Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-06-17


since the commencement OF The late com.
motions, seventy thousand of bis people
had gone into The other world. out OF which
number only seven individuals had been
found faithful that In. remainder. bv
their neglect ofprayers, giving themselves
up to luxurious pleasures, want of care
OF The poor, and Indifference toward. the
Ullinabs, or beads OF the Faith, bad tins
forfeited his regard and intercession, The
paper then continues deplorDg this fallen
state Of bis flock. and predicting .ev.s.,
events which are to occur, such az Tho do
appearance of The sun, misconduct of ~.
women, loss Of the Koran, and coucjuds s
with mandate that this warning h. ses
pied and spread from city 10 civ and VII
lage to village throughout the Otiom,.
Empire. This is likewise TO have ~.
double effect of giving fresh vieor to tbe;r
eDdeavors to put down their enem;e.
more rigid performance Of their religious
duties, as well as to keep them from mo
testing the unoffending The guardian Oc
the tomb was directed BY Mabomet to for.
ward the paper to the Sultan. The event
to which ailude, as giving weight to the
foregoing curious circumstance, was the
awful and destructive FIRE on the fri Of
March, St. David's Day. While at break.
fast that morning, we were informed a Ere
bad broke out, not very distant from the
main street of Pera. As these things are
OF too frequent occurrence, we quietly &.
nished our meal, and then wen! to- house
in he neiehborhooG, which overlooked
the con6agrstion 1t had then burned A.
about three quarters Of an hour, being a
quarter after nine o'clock at which time
hrs, sa it; the wind Was blowing nearly
gale from the south !; The rapidly with
which il was burning, made me conclude
that it would be an alarming fire, and my
conjecture proved but too true. After
watching its progress about an hour, and
seeing Pera was not Immediately endan.
gered, proceeded to our counting house;
when l lett my place OF observation, about
finy houses might have already taken FIRE.
At about tour went up to Pera, and from
that until half past FIVE, watched the
flames from my former observatory II was
then raging IN three different quarters, all
a considerable distance from each other,
which rendered il still more alarming
Whilst here the wind became Gained, and
Jew rouad 10 the north, with little breeze
just sufficient to fan the flames About six
we dined; when went above stairs, af-
ter dinner, then dark, our garnet afforded
view OF two oil the three quarter. where
the FIRE ragged, scene of awful grandeur
was before me, which truly beggars des-
cription; darkness had rendered that
which before was alarming, perfectly ter
rihc An immense pile oil wood buildings
which had accurately noticed before din.
ner, and which had escaped the devoufiDs
element that bad reduced all around it,
was now in a great measure destroyed,
and the remainder burning with astOnish-
ing rapidly. The roof fell, and the flames
burst out with tenfold fury-a very short
time, and il was entirely down. Some
buildings which seemed in a measure al
tacbed by wall or garden next caught,
and were also Immediately Destroyed
The occasional burning Of the numerous
cypress trees gave to the whole very i'm
posing effect, as the instant they caught
fire the flames mounted 10 their highest
branches, and, in some instances, a few
seconds terminated what had, perhaps, for
a century marked the peaceful grave Of
some jealous Mahometan. In The same
manner The minarets oil the mosques would
catch fire at their SUBMITS. the rest being
stone. presenting light like an immense
torch reared among the scenes OF ruin
which were going on al their base. A.
bout ten o'clock. being apprehensive that
one part of The fire was making towards
the house OF -, my former place Of OBJ
seTvatiOn, a party Of US set out for it, and
found that our fears were groundIess. IL
had indeed towards sunset, increased a
little in that direction, but was now fast
burning its way to the water at Tropbana.
The discharge OF the cannon al the latter
place only increased the solemnity OF the
the whole this measure vas deemed e1.
pedient, as the FIRE was making rapid
strides towards them. The knowledge OF
a large quantity Of gunpowder being kept
here, OF course exsiteda degree Of anxiety
for the event; however, after having Sc.
cured about 90 lighter loads, the condagra-
ton was so near, that the remainder was
thrown into the sea, as well as number
of brass cannon, 10 prevent their being m
jured by the heat. The wind was now
very light, and the destructive element
took every thing in It's way to the waters
edge, when about 22 hours after its Com
menceme OF, having completely 5af1ed eve'
~ human effort, il at length burnt itself out.
The most extraordinary Circumstance
of this dreadful visitation is, that all the
houses and property destroyed were Iur,
kish The moment the fire had reached
the Christian quarter, the wind changed
to the northward The three fires then
formed as it were a huge circle and 10
manner retracing their former steps, des,
troyed whatever remained. Even viewed
by US, it is most remarkable occurrence.
Ii is asserted that the Sultan was in the
house which have denomiDsted The ln'
m. nse pile oil buildings, incog, during the
morning. There is custom prevailing,