Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-01-01
PORTSMOUTH, IN. II. Dec. ,s.
FIR E!

About four o'clock laR Sunday morning, we
were alarmed by the ditreAing cry Of fire, which
broke out in the baildog appropriated to the
New Hsmpfhire Bank-one half the building
occupied by Mrs. Hart, as = dwelling houie.---
The 6re was difcovercd by gentleman who
lodged there, who gave the alarm Immediately
but before the people could collect. the fire had
burft through the walls Of the houfe, and itwas
foon enwrapped in flames. the family having
fcarccly time to efcapc. The fire communicated
70 the adjacent buildings. and fpssd with fuch
amazing rapidity. that every effort to Rop il was
in vain, until it had deRroycd the new Market.
and every building on Daniel-Rreer, as far as
Capt. Hall's, on the north, and Mr.. Hart's, on
the fouth-whofe houfes were prefcrved. To
the northward, the deRruetion was far more ex-
tenGve. Every buiIding on the parade, except
the Meeting Houfe and Court Honfe-eycry
one on Market frcct and Fore Rreet, as high as
Mrs. Wnipple's houfe--every one on Bow-frect,
a, far a. Capt. Cuts fore, on Church hill
every one on Crofs- freet, to the top OF Dwy-
er's.hill-eyery one on Ladd-Rrect, excepting
one, fell victims to the deyouring flames.
Al the feveral places above mentioned. the
proerrls Of the FIRE was arrcfted by the moft vi.
olcnt exertious; and by three O'Clock in the af-
ternoon, il was 70 tar fubdued as to give fome
none, that the whole town would not be buried
IN one general heap Of afhcs. By this diarea-
ine calamity, great number of pedons are de-
priyed of home for themGelves & families, and
many Of their means OF fopport. Several wid-
ows and orphans are lett deftitute OF every ue-
ceiTary of life, and are entirely dependent upon
the charity Of the benevolent. About one hum
dred ba,ldings have been deRroyed, and that
part of the town which mott materially affected
the gentlemen in trade. Nearly three quarters
of the European and India goods in the town
mad been depoGted 10 the Cares & hoPs which
were confumed. But by the kind anifance OF
their trieods, the merchants and traders have
preferved the greateR part of their fock. and
h,pc ioon to b. 70 accommodated as to fupply
their cuitomers again. Great credit 10 due to
the gentlemen of the peishboring towns, who
cane 70 affit the ditrencd. Ia what manner
the fire began, remains vet TO be developed; that
mart Of the building where it was .irft difcover-
ed. had not had any fire put there BY the oceu-
pant for feveral days priorsto the time OF the
calamity Tben fol2or0 tbe Manner Of ssarE
oue b1sd,ed and 'quen.y la6s'<ns] !
Letters and papers from Portfmou,h. fur
Min melancholy particulars Of a mott dreadful
Fire, which broke out there, on Sunday morn
ing laa. about four o'clock. The wind blew
frosa the S. weR, hitting little to the fouth-
ward.-The FIRE began in the Banking Houie
Of the New Hampfhire Bank, and extended its
ravsses through the NOR valuable part Of she
Gown. The letters fate, that half a million of
dollars viii not make good the loGes.-We
unde,Rand the afhes and ruins had not been re-
moved from the vaults, of the bank, con.
fequcntly the aate of the depofm therein had
not been afcertsincd. None of the chipping
were injured. About $4,000 dollars the pro-
perty in the boufcs confirmed, we're injured in
this town. For further particulars Zee Portf-
mouth head. (B9R. paper.