The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-02-02

tiS A|tl Hiot' IloSo like IuOGpiA uOl.i
the fire, and thus describes the
DREADFUL C0NFL.fGR.A7ION
Having suffered with olhsrs ia the late
calamity, we have made haste to cole, I
the renlains Of our printing materials, and
now present to the public the cifcnm-
stances which accompanied this event.
In the whole course of our editorial ca
reer we have had frequently to record
matters OF deep importance, OF various
nature; bu, never, no never before, has
II fallen 10 our lot to give to the world
an accouat Of So distressing co-tpIex-
ion.
On Tuesday the llth inst this city
exhibited scene Of desol.tion and dis
tress, probably more awfully calamilous
than any previously experirnced ina
meIica.
Between one aid two O'Clock in the
morning, a livery stable belonging TO a
MIR Boon, OH a trust lot OF the estate OF
Isaac Fci!, in the Baptist Church square.
was discovered to &c On hrc. The C!tl-.
zens, aud different engine companies, to-
gether with The Ulcers and Crews OF the
vessels in the mrbor, were soon conyeD.
cd, but unfortunately so immediate and
decisive measures were sdoprd, BY which
the FIRE could De stopped al is beginning.
The season for iour months (wiih tie
exception Of two rSin-) previous TO this
incident, bad been dry tie night WAS
cold, and brisk breeze 'roln w. n. w.
which was soon mcre ,sed by the effect
OF the Hyc. Several OF The adjoining
houses were soon affected, andstlp.p a.
most ins,aotly in flames. The wind now
became s,rong, aud whirled into the air,
with agitated viocncc. large fakes oi
burning shingles. boards and ,her ligh,
substances, which, aI'ghtIpg at Distance,
added confusion To the Other tesrors Of
the conhagration. - l'he use of water
was now rendered totally VAN; its COM
mon extinguished power seemed to be
lost. Torrents oi namts rolled from
house 10 house, with a destructive rapid
i,y, which hid defiance TO all human con.
troll, and Individual exeruons were from
this time almost suspended, and prmci.
paily pointed towards the securing prI-
1va!e properly.
The fire now ragged, sweeping all the
buildings from Baptist Church Square,
to the West, taking in from the north
side OF Broughton- street to the Bay,
down to Ahercorn- street on the East
save few buildings on the Bay between
Montgomery and JeIferspn-s;reets. That
large and elegant building Washington
Hall is safe; twice was it on fire, but
through great exertions it was rescued.
4 few buildings also are saved between
Aberccrn and Dravton-strects. The
State Bank, the Planters Bank, and the
Episcopal Church were some time in
imminent danger, but were saved. The
former building was OH fire two or three
times--timely assistance and unaen,itted
Sxertions alone saved ii.
In fact every house is swept away from
the spot where the FIRE commenced,
through Market Square, and the Bay
troh Washington Hall, to thc house
iately occupied by George Jones, Esq.
Except James Dickson s Co.'S. large
lire proof store lit, and It alone. IS the
only building remaining between the two
points named. We arc really at loss
oow TO describe--no tongue can give ut.
terance to words strong enough to do
this melancholy subject justice. To
hose at a distance, we can only say 10
'hem-come, conc and look At our poor
devoted ruined Savannah.
II is thought by many individuals thii
the 6re would have been arrested III Mar
set Square, had it not been for tlr cir
cumstanc- Of q large quantity Of gun
powder being IN some or the shops in