The fire at Wilmington, North Carolina.
The estimate of ten millions as the loss by the fire at Wilmington, N. C., on Friday last, seems to have been somewhat exaggerated. The damage reaches about $4,800,000. The flames broke out in a shed at the depot, on the Southern side of the Cape Fear river, and spread with amazing rapidity until every building on the Western side of the river south of the depot of the Wilmington &Manchester Railroad was enveloped in lames. For a time the whole Southern bank of the river for several squares was one line of flame, and it was feared that the Railroad depot, with the workshops of the Company, would also be destroyed. The destruction of property is very great. We sum it up as follows:The Confederate Government lost 800 bales cotton burnt, of which about 200 were Sea Island — say $800,000. It lost also in materials and work in progress at Beerys's Ship Yard about $100,000. T. Andrea lost 2,500 bales of cotton--300 of it Sea Island — say $2,430,000. The Nashville and Chattanooga R. R. Co., lost 187 bales--say $200,000. In Capt. Hallett's Sheds there were 850 bales of cotton, 47 of it Sea Island, belonging to the State of Virginia, and sundry other parties. Also rope and bagging to the amount of $100,000.--All burned. Total loss about $900,000. Rankin and Martin's Rosin Oil Works, about $70,000. Insurance to the amount of $7,000. B. Hallet's loss in shed about $25,000. Insurance $3,000. The Southern Express Company lost two cars with merchandize, also some merchandize in small warehouse. Loss about $100,000.
The chief loss of railroad property was 25 freight cars 15 of them belonging to the Georgia Central Road, 8 to the Wilmington & Manchester Road, and 2 to the Southern Express Company. Total loss in cars $150,000.
