206 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



falling buildings, as gunpowder did its work. Across 

 the street swept the flames, and seized upon vast piles 

 of this scattered wood, and with the rapidity of light- 

 ning the huge volume of flume enveloped at once 

 whole buildings.* It turns the corner, rushes north, 

 rushes south, rushes east! what earthly power can 

 prevail against it? 



" At one time, standing on the steps of the Pacific 

 Bank and looking east and north, every building was 

 on fire, as far east as the old insurance office on the 

 lower square, and as far north as the Ocean House. It 

 was a sight never to be forgotten, and one that was in- 

 deed depressing. The fire department, of course, at this 

 time had become entirely useless; and as the sun rose 

 the next morning, the slowly burning turrets of the 

 beautiful Trinity Church [p. 248] seemed to announce, 

 from their eminence, that the work of destruction was 

 nearly ended; and then the flames, slowly descending 

 to the body of the church, consumed that portion of it 

 not yet fully destroyed. The loss by this fire was up- 

 wards of $1,000,000; the insurance obtained amounted 

 to $300,000, and there were received from various 

 sources besides, some $70 000," thus making the actual 

 loss over $625,000, — a matter of great moment to the 

 town at that time, as the whale fishery was then on 

 the decline, and this fire doubtless gave the industry 

 its death blow. 



The California Fever. 

 In 1849 an epidemic appeared here which, although 



* It would seem from this account that the blowing up of 

 wooden buildings in a large conflagration is worse than useless. 



