The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-06-18

Jane Whitney. The back part or tbs l,j...-.
having very high brick w1H, and thpr- -
pretty large chasa between that and theaf
joining house, the fury g. the element was e.
Ell. The barn which was connected with M!
house, was pulled down to prevent its further
spread All the foregoing buildings, cxcer,
about one third Of the house improved bv MI
Smith Cobb with considerable part Of tba;-
contents, amounting TO eleven dwelling hons.
and ten barns and stables, making twenty.onn
q the whole, we're entirely consumed II J.
impossible TO ascertain with any degree Of nra-
cislon the amount Of loss sustained-but we learn
from those who have made computation, that
II cannot be less than tlselty thousand dollars
AT this fire we witnessed a spectacle neve-
seen before in Portland. About 100 ladies
married and single, among whom were several w
the first responsibility, distinguished themselves
by the most patient, dilligent and perseyeup,
labors in passing the water to the Engines
and notwithstanding the fatigue they endured
in exhausting three wells Of their water, thew
did not discover the least symptom OF flinchinr
And although many were supposed to be in dan
ger OF severe colds, they refused 10 leave the
ground until the Firewards permitted the lines
10 be broken up.-One would think such Am
example would rouse into active labors every
spectator; but TO tire shame and disgrace of at
1 least as many surrounding iders of the ether
sex, they stood by, with an almost brutal insen-
sibility and indifference, while large number
| of small lads were performing, with cheerful
alacrty, the labors Of nren.--We believe our
laws for regulating proceedings at fires are de-
fectve. We hope the legislature win cure the
Z evil.
| We can think Of only two motives, which viii
bring persons at a fire, when their object is not
to aid in extinguishing the flames. One is the
qualification Of mere unfeeng curiosity to wit
ness the calamity of others, nearly allied to the
feelings of Nero, who played upon his fiddle,
while Rome was in flames and the other is
plumber. We understand that several Of the
sufferers had their property pilfered, after they
had snatched it from the FIRE. The miscreanE.
we trus:, will be brought to justice.
\ Several buildings, distant an hundred rods
from the seat of the fire, were slightly injured
{ by the Goals and cinders, borne By the wind;
and but for the watchful exertions Of citizens,
they must have been destroyed-and to these
exertions, perhaps. we owe the happy result
that considerable portion Of our town is not
now in ashes.
Sunday, about one O'Clock r. M the town
was again alarmed. The Peat Swamp on the
flames, from field where brush has been burn
ing. Some houses in the vicinity were in great
danger, but well directed sxertions in few
hours saved them.
Upon an alarm that the Governors House and
others in that neighborhood, were in jeopardy,
some of the Engines, and a large number Of cit
liens instantly repaired to it, and remained in
the vicinity, until all danger was over.
There was no pubick wershipin town, in the
afternoon.
Many of our fellow citizens from Gorham,
Falmouth, Westbrook and Cape Elizabeth, wifi
promptitude which demands our grateful
thanks, afforded valuable and timely help. We
are sorry 70 notice that one or two persons re-
fused obedience to the commands Of the Fire
wards, alledging a reason that they did not
belong to the town.
There was want of suitable buckets in Some
of the lines. Wooden buckets are not suitable
for fires. We hope every head of family in
town, who is unprovded, will provide himself
with pair of leather buckets. Aud we can
not forbear HAT that the town ought to be fur
nished with large quantity to be deposited in
suitable places, to be at hand on any sudden
emergency.
.4Henpt Of the Prisoners to break TIE Gaol.-
While the bells were ringing Sundays alarm
the prisoners in gaol hearing or suspecting that
Mr.. Gerrish was at the firc-made an ineFect-
ual attempt to force the doors Of their apart
ments-Probably with the desperate expectation
of secreting themselves behind the outer door Of
the PRISON, in the hope that some of them might
succeed In forcing an escape, when it should be
opened. MIR. Gerrish, while at the fire had
notice Of the attempt BY swift messenger-and
before he reached the prison he had a second
notice that this desperate preliminary measure
of escape had not been etfectual-He returned
to the gaol, and instituted an examination, which
We believe, led to full discovery Of the actors
BANKS.
From The .Ncu5urgport Herald