The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-09-16
FIRE ar WJSC9SSET

Since the first settlement of Wiscasset, its
inhabitants have never witnessed scene so
truly awfnl 10 appearance, or calamity so
destructive in its consequences, as the great
fire on Thursday last. About o'clock PM.
we were alarmed by information that the
Woods in the west part of this town were on
fire, and the flames rapidly approaching our
dwellings. The scene of destruction, from
which the alarm proceeded, was nearly 8
miles west of the village. The gale, which
had been blowing from that direction had
now increased. by the intense heat. to the
violence of hurricane, bearing along with
| it clouds Of smoke and dust, that de6ed the
rapid approach of aid. We well knew that
the late severe drought had scarcely been e
qualIed in this state.-The parched fields. the
dying verdure, and the fading foliage around
US, presented melancholy spectacle, and
gave rise to the most fearful forebodings.
Our fellow citizens were arranged according
to the best possible disposition and afforded
every aid in their power, in some instances
even at the hazard of their lives. But of
what avail cond be the male population of a
village like this, when scattered over an ex-
tent of nearly seven miles 10 length and 3 in
breadth, containing hardly spot exempt
from the general conhagration. Our case
was different from the most destructive fire
10 city, where the unhappy sufferer NAV
generally secure his retreat and find a wei
come asylum in the dwellings, of the opulent.
But here retreat in most instances was highly
dangerous, in some, impossible. One elderly
female was burnt to death in the attempt
another, under circumstances where female
4
herself by descending well, into which she
had previously thrown a chest and bed, and
from the top Of which she had cleared the
combustibies that surrounded it A lad, we
since learn, was killed in attempting to leap
fence.
Some who had humanely gone TO the re-
lief of their neighbours short time before
returned but TO view the ashes of their own
dwellings, under the painful apprehension that
their families might be smoulderng in the
ruins. II was indeed an appeal 10 the mos
obdurate heart TO see the frantic mother with
her affrighted children, running to and fro
through burning forest without prospect
of retreat or hope of refuge. Such was TIE
fire, which in the snort space of two hours lev
eled with the ground buildings, trees and
fences to the extent of miles in length and
l3 in breadth. 1t might well be termed q
flaming whirlwind, spreading before il dismay
and despair, and leaving behind it nothing
but the last consolation of the wretched--the
safety of their own lives.
White describing our own distresses we are
not unmindfui of our neighboring town--Alns;
where the fire, we are informed. desolated a
space Of 3 miles in length and Q in breadth,
Ill vusf all fba nf1i Ctr
cumstances we have described above. Never
were people more sensible of the presence
of an immediate providence in srrestiag a
devouring element, that at once threatened
our dwellings and our lives.
The following statement has been handed
| in by committees appointed by the towns OF
Wigcasset and Alma for the purpose of ascer-
Itaining the amount Of loss in those towns.
| In Wiscasset
Number of suffering inhabitants zoo
Dwelling Houses burnt 22
Barns "a
Tannery, consisting of buildings 3
School houses
Grist Mill j
Saw Mill
Head Of stock 3O7
Value Of property destroyed $50,650.
! In Alma.
Number Of suffering inhabitants "a
Dwelling Houses burnt IL
Barns Is
School house
| Head of stock 13O
Value Of property destroyed, $4,000
Timber and wood lots, fences and orchards
pretty much destroyed. The whole extent OF
the fire on the lots back of the towns, a
distance of 10 miles.
This report was made by the Committee
appointed by this town to ascertain the imme-
date loss sustained by each sufferer.-The to
tai destruction of an excellent growth OF
wood on which this place depended for future
supplies Of fuel--ship timber and lumber OF
every description-selds of grain, &c. for the
distance of Z miles, has been computed by
some of our most judicious citizens TO exceed
100000.
The inhabitants of Edgecomb, assembled in
town meeting 9th inst. unanimously voted
one hundred dollars of the towns money to
be appropriated for the relief of the sufferers
by the fire in Wiscasset.-Lincolal Int