The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-04-02
NoRFoLK, March 80,


Our town appears to be marked for the
peculiar vengeance of this destructive ele
'nent. Scarce had we finished one recital
OF ITS raVages, before we have to commence
another. -Yesterday morning, between the
hours OF and 9. a small frame house. on
Fen church Street, originally constructed
Tor the Office Of tie Norfolk Herald. and had
been latterly occupied by MIR. Loyst Fen.
fress, carpenter. as work shop, was disco
vsred to BE- IN flames, which made such rap
III progress, that in few minutes they en-
veioPed the whole building, ard spcesa ia
the adjoining dwelling houses on each side.
"h'ch oe'ng OF wool were in defiance of eve
ny eXersion. soon burnt to the ground Indeed
1t was by dint of unpa -allelled activity and
eXertion, that the Games were prevented
rom extending further. a large wooden
ou'iaing or the south side of Bermuda stree
'ei' pulled down. prevented the FIRE from
cnfn municating to the Theatre, which il o
therWise would, and in that case. at least .
tohrtn part OF the town must inevitably have
been DESTROYED. The fine dwelling hou.e #
Mr.. Robert Henley of the Navy. on m
north side Of the fire, was saved wi n great
u,mcnisy. though much injured. The pr;n
c,pni ouilding which was burned, was occu-
ped by Mr.. Josehh Ruyes, who lost nearly
all MS fnrniture. Great credit is due to a
numoer OF CITIZENS. who at the manifest
hazard OF their lives succeeded in milling
down the house before-mentioned and there'
by arrested the further progress of the fire
We should be guilty Of great niece az in
justice II VIC did not psrticula,lv notice the
extraordinary efforts Of MIR. Mites, whose
acuViy and enterprise at every fire that
taxes place, IS Il theme of universal adrn;-
rafioD. Indeed. on this occasion. no one
VINO could assist. remained irhctiye--& the
want OF effective engines, water buckets
axes. ire hocks, &c was in a gre at measure
supplied by manual exerton. The destrnc-
| ton oi property by this FIRE, with the ,ojorv
S5e0O '''' Us '''''''
This fire is stated to I've the DELHI era,e
""FN VI An untHrtuoate wretch. a negro girl
belonging to Mr.. HAYES, who in ccnse
quencs OF complaint from Mr.. Fen,rsss
gave her chastising upon which che +
sad TO have vowed revenge aea,ns, Mr.. q
ana took occasion, while he had gone nom,
20 his breakfast, 20 convey fire into TIVE shon
which she deposited in a parcel of shay;,gs
She rs row IN jail and will immediately rn.
dcrgo a formal examination. D"'
Arrival ofMe Gomez.
Inc priyateer schnr. Comet of Hal,inore
| Thomas Boyle, Esq. commander. arriv
at Beaufort. n. c. On the 10Th inst. after .
cTnIS on hVe months, IN which as usual
she has done immense dama<e 10 the one
my's commerce. From MIR. Jqncs r.
Stansbnry, Surgeon Of the Comet. who ar
rived IN town on Saiurdly NIGHT last. from
seautort, we learn that the Comet has cao
fured. during this cruize, tsDentv nail of the
enemy's Vesseis:7 OF which were manned
and ordered for the United States. 4 ran
somed. and the rest Destroyed. Of those
ordered in, s have arrived a. Wilmington
". u one OF which was tender 10 rho
British Adm. Laf5rey. The Comet had =
severe engagement with the English Letter
ot MtrqUe ship Iibernia, Of 90 guns. close
IL with the Island OF st. Thomas, the nigh,
OF TIE 10th 1T Jan. and would certainly n Eve
captnred her, IS she vas discovered AT dav-
'lsht to be completely cut w in her hull and
| nggins'-but both vessels were then so near
in che enemg's harbor, that Can't. Bo,,,e w s
Obliged to baul of without DELAY. In ,his
action the Comet had 3 men killed. The
loss ct the eusmy could m. be ascertained
nat ny appearances il must have been very
great. ~
The c17rf'' crpiziag ground has been
! ch ely among the Lsxsrd Islands OF the