Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-02-06
From the Norfolk Beacon Of Feb. l..
AWFUL CALAMITY!

Ia the many sad disasters to our town,
which, as public journalists, it has become
our melancholy Office to record within the
last seven years, there is none which. from
It's destruction 10 human life and other
personal injury, has made SO heavy re-
QUESTION on our sympathy, as the events
oil yesterday morning.
Between 3 and 4 o'clock A. N. the cry
OF FIRE! reused US from our slumbers,
and upon approaching the front windows
of our Office. we discovered the house &C
cupled by Messrs. Allyn & Talbot, as a
variety store, within hundred yards oil
US, wrapped iu flames !; and scarcely had
we reached the scene of horror, than the
whole establishment of these industrious
and worthy citizens, extending through
from Market.square to Main street, was
reduced to heap OF ruins-and the ad-
joining dry good store OF Mes,rs: Soute-
jau 4. Brette, at the corner OF Market
square and Main-street, and the grocery
OF Mr. Pascal Schissano, on Main-street,
were on ere, in nearly every story Eager
inquiries were now made for hr. Benjamin
W. Talbot, WIN usually slept in the third
story Of the store on Main street {; and it
being known that be had retired TO bed at
his accustomed hour. the most painful ap.
preheusions were expressed by his hume.
rops friends present, that he had persisted
in the flames. The sequel to this tragic
occurrence, has but too awluIly realized
these apprehensions, Last evening. about
sunset, the mangled remains OF This estima-
bic young man, whose character, in all its
traits, the best of US might emulate, were
dug out from the ruins of bis late establish
ment, and will be inferred with military
honors, (agreeably to notice. on Sunday
morning, at il O'Clock. MIR, Talbot was
in bis Esd year-a native OF Baltimore
county, Nd where his mother and a
sister now reside.
But to our mournfui narative--irom the
moment that The house of Messrs Allyn u
Talbot tell w, hopes were entertained
that the fury oil the flames would have
been baffled by the large fire proof dwell
ling Of Mr. GEORGE M'intosh, occupied
, by himself above, and below by Messrs,
. Bonuaud 4, Denis, Dry Good Merchants
! and Mr.. Andrew Smith. as shoe Store !
Lut the FIRE making rapid progress in the
rear, and the hose of the Franklin compa.
nv being insufficient TO admit Of lis intro
! duction into the upper story, these hopes
! soon proved delusive {; and after The most
/ indie fatlgable efforts, it was fouhdindispen-
sable 10 blow it up, 10 order to save The ad
Joining range Of stores g. dwellings This
duty being very adroitly performed, and
powerful volume OF water poured upon he
ruins from the Franklin Engine, arrested
! its career on Market square, while the
Jealous exestiens OF the Union company,
checked its advance on MaiD-street, be-
youd the building in Col. Wrigbi's row,
occupied by Mr. Schissano, which was
i entirely consumed, with much OF its con-
tents.
The Book Stores of Mr.. Bonssl and Mr.
Hall. were several times set on FIRE; trom
| the fakes waited across The Square. tut by
the timely efforts OF the Union Company
! they were saved from any serious injury.
By 6o'cIock the fire was completely
gotten under, when the sudden tall Of cne
OF the chirlnies, added several melancholy
incidents to the awful groupe which we
have sketcbed above. By this occurrence,
man by the name OF John Barrett, car
penter, (from the Eastern Branch. was
instantly killed. Mr.. BENZ. E. Payne, OF
this town, had bis left leg broken, and was
otherwise severely injured. The following
young gentlemen were also much wound
ed, some Of them dangerously, viz: Henry
son OF Mr.. Stone, skull fractured and bad
" bruised; James, con of Mrs. White, on
Wide Waler-street, collar bone br' ken ;
Harvey, second son Of AR. John Palmer,
much bruised Robert, son OF Mr. Robert
Soul,er, DO {; and john, the son ot Mrs.
Haynes, do.
As to the origin OF the fire, there are
various conjectures--among which, 1t is
mentioned, that some mats, which had
! been used by Messrs. Allyn AID Talbot,
Tor straining oil, were thrown under the
CRATE, where they became igDited by the
heal-al,houph Mr.. A. is satisfied that he
entirely extlnguished the FIRE before he lett
the counting room
Mr.. UuHstan, one Of tie watchmen OF
the Bank of Virginia, staes, that about 5
O'Clock he discovered large volume OF
smoke issuing from a chimney, near the
premises as he supposed and believed II al
| FIRST to be from neighboring bake-bouse;
but observing that the smoke was emitted
in irregular puifS, and approaching nearer
10 il he ascertaiped that il proceeded from
the store chimney OF Messrs. Allyn and
Talbot, and when he arrived al the door
he found the counting room on fire, and a
quantity of smoke bursting through the up
Stars windows. He immediately knock-
ed at The door with considerable violence,
which alarmed the neghbors-wben he
gave the cry OF fire, at which time two Of
The town watchrrsn came up, aud he re.
turned to the Bank.
We have not yet been able 10 ascertain
| the losses of individuals or The aggregate
amount. Some OF those who have suffered
are partially insured, but Messrs. Allyn 4
| -. h..ino- neih;no inyurad their Loo