The Arkansas Advocate

New York, August 12.

DREADFUL FIRE & LOSS OF LIVES.

One of the most desolating and destructive fires that has ever afflicted our city, broke out this morning, a little after two o'clock. Though there had been much rain all day, the vast quantity of combustible materials which were in this part of the city, being chiefly printing and publishing establishments of different newspapers, paper warehouse and bookstores, caused the flames to spread with frightful rapidity. The extreme height of the buildings also, the confined rooms and passages of the stores, the hour at which the fire broke out, and the general narrowness of the streets, all contributed to give a more terrible character to this awful conflagration.

We lament to state that there were several valuable lives lost. It is to be regretted, where the practice exists so generally of choosing the uppermost stories for sleeping, as affording the purest air that people do not take the precaution of having a safety ladder in their rooms. Until, however; there is a radical change in the false and flimsy mode of building houses prevalent in our city; we may expect a repetition of such scenes as were exhibited this morning. The ruins are still smoking, and present a scene of devastation which was seldom or never before witnessed in our city. It is impossible to-day to fix the immense amount of property destroyed or the proportion insured.

There has not been such a fire in thirty-five years!—There were 40 valuable buildings destroyed. The engines collected as early as could be expected, considering the hour of the night. But there seemed to be an apathy in the owners and occupiers, each believing his building was fire proof and safe: Therefore the loss was immense. The very insubstantial manner in which most of the houses were built,—their walls so thin as to tumble nearly by their own weight,—probably made the firemen cautious in entering them. A new system of building must be devised. No insurance company must ever risk their funds on houses of this job-work character; especially if over four stories.

Twenty-one of the finest printing offices in town—eleven binderies, including thirteen publishing establishments of newspapers—five of which were large, and eight penny papers have been among the property destroyed. Roberts & Co; had a most valuable perfumery, at 36 Ann street—the whole of which was completely consumed.

It is a fact, that the greater portion of the large high buildings of brick were perfect shells, and considered, therefore, by the Insurance offices, wholly unworthy of insurance:

There are 100 marshals connected directly with the executive department of our city, including the police officers, who are by the terms of their warrant; bound to attend every fire, but not one of whom were present until 8 o'clock this morning, when their services were no longer required.

The chasm left by this awful conflagration, and which appears the more striking, from the walls of the buildings having tumbled entirely down, extends from Beekman, across Ann into Fulton sts.

Carlisle and Waite were employed in the printing office of the Mirror. The former certainly perished in the flames, and the latter in all probability, as he has not been found.

The Old Countryman had all their papers, 5000, mailed and ready to leave the city, which includes the greater part of their subscription.

Conner & Cooke's great printing establishment, corner of Nassau and Ann, which is the publishing office of the Mirror, was at one time on fire all around it, but was saved by immense exertions. and from having a more solid construction than other buildings. Their business will not be suspended a day, which is important for country subscribers to know.

Among other property destroyed were many valuable manuscripts and elegantly bound books; of the former, at Focke's, MSS. relating to the early history of the church, and at Griffin's a large number of the National Portrait Gallery. Pearson, the original publisher of the Republic of Letters, has been very unfortunate, this being the 5th or 6th time he has been burnt out. There were three churches in constant danger—the Christ Church in Ann street the Upper Dutch, corner of Ann and William streets, and the Dutch Reformed, corner of Anne and Nassau. The first had been sold, and was stripped of all its furniture,—which latter was deposited in Scott's building, and was, with the church, both destroyed.

At least 500 girls, employed in binderies. and in the shawl business. have been thrown out of employ, and also 500 men, employed in the same and in the printing and publishing establishments. The scene this morning was heart-rending, when the poor girls came down and to their astonishment saw the heap of ruins, which was unexpectedly presented to them, whereby they were suddenly thrown into a state of temporary indigence. Many of them were frantic with grief.—Evening Star.