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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.