Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-30
pEsIARrABLE oPsCuRITy.,

ISENiAREABLE OBsCURITY;
MONTREAL. (Camada,) Nov. lO.--On
Saturday las, the weather was bright and
uDciOuded bmI al 8 O'clock in the even
my The sky became surcharged will, heavy
black clouds from y w. and, SHOW fell
IN large flakes. The next morsiug, these
clouds we're difiuscd over the sky ard
there descended heavy shower OF
blackisi rain winch Was found Ia contain
a substance resembling SCOT. Towards
evening, however, the weather cleared,
and Yesterday m0rnitg WAS ushered in
by hard frost. This gradually relaxed
Gnder the Influence OF a weighty damp
vapour, which desc ended from a thick
stratum ot clouds that seemed pioarrs-
siveiy 10 deepen in color and density, aud
al noon The darkness wss so great that
candies we're burning in The Cour, House.
The Banks. and i'll most OF The Offices ia
The city. The gloom alternately Increas-
ed or diminished, according 10 The as
cendancy q! lie wind, which, during the
day, Was changrable till three O'Clock,
when body oi clouds from The North
East brought the UbscUriiy 10 lis climax.
Al Tins moment there certainly reigued a
very general awe. While the inhabitants
We're eApreSsiIS 10 each other their sur.
PRISE, ana cXchaneing opinions on the
proDaDie cause olau appearance so unu.
s"ai. they were almost electrified by bril-
iiani nash OF lightning succeeded by a clap
OF thunder That was echoed and'leytrbe-
rated for n.any seconds after lis cause
had past
This WAS followed bv some others
ram again fri!-and there seemed good
prospect OF FAIR weather but il was OF
short duration; Tor the clouds again &C
cumulaicd from the y. l. and a, 4o'clock
IL was nearly as dark as before. Suddrnl,
The Iocsin as ,olled by every bell in HE
city, and the streets resounded will, the
cries OF Fire FIRE Montreal certainly.
AT this moment, exhibited ii scene which
II has, 1--WE believe never before presented.
and which had most appalling and wild
effect. The sky was yelled in g,uov,-
The place d'Arms was crowdpd-was con
tinualiy swelling by The floods of people
who poured In from all the at:Iacen,
streeis-and, towering over The heads of
the lhrong, was 10 lie seen the s,eeule o.
me French parish church, With It's BAH
blazing like a meteor and throwing ont.
from the footOl the cross with which -
was surrounded, radiaiious of sparks
rendered lurid by the incumbent and
surrounding haze. Never was there shown
greater zeal than was exhibited on his
occasion. The diff rent engines were in
moment on the spot; lines were formed
almost lnvoIuntarily and every one
seemed 10 think alone OH the means OF
preserving the holy edifcc. The bale
tnued 10 burn for a long lime, being i'll
accessible 10 wafer lie lin, however.
with which the steeple was covered, re
larded us progress, and the Wind WAS
fortunately very gentle.
by the activity Of Tie people an engine
was raised 10 tile brliry, from winch wa
Ter was conveyed through trap door, in
10 lhe interior OF The steeplc g. prevent lie
extension of ihe flames. The fire was
happily e&iinci BY half past S in the even
ing. III had however, quarter of an hour
before, consumed the timber in which
Inc cross was inserted, so that il fell on
'hai part OF The wall above the principal
entrance, and broke into many pieces.
the largest OF which descended ON HE
pavement. THUS Terminated the events
OF this day, which will long be remember.
ed by The inhabitants of Montreal. anl! he
classed with the dark Sunday ofl7S5 We
have omitted 10 state that the rain which
descended yesterday, was similar TO that
on last Sunday; but contained more of
The seoiy ingredient, and carried on its
surface, as il flowed through the streets
dense foam resembling soap Suds.
We have been informed that manv
persons crossed 10 the other side of The
river, expecting the accomplishment Of
traditional prediction that The island of
Montreal is TO be swallowed up bv an
earthquake. For the truth Of this inior-
mati"n, however, we will not vOucl.