Tag: Q2 1849
Flames of Deceit: St. Lawrence Market Inferno Claims Dozens in 1849
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…
Mobs Run Wild in Montreal as Parliament Burns
In a shocking display of public unrest, the Canadian city of Montreal was brought to its knees on April 21, 1849, as a mob of 1,500 people descended upon the British Parliament buildings. The chaos was sparked by a rumor that the Governor would sanction a notorious ‘rebel bill’ during a ceremony later that day.…
Penny Press Pandemonium: A Tale of Greed and Deceit in 19th-Century New York
The streets of New York City were abuzz with the latest scandal to rock the penny press industry. James Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the New York Herald, had just published his latest edition, complete with three editions per day and a circulation of over 7,000 copies per annum. But amidst the hustle and bustle of…
