CALIFORNIA. DESTRUCTION OF SACRAMENTO BY FIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 26 February 1853, Page 9

CALIFORNIA. DESTRUCTION OF SACRAMENTO BY FIRE.

We have received San Francisco advices to the 9th of November inclusive, being more than a month later than our last dates.

The intelligence has a terrible interest in the destruction of the city of Sacramento by a conflagration, which broke out, during a strong wind, on the night of the 2nd of November, and in a few hours swept away in burning ashes, 2500 buildings, extending over 170 acres of ground.

The Sacramento Union, says ' Twelve millions of dollars is by no means an exaggerated estimate of the loss sustained in property by this fire."

We extract the following- graphic particulars from the San Francisco Whig, Nov. 6: —

" The brick store of Reynolds and Co., on J, street, between Fifth ana Sixth, proved the tomb of a number of firemen belonging to engine No. 3. These unfortunate men were congregated upon the roof of the building, when, by the action of the intense heat, the walls expanded, allowing the roof to fall bodily to the ground. The crash is stated to have been tremendous. A huge pyi'amid of smoke, sparks, and fire, went up from the flaming niass, while the roof, crumbling to fragments as it fell, crushed and buried the unfortunate firemen in its ruins. The fire, which ran up on every side in a whirlwind of flame, set fire to the mass within the walls. The spectacle is represented as having been the most terrific ever seen in that city. We have not a full list of the persons injured by the fire, but we are authorised to state that the accounts hitherto received of the loss of life are much less than the actual number. The huge oak in J street remained for hours like a sentinel at his post, but was subsequently enveloped in flame, and fell upon the adjacent buildings, crushing them to pieces, and injuring a number of persons. The roaring and cracking of the flames, as they leaped onward in their course, was terrific. The sound is described as beiug like the noise of a tremendous waterfall. The fire burned from 11 o'clock at night until 6 in the morning, and during this short space of time the devouring element was i»ever once stayed in its progress, until it had swept away nearly every vestige of the once flourishing city.

" The liberty pole yet stands, towering above the blackened plain, and over the whole expanse may be seen charred posts and pillars, some tottering" to the ground, and others standing* erect, as monuments of the dreadful disaster. Numerous squatters have already taken their places among the ruins, and some difficulty is anticipated between them and the rightful owners. For the last two nights crowds of sufferers have slept on the Levee, in the open air ; others, more fortunate, have secured places on

the floors of the few buildings saved. One gentleman, who arrived in town yesterday, slept for two nights on a mattress, with six others. The streets are almost impassible, with the clouds of smoke and cinders that fly in dense masses, absolutely blinding the passers. The Levee is heaped up promiscuously with goods and burnt remnants rescued from the flames, all more or less injured. Provisions are extremely scarce, all, or nearly all, the supplies coming from San Francisco. Hundreds were flocking in from the mines, and, sick with the sad spectacle, turned about and retraced their steps, preferring the chances of a life in the mountains, to living amid such a scene of desolation. Numbers of Indians, Sonorians, and Chinese were in town, wandering about the streets and searching for articles of value among the ruins."

The general feeling appears to be, a determination to rebuild the city on. a splendid scale, and in such a manner and of such materials as will ensure it from another disaster of like nature.

The loss of human life does not appear to have been ascertained.

Another serious fire occurred at Marysville on November 7, by which property, estimated at 75,000 dollars, was destroyed. The State elections were proceeding with warm manifestations of feeling, Jbut the returns were not completed. For President, the votes polled were—Pierce, 26,416 ; Scott, 23,245: giving General Pierce, so far, for the State of California, a majority of 3,171.

Mining operations appeared to "be progressing with an average amount of success.