Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-09-07

the church, several stores, the citadel, with
officers and the soldiers barracks, con-
tractors stores, United States stores, &c.
&c. The new barracks, and fort called
Lernauit, little back of the town were
not greatly endangered, aud the old block.
house, at the south eudeseaped. Ina word
all thar space enclosed within picquets, and
denomlnated, the town, presents nothing
but heap OF ruins, consisting of naked
ehimnies and cinders.
The ra2idity of the destruction was per-
haps unprecedented, but will not appear
surprising to any one previously acquaint-
ed with the place. The buildings were
mostly Ole, all of wood and dry as finder,
extremely crouded together, on al area of
about three acres-the streets very narrow
(the widest not exceeding twenty feet) In
:erserting rsctangularly Il small distances
and every square completely covered with
combus,ibles. This mode of builng the
town, originated, not merely from want of
taste In the ancient settlers, but from the
necessity of defence IN war, as this settle.
has tor long time been frontier, peculi-
arly exposed TO danger fromthe natives, &
far removed from the means OF external
suceor. 1t has been found necessary, till
very lately, TO keep the plcquets enclosing
the town in good repair, besides being un-
der the protection of the cannon of a neign-
boring fort and block hoUse. The town
was furnished with bur FIRE engine, which
with the prompt assistance of the troops,
formerly Stationed here, had been sufficient
20 ex.!nguish occasional fires upon tAeir
srst appearance but at present the troops
on this station are few, and the want Of aid
from that source was severely felt on the
late occasion.
By what means the FIRE was kindled,
whether by accident or design, is uncertain
there are various coniec ures, but no de-
cided opinion. It began IN stable oear
the United States stores on the S West
quarter, a light breeze blowing from the
south. Its progress againss aad athwart The
wind was astonishing, bue IN the direction
OF IL, the blaze darted with neariy the cele-
rity of Tightening, and reached the oppo-
site extremity of the town IN very fewmo.
ments. The fire in no part had diminish
cd till the whole was ia blaze, and one
immense mass of fame was presented 70
The eye, having the appearance of proceed
ing from but one building of vast extent.
The streets became impossible as the FIRE
progressed, being filed FROM all sides with
impenesrable columns of smoke and fame,
9TH h n y,
the north and south streets streamed to
great distance beyond the limits of the
houses. To the distant spectator and to
the wretched inhabitants, who after short
lapse of time could be no more than spec
tators, the scene was at once sublime and
painful, exceeding in awful grandeur, per-
haps almost any spectacle of the kind
which has happened since the world be-
gan.
II was fortunate that the catastrophe did
not take place in the night as there must
have been greater destruction Of goods
and effects. and unquestiouably Of some
lives. No lives were lost, and out one
person "a poor MANI was badly injured.
Means have been taken to ascertain correct
" the amount of losses in property. and
progress has been made SO far as TO place
It beyond doubt that they exceed one hun.
3red and thirty thousand dollars, probably
approaching near 10000. The confa-
grafton took place at time of day that the
Inhabitants were generally near their homes
md were enabled to save more of their
moveable effects than could have been ex-
pected IN so short time as WAS allowed
them; great quantities however fell sa'
cri6ce. aud individuals, whose estates con-
sisted in buildings, were in cue day reduc-
ed from eligible circumstances to poverty.
There is no citizen but has suffered more
or less. At present, the people are scatter.
ed up and down the settlement, crowdlng
the houses even to overlooking, occupying
novels and every thing having the shape
e g.