceive the numbers
at the mines, and a stranger seeing them
, . ., .. ., , - . , i \shen all are moving. (prsspec/ing,Txravtfu
what patience they wait, tnough in actual ¡ , ... , , ,
want, their better feelings would
be awakened, find a little tJ > •
provide for them.
Wild Cat.
Wild Cat is discharging his duties to
the Mexican government with fidelity. It
is rumored, that a short time since, he had
two encounters with the Comanches, on
the west side of the Rio Grande—succeed-
ed in driving them from his vicinity ; the
Comanches to be revenged, obtaiued pos-
session of, and robbed Presidio, how, we
did not learn.
to'tñin¿ they had no business.—
.icn prospecting, the miners may be
compared to bees swarming, tüe going Wtti-
er and thither, crossing the paths of each
other, backwards and forwards, all anx-
ious to find an encouraging spot to com-
mence operations at, and as often mad with
disappointment as an enraged swarm of
bees. Finally some lucky man makes a
discovery and picks up a lump of gold.
IIow soon the others gather around him.
and then the labor commences, the coun-
tenance of each expressing intense excite-
ment and anxiety. What a life to lead.—
When that piece of laud is exhausted, the
It is said Wild Cat took two Comanches
prisoners, brought them on the cast side of j labor of prospecting again commcnces, and
the river lo put them to death, but was, by ! so on.
the U- S. authorities, ordered back to his
own side.
Mr. N. does not think that the mineral
capacities of California are yet fully de-
veloped, and can only be so by the use of
heavy machinery. The richer'deposites of
"'Tis woman's smiles that loll our cares to rest,
Woman's charms that gives to life its zest."
Those who have never felt their absence,
can never feel that nature made them to
temper man.
On the whole, Mr. seems well pleas-
ed that he m<r^e the venture, thouir?' not
nccee^otuer expec-
*- yet ne has been «rn
^aucum «o lortiinate than manjr who pos-
sessed greater facilities than he did, that
he fells hfe has no reason to complain. Un-
like many who return disgusted with the
country, and are now as violent in their
maledictions against it as before they were
high in their extollations of it, he seems
disposed to do it ample justice, and admits
that the tale of its being the El Dorado of
the world is true. Yet to those who have
an inclination to try their fortunes there,
he would say, count well the costs before
you venture. If you are comfortably sit-
uated and making any thing like an easy
living iu Texas, consider that a fortune at
once.'compared to any thing you will find
in California, short of years of toil, anxie-
ty and pain. Next, if you are able bodied
and in good health, consider that a fortune
secure, that may be lost, never to be re-
gained ; and put all together, with costs of
out fit, travelling expenses, &c., and per
haps you willfindyourselves in possession
of much tangible wealth and happiness as
you will get by going to California.
Thousands are returning. Those who
are fortunate enough to have means, by
paying their way, others by borrowing;
some by working; some by begging, wbile
some none know how they do come. All
seem to have as great an anxiety to get
home again a3 they had to leave it.
When society in California becomes bet-
ter ordered, and more of the; comforts of
j served as their vassal and guide; and tower
and column' fell down, oue after another,
till nothing but au unsightly ruin remained
of what, ia the morning, towered so palace-
like iu its "pride of place!"
■■■■ may
good account of i After t,hetI8t fi C1,arles been nearly
he thought there was something in that! Bangers were wounded seriously aud one : hi * . ~ j consumed, the fare Mas couiinuuuuted by
6 ° . Li:_i.ai„ rPI n1 1- t sparks to the Rev. Theodore Clapp's
I forgot to mention that Mr. D. Level! ¡church, corner of St. Charles and Gravier
was wounded in Lieut. W alkers fight, aud j streets, which was soon destroyed. At
The South never thought of such a | dInns on our frontier. It will be seen that
thing as that, any hoT, neither have they Wm Barton, a man known by every Tex-
ever secured patents lor making wooden al!1)0St *n the State as one of Texas
bacon hams, eggs and nutmegs to sell their !aost gallant sons has been killed by these
brethern in the confederacy. Dick savs more than savages, live of the
gallant
winter to do duty. He left here a
days since for his camp, and I have no
doubt, although entirely unfit for duty,
that he is now in the saddle in pursuit.
paper about him when he broght it, and if ¡ sightly. The repetition of scenes like
another one comes he is going to fro it in *'10se recounted by Mr. Bee, have hereto-
the ditch. f°re keen treated with cold neglect by the
— General Government, nor do we expect that
£3= The train of Wagons that accom- j the present acc0unt of loss of life and prop-
pained-Col Craig to ,E1 Paso retnmed to j c,.ty wi„ sccure t0 our fronI¡er
t is city one a} lasi *eek, in charge of that protection which their exposed situa-
John Osman, wagonfnaster. The moles t!on s0 ¡mpcrat¡vely requ!res.
were in excellent ordkr and condition, one ¡ w„ have evcr bel!Jved Umt Gen Bp0(,l(.
wonld Wdly believrfthat it was possible | was desirous ,0 ,e otoction t0
for animals to come lack in so good Condi- j 0„r oitheils, nnd t|,.lt ¡t wa3 ,b(J cr¡m¡,ia,
tion from as long and Iabonons a trip as | neglect of the G cncral Government in fail-
frorn this place to hi Paso. 0 man most ¡ t0 ¡de th;, De tnient wil|, that
had his horse killed.
be the best of wagon masters, as this trip
proves him to be. £
at * p.V
plimentary notice of the Navarro House,
from thelast number of the South Western
American:
Joiix D. McLedd of San Antonio has
succeeded in furnishing to the traveling
community, that long wished for desider-
atum. a good comfdrtable House. We arc
glad he has done so. Of him personally,
nothing need be saií—he is too well and
favorably known for any thing of that
sort—but his roast beef is excellent, his
rooms the best in that city, and the posi-
tion of his house is central.
Those who look for comfort, will do well
to take our word, and for those who wish
to be shewn the lions—that is the place to
stop.
H3=The New York Journal of Com-
merce has a high respect for the virtues of
cotton, as will be seer from the following:
" For the sake of cotton, fleets will cross
mighty oceans. For cotton, powerful na-
tions will submit to affronts; will avoid
war or make peace. How many times has
it saved us from a war with England, and
also with France I And now behold how
it quickens the sympathies of the North
towards the South, and of the South to-
wards the North. Biessed be cotton ? It
defeats the schemes of agitators, nullifiers
and disorganized It strengthens the
arms of Union mei: in every part of the
land. It has suggested a nf>>vui fsr the
most patriotic party of modern days; which
though given injk/rision, is yet extremely
appro^ „e. The cotton party, eh ? Yes.
thepaYty of Union, Peace and Cancord. —
Tí a man loved his fellow men ; if he were
«álling to make the least personal sacrifice
would be a good country for a young man
tu «cck hie fortunes in. But as it is now,
we think the chances of fortune, eminence
and happiness as uncertain, and if attain-
ed. the purchase must be a dear one. We
would rather see all whom we have an in-
terest in, living comfortably in our midst,
under the influence of our own good laws,
wholesome morals, healthy climate aud
yielding soil, than see them tempt fortune
by risking their all to obtain that, of which,
only a small portion can be of any earthly
use to them.
life are to he had. and the miiies~scientifi-#\the,g<>odiof/¡'"f a distance; nay
. . . • . ,, , he did not delight in the miseries of
callyVo?¿&í?/ then, m al robabili i 0t,hers, and seek to make himself happy at
their expense, the world might exist with-
out cotton. But ai it is, the extinction of
cotton would spread a pall of darkness over
the earth. It would unsheath the sword,
and burnish the dagger. Most fortunate
is it that cotton does not grow everywhere.
If it did, it would no longer be a bond of
Union But now the South is the maga-
zine of llie world's industry and prosperity.
What would not England give for a mon-
opoly of cotton. If the North were to part
company with the South, how soon wrould
England step in and supply our place As
it is, cotton keeps her and ourselves in or-
der. Hurrah, then, for cotton, and the
cotton party. Hurrah for the Union as it
is the Constitution as it is, and Compro
mise cs it is.
Indians.
We learn from Captain Wallace, of the
Texas Volunteers, stationed at the bead of: virgin gold lie deep, and in the digging sca-
the Leona, that the Indians still cross be- j sen the water prevents ordinary laborers
low the lines, paying no regard to the late from reaching them. He believes the
treaty. They sre now in the lower country j quartz stratas will prove immensely valu-
in large numbers, what their intentions i able, but it will require the outla}r of capi-
arc is not known, but, at the least, we may
expect it is for no good.
£3=- Persons having wool in large or
small quantities can find sale for it at the
Bexar Manufacturing Company. See ad-
vertisement.
Mail Failures*
We have been without a paper mail from
beyond Galveston for the last two weeks.
This will readily explain the absence of
our usual quantity of news. In the last
two months there has been some four mail
failures between this and Austin; and the
mail that was due here en last Tuesday
night did not get in until the following
day. These repeated failures are serious-
ly felt by the business men of our city, and
measures should be speedily taken by the
Post Office departmeut to right matters on
this line.
Mr. Saltmarsh, the contractor between
this city and Port Lavacca, has establish-
ed no schdule, and owing to the delay nec-
essary to enable him to stock his line, does
not pretend to run regularly. When Mr-
S. gets fairly under way, we may expect
some regularity on this route; that it may
be so, we most earnestly pray, and our cit-
izens respond a hearty amen.
Rain.
It commenced raining last Friday night,
and continued until Sunday night almost
without intermission. As a matter of
course, our streets became very muddy, but
the sunshine following, is drying them up
fast, and in a few days they will be fiue as
ever. To those iutercsted in farming and
gardening, this rain is of iuestimable value.
Now is the time for planting corn and
other vegetables.
tal to work them profitably. It is true
that there is a great deal of gold in Cali-
fornia, but when ewry thing is counted up
and costs calculated, thousands there, are
not worth much more than hundreds here.
Mr. N. does not think the agricultural
capacities or facilities of California at all
equal to that of the Western or Southern
States, Texas in particular. California
has its pleasant seasons, and to those who
have never seen better, thej seem charm-
ing. but those who have felt the sweet in-
fluences of our own.delightful clime, there
appears no inducement to make an ex-
change. The farming lands are confined
to the valleys of the streams. The uplands
promise nothing in the way of agriculture.
The most important towns of California
are of recent origin, and building goes on
with almost lightning speed. It is aston-
ishing to see how quick the wastes by fire
in San Frar.cisco are built up San Fran-
cisco is the great mercantile depot for all
California, through it all the business of
the mines is done, and is the terminus of
all the great thoroughfares and the port of
entry "and embarkation of every nation. This
must ever make it the most important city
on the Pacific coast, and the most availa-
ble place for the employment of capital, to
be used in trade of any kind. Yet, when
he left, business was overdone, and many
new merchants have to make sacrifices of
thousands of dollars before they can secure
a liviug business, so great is the competi-
tion.
In San Francisco, as well as throughout
California, those who feel settled in thecoun-
try for lifby manifest a disposition to bring
about a good state of morals, and to estab-
lish good order in society, to this end they
encourage the erection of churches and es-
The Fugitive Slave Law.
Wonders we find may yet occur, not-
withstanding the wisdom displayed by
great minds in bringing our little world
to its present state of felicity. The great-
est production of genius we have seen late-
ly is " a defence for fugitive slaves against
the acts of Congress of February 12, 1793
and Sept. IS, 1850, by Lysander Spooncr."
The editor said it was tobe sent to every
lawyer in the United States. How in the
world it ever came into our office, we can't
tell, neither do we know what to do with
it. That it has virtue of some kind, is ev-
dent, for when Dick brought our mail, he
held this defence of his rights between two
sticks, and could not be induced otherwise
t) touch it.
We have read and re-read the thing to
see if we could'nt comprehend its mean-
ing, but, "no comprchende me" is the result.
We have never seen any notice of it in our
exchanges, and we would not notice it
ourselves if we knew w^at else to do with
it. We at first threw it under our table,
but up it came again, and here it seems
determined to stay for some wise purposes
of its own, we know not what.
Now, Mr. Lysander Spooner says a great
deal about the word "/¿cZrf" in the Consti-
tution, that it is synonomous with;£bound
but who the d 1 "bound " really means
he dont know, but knows it dorit mean to
catch a runaway nigger. For relief in
this extremity, we flew to Webster's big
Dictionary and find that " held" means
- to celebrate," and we, that is ourselves,
are satisfied zee are correct, and we are go-
ing to maintain it, for negroes are the
most celebrated servants in all Christen-
dom.
Mr. Spooner gives the U. S. Supreme
Court, particular jesse. He says they ac-
knowledge themselves an audacious and an
attrocious court. This we will leave the
Court to act upon, saving to ourselves3 our
own opinion of Mr. Spooner.
For the benefit of the patriotic, we ex-
tract the following:
'• In fact the South, in the convention, as it has
ever done since, acted upon the principle of get-
ting by fraud what she could not openly obtain."
New for our part, we would like to know
how Mr. Spooner knows so much. We
Yours in haste
II P. BEE.
A GREAT CALAMITY:
tiik st. charles in ruixs.
r
Closing Days of Southev's Life —One
of the plainest signs of this was the cessa-
tion of his accustomed labors ; but while
doing nothing, (with him how plain a proof
that nothing could be done !) he would fre-
quently anticipate a comming period of
his usual industry. His mind, while any
spark of its reasoning powers remained,
was busy with his old daydreams: the
History of Portugal, the History of the
Monastic Order, the Doctor—all were
soon to be taken in hand, in earnest—all
completed, and new works added to these.
For a considerable time after he had
ceased to compose, he took pleasure in
reading, and the habit continued after the
power of comprehension was gone. His
dearly-prized books, indeed, was a pleasure
to him almost to the end ; and he would
walk slowly round his library, looking at
them, and taking them down mechanically.
In the earlier stages of his disorder, (if
the term may be fitly applied to a case
which was not a perversion of the faculties,
but their decay.) he could still converse at
times with much of his old liveliness and
energy. When the mind was, ^as it were,
set agoing upon feome.familiar subject, forj
a little time you could not perceive muc"
failure; but if the thread was broken; if
it was a conversation in which new topics
were started, or if any argument was com-
menced. his powers failed him at once, and
a painful sense of this seemed to come
over him for the moment. His recollec-
tion first failed as to recent events, and his
thoughts appeared chiefly to dwell upon
those long past; and,-as his mind grew
weaker, these recollections seemed to re-
cede still farther back. Names he could
rarely remember; and, more than once,
when trying to recall one which he felt he
ought to know, I have seen him press his
hand upon his brow, and sadly exclaim.
"Memory! memory! where art thou gone."
[Life of Southey, by his Son.
Not long since, a gentlman near West
Point took into his service a verdant son
of the Emerald Isle. On the fir3t day of
his service he was startled by the sound of
the eveuing gun as it resounded through
the highlands, and awakened the moun-
tain's. slumbering echoes, and anxiously
asked of his employer the reason of the
explosion; he was told it was the sundown
gun.
' Och, bless me,' exclaimed Pat, { and
does the sun make such a thunder as that
on going down in this country V
Truth is a child that never causes its
parent to blush.
description of force neccssary to chastise
the Indians for their repeated depreda-
jblOgjS< V*" Canoinff -o mi.pli.i.iragflTiy
on our borders. We feel satisfied that as
soon as grass rises active measures will be
taken to punish the Indians for their ma-
ny acts of barbarism during the last two
years. This is not said with a view to
calm the excited feelings of our frontier
citizens, but from a knowledge that what
we say is true.
Gen. Brooke, from what we are able to
learn, has no faith in treaties, but has ex-
pressed himself to the effect, that nothing
less than the most active measures would
have any influence in restoring harmony
to our long suffering frontiers.
Larado, Texas, Jan. 28, 1851.
Mr. Walker—
Dear Sir: After being entirely exempt-
ed from Indian depredations since the cam-
paign of Col. Hardee last summer, we are
now annoyed by them again It was
about two days since a small party were
seen within six miles of this place, they
killed one citizen, and carried off some
stock.—We soon heard of two being killed
in the lower county. On Saturday last,
the gallant and experienced Lieut. Andy
Walker, of Fords Rangers, had an engage-
ment with a party of fifteen, about half
way be. me n u«sea and Rio Grande,
at the La Gata, (in this county.) he killed
two that he got, while two escaped, doubtless
mortally wounded. He retook 75 mules
and horses, stolen from the lower ranchos
on this river, and a young Mexican about
18 years old, who had been with them two
days—the dense thicket of chapparal
enabled the Iudians, by abandoning their
horses to escape afoot, where pUrfuft iPSar
impossible. Lieut. Walker had just arriv-
ed in town, and was receiving the congrat-
ulations of his friends, and the thanks °f
the Mexicans for the recovery of their
property, when we were startled by an
express from Lieut. Edward Burleson,
stating that he had an engagement with
the Indians on this side of the Nueces, and
required an ambulance to bring in his
wounded. This was yesterday, the 27th,
at 3 o'clock; assistance was immediately
sent out, and this morning, we learn, that
he had had a desperate engagement with
15 Indians—had killed three of them, and
suffered the following loss :—
W. B. Barton, killed. [dangerous.
Lieut. E. Burlseson, wounded.—not
J. Spencer, seriously.
W. Lackey, dangerously.
A. Shorn, seriously.
J. Kerr, dangerously.
J. Wilkinson, seriously.
The wounded have arrived, but I have
not yet heard from the surgeon the pros-
pects, but it is believed, that the friends of
the wounded men need not feel much
uneasiness.
The service, and especially the State, has
experienced a great loss in W. B. Barton,
he had been rendering good service since
the action of Monterey, where he was
badly wounded, and wras as estimable a
citizens as he was a gallant soldier.
Now let us sum up : three citizens kill-
ed, property, to the amount of thousands of
dollars drove off, two distinct engagements
with the Indians, one going out of the
county, and_the other coming in, one of
our best citizen soldiers killed, and seven
gallant young men wounded. Does this look
like peace ! I predicted that the treaty of
'•Fort Martin Scott" with a few chiefs,
who spoke but for their own bauds, would
be the cause of sorrow to us who
live on this remote frontier—-and the re-
sult has proved it. The captive who was
retaken by Lieut. Walker, states that the
Indians told him that they were at peace
with the zvhites.
Poor Barton was kdled in carrying out
one of the articles of that cursed treaty.
He was one of the escort of the Comanche
prisoner who was taken by Capt. Ford last
summer, and taken to Bexar to be de-
livered up to his tribe. Have not the
friends of the lamented Barton, as -well as
widows and orphans caused by the last two
weeks proceedings, a right to ask the Gen
commanding on this frontier, to treat the
Indians at the next council with the six
shooters of his gallant Dragoons, instead
of the presents of his Government; or at
least that he will consider the treaty as vi-
olated by the Indians and hold them toa
strict account. We hope that the worn
out excuse of not being able to restrain
their warriors will not avail in this i nstancc.
the same time, the Methodist Episcopal
church, on Poydras street, was iu flames,
and iu twenty minutes, nothing but a mass
of crumbling walls remained. This church
we arc happy to learn, was insured for
$30.000 Two adjoiuing buildings, occu-
pied as boarding houses, No. 137 and 139,
No one who has not visited New Orlcaus i the former owned by Mr. Mauuscl White,
can estimate the extent of the calamity | and occupied by Mrs. Souter; and the lat-
which has fallen on our city by the great ter occupied by Mrs. Purccll. Both were
fire of yesterday. The St Charles Hotel mechanics' boarding-houses, and partially
was the pride, the boast, the ornament ot: insured. Two houses of ill-fame, near
our city. As a model of architectural; those, were al^> burned.
beauty, it was not surpassed, if equaled, by ; In the riy of Dr. Clapp's church, the
any edifice in the United States. The j Pelican IIo*e stietching from Union to
grace b«autv and its plan, I Graver ree^fcasientmir destroyed It
combination ot solidity WWtT elegance, of j was owned by Jacob Barker, and occuv
convenience with bdauty, of grandeur with pied by Messrs Moore & Tie
classic proportions, rendered the St.. |-Pelican" was insured. The lar-c c. m-
Charles a source of ineqhaustible pleasure ¡ mission-house, occupied by Henderson
and interest to all beholders. As a hotel, j Peale, and others, fronting on Common
it was the largest and tne most complete, street, and adjoining the St. Charles IIo-
and under its present managers, the best I tel. was burned. The buildings between
conducted, perhaps, in the world. The day ; that and Carondelet street -were saved
before it burned, we dined at the hotel.! W¡M, difficulty. The dwelling-house own
and were told by the proprietors that six
hundred persons would dine there that
day. Everything essential to the comfort
and entertainment of guests, was embraced
in the building. There was a splendid
bar-room, spacious billiard-rooms, elegant
bath establishments, and in the basement
stories were several variety stores. Not
less than eight hundred persons slept night-
ly under its roof. The building was in the
finest Grecian style, with the most splen-
did and classical portico in the United
States, supported by Corinthian pillars of
great beauty and elegance. The cupalo,
which ascended from the centre of the
building, was also a very beautiful and
ed by Mr. Lyal, and occupied by Mr.
Mousing, dentist, situated at No. 130 Car-
ondelet street, was consumed, as was also
a paint-shop adjoining.
Among the buildings destroyed, we
have also to mention three houses on Car-
ondelet street. representing by Nos. 171,
173 and 175, owned by Mr. B. F. French.
These houses were insured. One of them
was occupied by Drurs & Philips, paiut-
crs: the others by families.
The residence of William Barrv. who
keeps the Crescent Restaurat. on St.,
Charles f-treet. adds another to the list of
the destroyed buildings. It was situated
. . at No. 37 Hcvia street. No 35 llevia
prominent teature in tne edilice, the most; street was also greatly injured
conspicuous object discernible at a distance ¡ The splendid private residence of Mr
in approaching our city. The cupola was : Samuel J. Peters and Mr. Savillebouvre
a aear object to all or our citizens. Ine j on Carondelet street, caught several times
heart ot every true Orleanian clun.a: to it and were in great danger, so also was the
fine row. known as the Carondelet Row;
bui at this point in the progress of the con-
flagration, the force of the fire depautment
had been judiciously distributed, so as
very effectually to arrest the extension uf
the flames, in spite of the high wind.
Great numbers of thieves were busy at
the fire. The arrests of them numbered
thirty-six at dark, last evening. We no-
ticed jio less than a dozen, in our line of
tailon/their way to prison.
l 1 ,ss by tl¡ • s ii re will a mpunt to more
tfan hao, •• v > • o'f'e-
half was in "*in the
h<\ XJhaj^ liich
cy ot
1 great
d( of both oi .. i„t. . >oJ: iheir
h, however, is *-y heavvTThe whole
community sympathise \vith those en-
terprising gentlemen in the^pteat calami-
ty and will lend a willing hanail^rcsusci-
tate them. W
The St. Charles must be rebuilt, and
that speedily, and on a scale fully equal to
its former magnificence. This is the voice
of the whole people Every citizen will
come forward to lend a helping hand to
raise it, Phoenix-like, from its ashes. We
trust the good work will be entered upon
rlia.t. dv tf tlif> nrnsflnl, flniitnniiv id
as the beacon and landmark of the Cres-
cent city.
The St. Chaales was so identified with
our city in all its aspects and associations,
that we regard its loss in the light of the
deprivation of a limb of our body. The
countenance of every citizens yesterday
was clouded with sorrow and gloom during
the progress of the deetructive element,
and universal sadness prevailed when the
once beautiful edifice had sunk into a mass
of smoking ruins. " Alasf" exclaimed our
oldest citizen, " what a loss ; how shaft we
rebuild it; when will we be able,.in >->uv
day, to look upon its like iu beauty? and
m agti i ficoftca-Ui-
The St. Charles was .built irrv v
was the pioneer of the old Faubourg ybt.
Mary, now the Second Municipality.—
Around it is clustered all those fiue build-
ings which contributed so powerfully to
start the Second Municipality in its won-
derful progress in prosperity and greatness.
It was the sun which diffused fructifying
rays far and near around it. The cost of
the building was six hundred thousand
dollars. Its architect, Mr. Gallier. acquir-
ed by its design, a reputation so-extensive
with our whole country. It was built by
the old Exchange Bank, a corporation
which became extinguished, but whose pri-
vileges so far as the possession of the Hotel
immediately. If the present Company is
was concerned, decciided to the present ¡ unable to rebuild it, we hope that a corno-
~ 4. i.Anai ^4-' "AT., T. . , ... 1 _ '
company, at the head of which is Mr. Ja
cob Baker, who has had for years the ma-
nagement of the building.
Various accounts arc given of the
origin of the fire. Some represent that it
caught from some one of the various chiin-
nies or flues; others state that some plumb-
ers were engaged in soldering the zinc on
the roof, and the lire was communicated
from their stoves. Whatever may have
been the cause, it is pretty certain that the
fire originated within the building, some-
where under the roof, and had diffused it-
self pretty extensively before the alarm
was given. It was long before any adequate
means could be brought to arrest the
flames. The whole roof was smoking.—
sending forth a thick volume of dun thick
vapor, and yet the fire could not be reached.
It was sometime before the engines came to
the spot. The bells, by some most culpable
carelessness were not rung, and those en-
gines which arrived early were not fully
manned. Then, too. how could they bring
their machines tooperateatsogreatabight?
There was scarce^ an engine in the city
that could throw water to the roof of the
hotel. Within the building the most ener-
getic steps were taken to meet the danger.
The proprietors and their various em-
ployees formed themselves into an efficient
fire company, and by the aid of their forc-
ing pipes and engines kept a constant cur-
rent of water on the flames wherever they
could be reached. But the insidious ele-
ment had evaded its foe and penetrated
into every part of the roof where it could
find food.
The hose pipes from the engines were
then drawn by ropes to the roof, and soon
a considerable body of water was brought
to bear upon it. But alas! it was too late.
The vast crowd assembled in the neighbor-
hood, with one voice cried out, "it is gone!"
and though there was no relaxation of ef-
fort, it soon became painfully manifest that
the building was of a very combustible
character. Presently, the flames broke
forth from the roof, and passing with the
rapidity of lightning around the cupola,
suddenly embraced that graceful and ele-
gant structure, and then towered to the
heavens, one bright, glowing pyramid of
fire. At the same time, the plaster began
to fall from the roof of the portico, admon-
ishing those below of the danger of that
position, the only one from which the en-
gines could operate with effect, ftapidty
the flames involved the whola building, and.
nourished by a brisk east wind, proceeded
on their devastating course with inconceiv-
able velocity. The splendid cornice of the
ration will be immediately orgauized for
that purpose. The cost of rebuilding it
is variously estimated at from $300.000 to
*3J00 000.
Thclossof the Congregationalist church
will fail heavily upon our able aud elo-
quent divine, l)r. Clapp. It wes the prop-
erty of our'vencrablc and benevolent fel-
low-citizen, Judah Turo, who, though a
member of the Hebrew faith, has for
years permitted the congregation of Mr.
Clapp to occupy this church free of rent,
and allowed the Reverend gentleman to
enjoy the rents of the pews.
Last night we visited the scene of the
conflagration. It was a melancholy
change from the magnificence we were
wont to contemplate with so much pride
and admiration. The spacious and noble
edifie had disappeared, and a mass of dark
ruins, ank a few pillars still standing,
marked the place where the pride of New
Orleans once shone in all the splendor of
architectural grace, beauty and symmetry.
The scene drew deep sighs from the heart
of every old Orleanois, and silent gloom
and sorrow seemed to enwrap the vast
crowd that^liovcrcd around the sccuo of
desoía tion. —P ica yune
The Nashville Wire Suspension
Bridge.—Heretofore we have said but lit-
tle in referencé to this new and elegant
structure. From the time the first stouo
in its beautiful and massive towers was
laid till t'.e entire work wras completed, we
watched with interest its progress. We
heard many predictions uttered and many
speculations made as to its success. Some
said the bridge would never be built; oth-
ers that the plan would not do, it would be
unsubstantial; would be unsafe, etc.; yet
the work went steadily and rapidly for-
ward. Finally, it was completed, and there
it was. suspended across the beautiful Cum-
berland, the most elegant structure of the
kind in America, if uot in the world. Its
strength has been fairly tested, and now
the most unbelicveing have yielded all
their doubts, and every body thinks it is
not ouly a convenient and safe highway
across the river, but an ornament to the
C^J- _ We have heard several extensive
American travellecs say they regard it as
the most superior bridge ir the United
States. Capt. Fields, the arc! :%sct, has se-
cured to himself undying fame, and the
country has received a public benefit —Ad-
vocate.
.. - i . Sweetness of temper in a woman
portico was soon one bright sheet of fire,— ! is more valuable than gold
liS
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The San Antonio Ledger. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 6, 1851, newspaper, February 6, 1851; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth179354/m1/2/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.