The Litchfield County post., 1827-11-29
FIRE AT MOBILE.

gister of the 9th Oct. the following ac-
count of recent destructive fire in that
city, which is more particular than any
previous one we have seen. The loss ap-
pears to have fallen upon merchants and
traders principally. 1t is stated in the
Register that, in consequence of the great
demands for mechanics, since the fire,
CARPENTERS wages have advanced to
FIVE DOLLARS day, and even at
that price it was impossible to obtain e.
nough of them. MAsoNs we presume will
also find profitable field for their labors.
And as great many carpenters and ma
sons have little employment in the nor
thern cities during the winter months, they
will find it to their advantage to emgrate
to Mobile.
Destructive Fire.-The city Of Mobile
is literally in ashes. The heart of the
town has been destroyed by fire. At this
moment the streets and wharves, which
have heretofore presented nothing at this
season of the year but an eniivening scene
of mercantile hustle, are now alas reduced
to desolation and ruin The flames have
seized almost every thing in its devouring
vortex. Where stood formerly the three
principal hotels of the city: the extensive
brick warehouse, the cotton press, that
seemed in strength and material to defy
alike, not only the ravages of time, but
every element, is now heap OF broken
brick and ashes. Perhaps there never
was more dreadful con1agration there
never was certainly within the same space
of time, so great proportion of SO prom
Using city destroyed by fire. When the
efforts of the people had failed to check
its progress, or to keep it even stationary,
it was discovered that the late extraordin-
airy drought had effected the pumps, the
water failed and before line could be pos
sibly formed to the river, the Mobile Ho-
tel, where the fire first appeared, was COM
pletely enveloped in flame strong north
wind at that instant sprang up, and the
contiguous houses caught with the quick
ness of powder, and in proportion as the
number increased so did the flames, until
the intensity of the heat was SO great, and
the torrent of fire so impetuous that eve
ny thing, whether wooden or brick, fire
proof or not appeared to dissolve at its
touch, without any more apparent resist
ance than if they had been columns of
snow. Nor was there time left for some
of those who lived at the remotest distan-
ces between the fire and the prevailing
current of wind to save either goods or
furniture. In some instances the entire
sets of books Of merchants have been de-
stroyed. At this particular moment,
visitation SO dreadful is doubly unfortunate
for our city; for at no time, in the fall,
winter or spring season of the year have
we ever had an abundance of house-room,
whether for goods or families and at the
period when the fire occurred, there. had
not been but one shower of rain for nearly
eight weeks, and the citizens had princi-
pally sought refuge in the country from the
prevailing epidemic, which, in itself had
been considered sufficiently calamitous.
The manner or cause in which it origin
ated, or to which we are indebted for the
TERRIBLE misfortune is unknown. While
the people were assembling at the market
early on Sunday morning, the fire was dis
covered bursting from the roof Of the Mo-
bile Hotel, occupied by Mr.. John Austin
the greatest efforts were then made by the
citizens and the few strangers in the town,
to subdue it; perhaps it might then have
been extinguished, if our usual force had
been present, and the water had not failed
but Of this there are contrary opinions.
To trace ITS course afterwards would be
impossible. In the short space of five or
six hours its limits were prescribed and its
extent was notwithstanding north g.
south, from the Hotel, on the west side of
Royal-street every building was burned !:
between the ancient residence of James
Innerarlty, Esq. down TO the Cotton
Presses, now occupied by Mr.. Eslavia,-
On the east side of Royal-street, every
building between the small house south of
the Alabama Hotel of Dr.. White Esq.
down to the house of Mr.. Charles Gull
lnm, near Government-street.-I Dau-
phin-street north, commencing with the
house lately occupied by B. B. Breden,
aud extending to the river; and south of
that street from point nearly opposite to
the river also, in Conti-street north, from
the corner Of Royal to the river, and south
to the river; also from that corner except
the new buildings of Messrs. Robertson a.
Barnwel. Water and Commences
both sides; from the north corner of ST..
Francis-street TO Government-Street with
but one ar two exceptions. nf Temporary