The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-19
WESI-NDIES.
TRINIDAD, April /.

TRINIDAD, April /.
Distressing Fire. between ten and
eleven o'clock, on the night of the Oath ult the
inhabitants were suddenly awoke by the
drums beating, and bells ringing the a.
larm. Fire was soon found to be the cause
and the house of doctor Shaw, in Frederick
street, one OF the narrowest, most populous,
and built altogether of timber, the focus
from whence the conhagration issued, threat
ening by its impetuosity, devastation all a
round.
The Ere from the inhamnahIe and conbns-
tible materials in DR.. Shaw's shop in which
wee stored quantities of nitre, sulphur. e.,
Their and other rarifed spirits, and essentia
oils soon ragged with uncomfortable violence
and t!iverging from that focus in every di
rection, the whole of that street, together
with Henry street on the east, Chace street
on the west, and King and Queen streets on
the north and south, were soon enveloped in
the dcvouring element and to those who
had time to reflect afforded the melancholy
presage OF the total destruction of the town.
lie terror which took possession of the I'M
fortunate tenants and proprietors of this
neighoonrhood is not TO be described, or can
fancy paint scene of such establishment &
dismay
They were reused from their sleep to be-
nod the very flames bursting into their cham
Der windows, and had but sufficient time to
abandon all and save their lives-The
screams OF the women and children run
hlhS .dlstractedly through the streets in
search OF place of safety-tle neiehinp or
rather squealing of the horses and mules
many OF which were burnt to death in their
stables; and the loud and frequent reports
OF butts OF spirituous liquors and of gun pow
der, as the FIRE reached them. altogether
formed an asSemblagc of horror as awful as
1T was terrific. Of lives we have not heard
OF any being lost, except negro of Mr.. San
DIES, the vendue master, whose house was
contiguous to the spot where the fire origi
mated, and a granadier of the 37th who gen
er0usly devoted himself to save the life of 4
Child succeeded in the attempt, but was so
scorched as since to have died of his sr;ffe
ings..
When day broke, and the clouds Of smoIe
which lay on the ground and could not as
cend from its own density, and cleared a.
way by the morning breeze view of desc
lation presented itself to us not to be descri-
bed--a large and populous town which, but
few hours before, bore the second rank in
our wihdward island possessions, had van
lshed and nothing remained but stacks Of
chimneys and walls In ruins not an atom,
OF any thing inflammabie escaped, and'in ma
ny places bottles and glass ware, and even
potmetal were found to have been in a state
of fusion.
On taking an account of the extent of the
oamages with thu plan of the town in hand.
we Ind that IL squares or blocks. have been
entirely consumed, and partially. maxine
an ensemble Of principal houses or stoves
with the fronts to the streets, besides back
stores ano out Offices, which NAV be estimat :
ed at tour times that number AT least. and
the Who'e at moderate calculation. worth
3,5Oo,OoO dollars, the lodging or property
OF about $500 persons who are now in the
s'reets, and numbers Of them totally des-
titute--of the value of merchandise. produce
and effects destroyed, we can at present
form no idea; government has called for the
account otevcry persons loss upon oath. it
WILL however, exceed we think, half mill
lion sterling.
Or the public buildings not one has been
saved; the government house, the custom
house, the hospital, the protestant church
the goal, the town hall, and a part of the
public archives and the treasurcr's office
all have fallen a sacrifice to the flames .
most fortunately the commssaries stores 81
kings provisions were by great exertion sa-
ved, and to this source flife, many now owe
IN great measure their subsistence. II ha-
wing pleased his eXcelleucy to broclairn
martial law, and with his usual goodness 8,
humanity, to order rations to be issued to IN .
militia as i'll times of actual warfare and
ali the tents which could be spared in fine
Sarrisons, have been pitched in Brunswick
square, to- lodge the unfortunate sufferers
who have neither house nor home, and thew
are numerous.
On the part of government, every measure
that could contribute 70 alleviate the public
misery has been taken, with a precision ane,
promptitude which does his excelIeocv ina
nite honor. Expresses have been sent TO the
neishboring colonies, to the Spanish Maine.
aud TO the United States, for supplies.
ANTIGUA, April 10.
The London and Cork fleets have arrived Al
Barbsdpcs OF the former f,r. wore. c.n,nrnd -