Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-08-21
4 PUBLIC MISFORTUNE
Compiler OEce, Richmond,

Compiler OGce, Richmond, !
dug II, 1923, haLfajisr o'clock, A. NJ )
We stop the Press to announce tie
coa.piete destruction Of our State PEN
i!entiary by fire !
A few minutes before IL, the ALARM
of FIRE was sounded--and broad glare
Of light to the west indicated the fire to
be in that direction. Our prophetic fears
were realized--and the extensive range
Of buildings constituting the State Pen
itentiary rapidly exhibited tremen-
'dous sheet Of flames The effort to
save the building was idle.
The fire engines were hurried to the
spot, and crowd of citizens we're COL
lected but the exertions were conin-
ed to saving the convicts, some Of the
public property ia the front centre build
ing, and few wagons, ploughs, SC.
under sheds without. Few of the goods
in the centre building, comparatively,
were saved.
As far as we have ascertained, all the
convict were saved. The turkeys
who slept under the Building, where
able to unlock the upper rooms-and
those who slept IN them rushed through
the front gate. 4 few of the lower cells
had not been unlocked-and by the
most laudable and vigorous exertions
on the part of our fellow citizens, thro'
the outer wall, or by cutting the graft
ing out Of the windows, four wretched
beings were dragged as it were from
the tomb into life
Capt. Dolling's Company ofthe Pub
lie Guard repaired with alacrity to the
spot AMI, assisted by the Citizens,
grouped he convicts together, to pre-
vent their escape, They were marched
off to the Capital, and confined in it,
ample portico under guard Not one
of them seems to have made any at
tempt to escape; and throughout the
whole scene they behaved remarkably
well.
The whole Of the buildings were con~
sumed. No part Of the brick work fell
The Penitentiary was in the form of
semicircle the two ends OF the semicircle
connected by a range Of wall, with a
range house for the keeper in the line Of
the range. In the INFERIOR, was a large
central building for worllshops.-The
fire began in this central building next
to the east side Of the semi circular
building.
Its suspected that the fire commence
ed in a shoe maker's shop, where some
times 20 or IS worked at once. A strong
suspicion is entertained that the fire was
the design and that possibly some of
the workmen may have ccntrived to
smother up some fire; according to this
supposition, it must have been more
than three hours before it burst out
But all conjecture is bafiied fer the pre-
sert
The loss to the Commonwealth is
severe-Scal cely less at very rough
guess than S2Oo,o00. 1t will be ques-
ton, whether the Legislature ought not
TO be called 10 provide against the con-
sequences of this calamity.
There were 24l convicts in the build
ing--of these, Il or ID were women.
We have this moment learned that gag
have been counted-2 sick, supposed
to be in the vicinity of the prison-not
one then missing!
The sight was awful and grand be-
yond description. No words en- do JUS
tee to the feelings which the whole
scene produced. The Penitentisrv was
to the west of the city--and isolated
some distance from any other build
ins.-The fire, therefore, communica-
ted to no other. The wind was light.
1t is long time since we sustained
any serious alarm or loss by 6re--but
this blow compensates for our exemp-
lions. How many Interesting events
have beer crowded into the short space
Of three hours