Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-01-25

winch we nave, were not able to cou-
tend with the devcuFing eIement-TAey
welcomed relief from this quarter as
almost providentiai, and they are un :
bounded in the measure ct their thanks
for the assistance, without which the
best part of their town, With most of
the shipping, would have shared the fate
of that valuable portion OF it which was
already in flames
As it was however, the conhlgration
was awful, and the destruction of prom
efty very great, as may be supposed,
from Fire raging in the thick of the
town for Eve long hours, with brisk
Northwest wind blowing Ills a won
der, indeed, that the fire was got under
at ali. The hose aud forcing machinery
having the river for the source of supply,
furnishing copious and ire xhaustable
supplies OF water, effected what no sup
pls of water by hand could have done :,
and although the water thrown IN streams
descended 10 The form of ice and sieet,
mantlIng he firemen ia icy garments,
we believe but one of the engines was
so frozen during the day as to he disA-
bled, so steadily were they worked.
The FIRE commenced in the Cabinet
maker's shop of Mr. James Green, on
| the East side of ROYAL street, between
King aad Prince street, aud extended 10
! Fairfax street, thence down Prince st.
to Union street. The number Of Hous
es destroyed, besides back buildings,
was about forty - and the value of the
! houses aud goods DESTROYED can hardly
| have fallen SPORT Of two hundred thousand
dollars. Some of the property was IN
sured, but 10 what extent we have not
heard: the Fire Insurance Company OF
Alexandria wiIi, II is supposed be a cor
siderable loser by the f.e.
The principal sufferers By loss Of
property are, Mr.. Hal, Mr. Bfocchus,
| Mr.. Do1d Mr.. 'iarper, air. Johnston,
| Mr. Rnm.ey, Mr. Rudd, Mr.. Muir
ply, atr Hepburn. Messrs G. s. J. p.
Thompson, Miss Wiisoas, the Estate OF
r. G.. NarsteiIer, iona. c. May. Mr..
Horweli, Mr.. Nightingale, Isabel How
ard, and several others whose names
I'VE could not leata.
The office Of the Alexandria Gazette
was il such danger, (ihcugh The building
escaped that the material, we're al
hastily removed, and It viii take proba-
bly, some DAYS to git the Office righted
, so as to resume the publication.
Some circumstance connected with
this disastrous FIRE are worthy OF note.
First, the single roofs were the cause
of the Fire eStendngits ravages far be-
yond what it. would have done, had the
! roofs been slated Secondly, the fire
was arrested solely by the efficacy If
the Hose, without which the engines
| could nave done nothing.
Great danger was menaced by the
! tumbling walls. One man isreported to
+ have been killed; and oae of our ciii-
i gems, under falling wall, had an escape,
| by meatls of the embrasaTe oi win
| dow, little less than niraculous. Re
! freshmeuts were most literally disttibu-
ted by 'le people OF A sendria 20 their
visiants, and we STALL be glad TO hear
that ali got home safe throngh the cold
/ of hast night, still rsore intesse thar
that of the day.
\ great deal Of hbeTalNy and good
feeling was displayed on this occasion.
Among other instances, it may be men
toned, that Mr. Cookendorter, one Of
the proprietors Of the Union Stage Line,
went down with his huge steam boat
stage. loaded 60 or so persons. and
drawing the United States Hose Wagon,
which performed so important service
J in the day. The Washington Bridge
Company threw open their gates, and
no toll was charged os goers and corners
duripg the whole day. Other things OF
this sort might be mentioned, if We did
not fear that further particulars might
fatigue the reader.
This is we believe, by far the great
est FIRE that ever happened 10 Alexan
dria.
The National Journal says "The
whole number of houses consumed are
hastily estimated at between 50 and 80.
No correct calculation can he made in
regard to value of property, but 1t will
not fall short OF $l5oOOo."
OGfse Of t.e.Natonqi fnteiigencer, }
WASH 6roN Jan. %. l527.--4 A. Nj
Unable TO get our paper TO press IN time tor
, the early mani, We write you line 10 say, thai
no business of importance was transacted 10
Congress YESTERDAY, except the passage o. 8
, bill, through sli the stages. in the houss O
he a