In the sweltering night of May 15, 1849, a catastrophe unfolded on the docks of St. Lawrence Market in New York. The steam-powered steamer, White Cloud, lying at the head of the levee, suddenly erupted into flames around 10 o’clock, engulfing several nearby vessels in a raging inferno. The Belle, a four-masted ship, and the Edward Bates, a sturdy boat, stood in close proximity, their fate sealed before assistance could be rendered. The wind howled from the north, fanning the flames as the fire consumed the warehouses on the levee, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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