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True, there was something paralyzing in the array of twelve millions of dollars destroyed in one night. When one reckons up the columns of that sum, and reflects what a vast amount of human labor it represents, he is appalled at the idea of its sudden destruction. But then it was recollected that not all this immense loss fell upon San Francisco and her citizens. The buildings destroyed had been theirs, but a large portion of the goods belonged elsewhere. This was one of the chances of trade, and however regretted, it was only just that they who had shared in the profits of the most lucrative trade in the world, should also share in its reverses.

The greatest misfortunes often bring a breath of consolation on their wings. So of this dreadful conflagration. The city had been crowded with goods. The enormous profits which the adventurers had realized, had induced many others to make large shipments. Thus a vast amount of goods filled the stores and storehouses, and the market was, as a natural consequence, dormant and ruinous. The fire came and furnished a market for a great portion of the stock, and although the returns for it made no very flattering balance in the ledger, still the enhanced value of what remained partially compensated for what had been lost. Consequently, business soon revived. Some had been ruined, many had lost every thing. But generally each one again buckled on his armor, and commenced the battle anew. And soon the city once more commenced arising from ashes and dust.

Within ten days, between two and three hundred buildings had been completed, or were in a fair state of progression, within the burnt district. About fifteen hundred buildings had been destroyed within ten hours. At nine o'clock, on the morning of May 4th, the last of that number was a bed of ruins; but, by the 14th of the same month, fully one-fifth of the whole number destroyed was again fit for habitation and business, or were fast approaching that condition. Such determination, energy and perseverance soon swept out nearly all traces of the fire from the face of the city. And people with buoyant hearts hoped and trusted that the city had passed through her last great affliction. But another trial still awaited her and them. Still another fire anniversary approached. The 14th of June of the previous year

had been signalized by a very disastrous conflagration, and the citizens feared a repetition of the frightful anniversary of the 4th of the preceding May.

Again it was whispered that the lawless gang of desperadoes who still infested the city had threatened to keep the anniversary of the fire of June 14th, 1850, in a manner suitable to the scenes of that day, and their own sentiments of hatred and revenge. Two days before, one of their number-Jenkins-had been hanged on the plaza by the enraged populace; and that class of villains to which he belonged, it was said, had sworn vengeance. But great vigilance prevented the consummation of the fiendish attempt, if such was intended. However, this state of security was not to last long. Sunday, June 22d, came, with its winning call to peace, quiet and devotion. The bells were ringing out their invitation to prayer and praise, and the streets were filled with people on their way to public worship. Just then the bells changed their tone, and terror succeeded all feelings of devotion. The sixth great fire had commenced, and the buildings of nearly fifteen squares had felt the sun's light for the last time. People forgot the church and rushed to the scene of conflagration on the corner of Pacific and Powell streets. The prayer-book, the altar and the Bible, psalm, hymn and sermon, passed by unheeded, and the dreaded devastator's court took precedence of pew and pulpit, prayer and exhortation. An immense crowd was at once at the scene of disaster. The firemen were there, too, but no reservoirs were near, and the element had its will. Like Hercules it rose superior to all opposition. The flames were too rapid, and the heat in a short time became so intense that every person was driven from the vicinity. Buildings were blown up, but that availed nothing. The shattered wreck was soon in a blaze, and burned with all the more intensity. Men contended with the flames until they could not breathe, and then left their offices and dwellings, and rushed into the streets, or upon the plaza. There, most melancholy sights met the view. Large portions of the goods removed there for safety, caught fire and were totally consumed. But the most horrible sight of all was that of two or three corpses, one of a man who, being sick, was removed in his bed to the plaza, and there died

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while the fire was raging. Another was the trunk of a man burned to death, and partly consumed. The scene here was singular and terrific. Goods had been moved to it from all parts of the city, but they caught fire from the intense heat and cinders, and a third part of them were destroyed. Patients from the hospital, women and children, were gathered there, or hurried thence as from certain destruction.

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Diagram of the burnt district, June 22d, 1851.

There was no doubt that the fire was the work of an incendiary. No fire had been used about the house in which it commenced for any purpose whatever. As it progressed, the flames would suddenly start up in advance, and in one or more instances persons were detected in applying fire. It was any thing rather than a consoling thought that three or four millions of dollars should be destroyed, and thousands of people turned houseless into the streets, merely to gratify the hatred or love of robbery of a few scoundrels. In three or four hours all this sad work was done. Calculations, plans, comforts, hopes, people, were all sent a-begging. The burden, although it did not so much affect the mercantile portion of the community, fell heavily upon the middle classes and poor, and drove them in great numbers from the city. Some

went to the mines, others to the interior cities, while some embraced the first opportunity of leaving the country for Australia, the Eastern States, or other places.

There seemed so little security that many who were unable to erect, any thing more expensive than wooden buildings, preferred not to risk the little which they had, in such structures. But others were of different means and metal. With them all was progress and hope. Energy, perseverance and determination were still at work and in earnest, and were destined to once more build up the city from her ruins. A full confidence in the advantages of her commercial and geographical position impressed the idea of a certain and glorious future destiny, and in the confidence of such a hope and belief, the six terrible fires were comparatively forgotten. So from her fiery grave she arose again, and has progressed until the present, interrupted only by the vicissitudes to which trade and commerce are ever liable. A number of fires of lesser magnitude than those here described, have since occurred; but these have been speedily arrested by the judicious preparations that have been made, together with the triumphant labors of an unrivalled fire department.

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WERE the Mediterranean as great an ocean as the Pacific, no more striking resemblance could be added to the many already existing between Constantinople and San Francisco-chief among which is the number of tremendous conflagrations to which both have been liable. Neither, properly considered, have grown as great cities grow. House by house have not slowly replaced one another after years of crumbling and decay, as the atoms of a living being, gradually renewed and multiplied, cause it to increase in size and beauty. Both are embodiments of the fabled phoenix-new creations have successively had their seed in the ashes of the old-armed warriors rose from the graves of peasants. Every change was a death-the fire-cry was the call of the dread angel, at whose sound men's hearts sank, and a

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