Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-02
YORK MINISTER.

Further partio ulars OF the burning OF YORK
Minister, from late file Of London papers.
Between six and seven the discovery was
m sde in most extraordinary manner. A
young boy Of The name Of Swinbank; who is
one If he choristers, was passing through the
Minister yard, and accidentally stepping upon
a piece Of ice, was thrown on his back Thus
placed, and before he could recover himself he
saw a quantity of smoke issuing from several
parts of he roof The sight was truly alarm
ing and unac countab.e, and he lost no time IN
going 20 the man who keeps the keys. They
returned tnge ner, and when they entered, the
sight was tie omG description; dense mass OF
smoke pervad,i the whole building, and The
beautiful wood work Of he choir was exten-
sively on FIRE. Al alarm was given, the work.
men connected with lhr Minssr were all called
up, fire engines were procured, and the whole
city soon bee aHe acqnain ed with the distress
sing tidings.
The minister being lit with gas, that was first
blamed as the cause Of the fire; but, in justice
to the gas company, We deem l. right TO ems
deavour to remove so unjust prejudice as
this rumor has occasioned. The next report
was, that the fire was the work OF incendiaries,
and in confirmation Of This, knottrd rope,
found hanging from one Of the windows near
the Chapter-house, was pointed out as the
means by which the villains had gained admit
lance for their diabolical purposes. This, how>
ever, was also on inquiry fully explained
Some workmen belonging 10 the Minister had
that morning placed the rope there, and en-.
tered by it for other and nobier purposes. The
fact is, that the FIRE seems TO have originated
in one Of the vestries, and was The lamenlable
result of accident alone.
INF LATEST iNTELLIGENcE.-Last evening
(Tuesday) an investigation OF several wolkmen
and others too place al The residence, in the
Minister yard, with view. if possible, 10 as
certain the precise cause Of this ameniable oc.
currence. Nothing satisfactory, however, was
elected at this inves' igation, and the inquiry
was adjourned to future day. In the mean
time, for pr uden,ial reasons, i, has been deem.
ed best not TO publish The particulars OF what
rranspired on this occasion.
Under the present state Of things, we deem
il our duty to remark, that though at FIRST we
were strongly inclined 10 believe that This me-
lancholy event was the effect Of accident; and
we were confirmed in this supposi'ion, from
The assertion so confidently made, that the
knottsd rope had been accounted for; yet we
regret that subsequent and more minute in
quiry leads to the suspicion, dreadful as 1t is,
that some perverted and unaccountabe feeling
Of malice has led the partial destruction OF
the finest building in Europe. We have ascer-
tanned, from personal inspection, that the 6 lass
of the window at the north side Of the Cathe>
dral, whence the rope vas suspended, was bros
ken from uitiin. We have learnt, upon in
quiry, that when the plumber, who, II was said,
had placed it there, arrived, he found II IN It's
mysterious situation, and has no idea whatever
Of how il came there and ii has still further
come to light, that The rope thus formed into
step ladder, is portion OF the rope belonging
10 the bell which is ruDg for daily prayers.
Thus it is evident, that by whom sCevrr placed,
it must have been prepared at the interior Of the
Cathedral, and intended for the purpose OF
egress.
Yesterday bunch Of matches, burned a, both
ends, was found among the rubbish, aid after
wards pair OF pincers, and an iron instrument
which would serve many purposes,-amongs
others, that VI striking light.-have been dis
covered. 1t is also TO be noticed, that the ring
ers were in the Minister at half past O'Clock
on Sunday evening and if the smouderIng OF
the accidental snuff Of candle had originated
the confagra,ion, it Is hardly probable but tina,
they would, by iha, time, have noticed the
smoke, if they had no, observed some indica-
tions OF the flames.
A, present, the affair is involved in the deep
est mystery-a mystery darkened by the most
dreadful suspicious; aud, in conclusion, we can
only express our sincere wish, thar this hidden
deed of darkness may be brought to light; and
il there should be any one involved in such
depth Of de2ravi,y and gull, hat he may be
brought to that punishment such atrocily de-
serves
The following is taken from the Times,
communicated TO that paper by a corrrspon-
dent:
IAN is now still, except the men at the en-
gnes in the interior, and 4 few seninels on
guard over the articles brought GU, Of the YES
try. 1t was painful to the little interest the
lower orders took in this melancholy event
they looked on it quite as sight, whilst, on
the other hand, the middle and the upper clds-
ses evinced the mos, intense interest. Many
of the neighooring gentry have arrived this
evening MIR. Thompson, OF Escrich, sent his
own FIRE engine, drawn by his four coach .hors-
es. The venerable Archbishop came over inn
and, together with The Archdeacon