Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-02-01

could De stopped at lis beginning.
The season for four months, with the
exception of two.rains) previous to this in.
cident, had been dry: the night was cold
and brisk breeze from the w. N. w.
which was soon increased by the effect Of
the fire. Several of the adjoining houses
were soon affected, and almost instantly in
flames. The wind now became strong.
and whirled into the air, with aeitated Vi.
oIence large flakes Of burning shingles,
boards and other light substances, which,
aligtiling at distance, added confusion to
the other terrors Of the conflagralion. The
use OF water was now rendered totally vain
Its common extinguishing power seemed
10 be lost--torrents of flames rolled from
house to house, With destructive rapidity
which bid defiance TO all human control:
and individual exertions were from this
time almost suspended, and principally
pointed towards securing private proper
ty.
The fire now ragged, sweeping all the
buildings from Baptist Church square, to
the west, taking in isem the north side Of
Broughton street TO the bay, down to Aber
corn street or the east--save few bull
dings Oh the Bay between Montgomery and
Jefferson streets. That large and elegant
building Washington Hall is safe; twice
was it Oh fire, but through great exertions
it was rescued. A few buildings are also
saved between Abercorn and Drayton
streets. The State Bank, the Planters
Bank, and the Episcopal Church were for
some time in iuninent danger, but were.sa-
we'd. The former building was Oh fire two
or three times-timely assistance and un-
RENTED exertions only saved it.
Between IL and O'Clock, the rage OF
the FIRE was arrested. The exhausted SUI
ferers of both sexes had now TO remain ex-
posed TO the inclemency of cold day,
and TO witness the distressing spectacle Of
their numerous dwellings covered with
volumes Of smoke and flame, tumbling into
ruins. Yes! the best pari Of Savannah is
no more! The flames have Frustrated all
the buildings which were the pride of our
city! Thus was the emporium of our
state, which was promising considerable
figure among the commercial cities OF our
sister states, almost destroyed in twelve
hours! The commercial part of the town
is heap of ruinsi There is but one sol
itary dry good store remaining. All, all
are gone
We have taken considerable pains to as
certain the number of buildings burnt and
the probable amount of property destroy
ed by this dreadful catastrophe.
There are ninety -four lots stripped COM
pletely /; and ii is calculated that there are
three hundred and twenty, one wooden
buildings, many OF which were double ten
ements, thirty five brick do. exclusive oil
those owned by the Presbyterian church,
by Messrs. Gibbons, Shad, Morrison and
Hunter, which contained thirty tenemeuts.
Altogether, making moi less than 463 tene-
ments, not including out buildings! Thir-
ty years must elapse before Savannah will
be again what she has been. Good God
we can hardly believe our eyes when We
cast look at the scene before us.
10 fact every house is swept away from
the spot where the fire commenced, thro'
Market square, and the Bay from Wash
ing!on Hall, TO the house lately occupied
by G. Jones, esq. Except James Dickson
& Co.'S large fire proof store,) 1t, and it
alone is the only building remaining be-
tween the two points named. We are re-
ally at loss how to describe the damag
done. No pen can describe mo tongue
can give utterance to words strong enough
to do this melancholy subject justice. To
those at distance, we can only say to
them-come. come and look at our poor,
devoted, ruined Savannah.
1t is thought by many individuals that
the fire would have been arrested in Mar
ket square, had it not been for large
quantity of gun powder being ia some Of
the shops ia the square. This struck a
panic 10 every one-and that part of the
town was abandoned. Explosions soon
took place: and the blazing fragments
scattered 10 every direction! A good deal
of powder, however, was taken away aud
thrown into well 10 St. James's square.
We hope the police will enforce the ordi-
nance against every person who had or
may have gun powder in their stores. -
Had the explosion taken place before no.
tice was given, God only knows how many
lives would have been lost. Offenders
ought to be punished. By this violation
of the law, million of dollars have been
destroyed.
The probable amount Of property de-
stroyed by this unfortunate occurrence, is
from calculation nicely made, upwards
of four millions Of dollars bat if we take
into consideration the stoppage Of business,
and every direct and indirect loss, ten
millions will not be too great an estimate
We understand that two persons lost
their lives, and as many injured in render
ing assistance during the fire. We have
a 4