Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-29
Sapannah, March Is
DISTRESSING FIRE .

DISTRESSING FIRE.
dreadful FIRE happened in this place
last night. between 9 and 10 o'clock. A
email grocery store on Telfair's wharf, oc-
,cupied by j. NJ. Carter, was discovered 10
20 or FIRE. Alarm was given by the beat OF
drums and the ringing Of the bells-and
the Inhabitants repaired very spiritedly to
the place of danger. The flames soon
spread to the adjoining houses, which con-
sisted of wooden buildings, ana ragged with
uncomfortable fury. Very little rain hav-
ing fallen for the last month. the houses
caught like finder. The fire spread along
On the river from Whitaker to Bernard
s,reet-which, in its progress, consumed
all he store-houses on Telfair's and Jones
uharyes. Heaven only knows where the
deyouring element would have stopped,
had II not been for Bottoms FIRE proofrange
at the east, and Taylor's at the west end
of the city. The wind, which had blown
from 6. S. w. with violence the whole day,
seemed to rise in its strength as the flames
progressed. The angry element had OBJ
tanned completely the ascendency A
gainst its devouring career, human efforts
couIa,avail but little. II appeared evident
that the whole buildings on the river, from
Gray & Finders to Nicholas Dobson &
Hills, must be destroyed. 1t was nearly
eleven o'clock, when the fury OF the flames
beqaa somewhat to abate. Contrary to
general expectation, the wooden store on
Anderson's wharf was saved. Between
This and Bottoms wharf all is desolate and
waste with large quantity of merchan
die and produce, the property OF different
persons are destroyed. The loss OF pro-
perry on this occasion, is estimated, as
nearly as can be ascertained, at about one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars The
following is list Of the principal sufferers
Nicholas, Dobson s. Hills, Homes Tup-
per, William Gibbons, Edes & Potter, A.
r. Savage, ,David Hill & Co. Rea & But
Ter, Hall & Hoye, H. S. Slocun, E. 5.
Kempson & Co, William Southmaid, J. r.
Clifford. Vessels & Watson, T: c. Hay
ward & Co. ]. B. Creamer, A. B. Fannin,
Andrew G. Semmes, Gray & Pinder, Etates
N. w. Jones, Estate Edward Telfair.
A greater part OF the property lost was
insured. In enc Of the houses consumed
there were between twenty FIVE and thirty
kegs OF gunpowder which exploded and
the blazing fragments scattered IN every
direction! The shock was so severe as to
burst open the doors and windows OF stores
situate some distance from the spot-and
the window glasses OF several dwelling
houses were broken. We hope that the
notice will enforce the ordinance against e.
very person who had or may have gunpow-
der in their stores. There is no knowing
the destruction that may be committed,
bv this fragrant outrage of the law--Ohen-
ders ought to be punished 1t affords US
great pleasure to state, that no individuals
received any material injury from the ex-
pIosion-uor have we heard OF but Que per-
son having lost his liie-a seaman who un-
fortunately fell into the river and was
drowned. Fortunately there was suthcl-
ency of water at he wharves to admit the
hauling out the shipping, otherwise many
vessels must inevitably have been burnt.
The sloop Niagara was on FIRE at one time,
hut the flames were arrested. The ships
living at the wharyes sustained some little
injury in their spars and rigging.-Among
them were the Elizabeth Wilson, Sterling,
Hitty, Sally-Ann, General A. Jackson,
Levant, &c. Great and we'll grounded
complaints are made by the citizens a
gainst those idle and useless men and boys,
who, during the raging OF the hre, when
the scene should rouse the most incident
DISPOSITION, are in the habit OF approach
;na II on horse back, while others stand
with folded arms looking on with indiiier-
ence AT those active citizens who are ex-
er;ing themselves in defence of the lives
and property of their fellow citizens. we
do not know whether there is an ordinance
on this subject; if there is, it should be III
gidly enforced by the military who are on
duty-ii not, il is essentially necessary
that this practice should be prohibited by
law.
Several Of the sufferers are in the humble