Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-24
J. e. ZIMMERMAN
From the Montreal Keraid .Nyrsrb,,
REMARK OBSCURiTY.

From the Montreal Kpraid .NJrsmb,,,
REMARKABLE OBSCURiTY.
On Saturday last the weather. v.
bright and unclouded but at 1cl,
IN the evening the SKY became surb,
scd with heavy black clouds from
n. w. and snow fell in large fakes.
The next morning, these clouds Wa
difFused over the sky; and there b
crnded heavy shower of DlaCkish raj
which was found to contain sub>ar
resembling SCOT. Towards cvem.
however, the weather cleared, and ye
terday morning was ushrred in by
hard frost. This gradually rrlaAeanI
der the influence Of a weighty iaa
vapour, which dccended from a GrS
stratum of clouds that seemed proSnS
siveiy to deepen in colour and dtnq
and at noon the darkness was so gra
that candles we're burning IN the COat
House, the Banks, and in most Of ID
offices in the city. The gloom aIG
natcly Increased or diminished. &C, ord |
ing to the ascendancy of the wind, whC
daring the day, was changeabIe, d
three O'Clock, when a body OF cioua|
from the North East brought the d
security to its climax. At this momG|
there certainly reigned very genet
awe. While the inhabitants were tyI
pressing to each other their surprSt
and exchanging opinions on the pros|
Die cause OF An appearance SO unusui
they were almost electrified by bril-
liant fash of lightning succeeded 3yi
a clap OF thunder that was echoed AMI
reverberated for many seconds alia
its cause had passed.
This was followed by some Others
rain again lell-and there seemed
good prospect of fair weather but
was of short duration, for the clouds
gain accumulated from the n. +. an
al A O'Clock it was nearly as dark
before. Suddenly, the Tocsin was TO
led by every bell in tie city, and th
streets resounded with the cries OF FIRE
Fire Montreal certainly, at this mo
ment exhibited a scene which II Ia
I'VE believe never before presented, an
Viii. h had most appalling and VII
effect. The sky was yelled in gloom
the place d'Arms was crowded-W'
continually swelling by the floods
people who poured in from all the adj
cent strce;s-and, towering over
heads of the throng. was IT, be seen Il
,teeple of the French parish chur'
with its ball blazing like a meteor, al
throwing out, from the 70 OF the cru
with winch was surmounted, radiallo
of sparks rendered laird by The incu
bent aud surrounding haze. Nevtr@
there shown a greater zral than "
exhibited on this occasion. The dIlli
enl engines were in a moment on
spot; lines were formed almost lnvolu
tarily; and every one seemed tn TN
alone on the means OF preserving
holy edifcc. The ball continued
burn for long time, being inaccessll
to waler the tin, however, With VIII
the steepie was covered, retarded
progress, and the wind was fortunate
very gentle.
BY the activity of the people an {
CINE was raised to the belfry, lr'
which water was conveyed throuSl
trap door, into the interior of the 81
pie TO pre-, ent the extension OF
flames. The fire was happily extl'
by half past 8 in the evening. II d
however, a quarter of an hour belo
consumed the timber in which the or
was inserted, 50 that it fell on that P
of the wall above the principal entra'
and broke in many pieces, the lars
of which decended On the pavement
Thus terminated the events OF I
day, which will long be remembered
the inhabitants Of Montreal, and
classed with the dark Sunday OF IL
We have omitted to state that the II
which descended yesterday.was SIM
to that Of last Sunday; but contain