Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-06
CITY OF RICHMOND:

In COMMON COUNCIL, MAY igt 1899
'HHHE President submi, I'd the following cornn.uni
n cation from Thomas Cumming and others or
behalf of the citizens of Augusta In relation 10 th,
late destructive fire IN that city.
CIRCULAR.
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 2, 1920.
10 - probable that YOU have already lesrned
through the public papers. how serious u calamity
has been experienced by the city of Augusta. On
The Sd INST at O'Clock, + NJ. tire commenced in
closely built quarter Of the tom. The wind which
nom the beginning was violent, rose to a gale
ana bore along the flames with irresistible fury.
Slowr!s OF sparks and burning fragments, whirled IN
irregu1r eddes through the air. and kindinr at the
same moment houses Tar asuuur rendered impossible
any concentration of efforts in the direction of the
wind. The intense heat, aided By the con,gui,y OF
the buildings, and the cuubustihle nature OF their
materials, caused the IRE also 10 extend laieray,
with wide sweep ofdrsiruc, ion!ccd " eS.
cd ourselves happy in being ne to Hrrestho cunEa-
grafton, eren Oh its Western side. where we y,r..
most favored by the weather. 10 Tue Eagtward M
few hours, scarcely any thiur remained hut ma I'd
chimnes and smoking e;nbers. The rapid progress
OF the destroying element, was s,4f a materi; ay-
gravatlon Of the disastcr. Many could not remove
their effects at all and still only couveyed item
10 situations where they speedily followed bv
the flames. Before sunset our streets were flied
with crowd OF uniOriunacs OF every gc ,s lutte
or home, and niournluy glcauing fr,,rn confused
enp ui Eoveub!es The poar remains ofther furniture
and ranncnt. We hope that Won may never be
able u conceive such scene; for we hone that Won
will never behold it.
A yea are probably urncqua;ntud with the plan of
the CITY, II u presumed that d, scgipiun of the -
cal ravages o.. the fire woud bc little understood
on VIII obtain clearer notion of ts cStcn: from
the following 'atemen,:-About two hundred front
housns. with their Offices nave Eacn cors'ued More
than Loo persons Of all description were drnrived
OF home. The pecunpry loss csDno; " ,,re,,n; be
precisely estimated. but is probably abou half mil
hon OF dollars of which large part TAILS Oh those
who are !cGst able TO support il.
In these dist Eessing circuGiat1nccs or poplation
was not wanting to ITSELF in Officers OF frcndsh;o and
humanity. Immediate and efcctual measures wore
adopted 10 supply the most pressing wants Sub
scrptions have been commenced and arc libo,nlv
advancing, for the provision OF continued relief: Much
has been, and more will be done among onrsejvrs
But under affection so heavy there are thousand
Claims upon human sympathy, which mist remain
unsolicited, without the aid Of additional resources
Influenced by this conviction, the citizens of Augns
ia nave delegated the duty of REPRESENTING their
situations To the benevolent Of other communities
10 have taus represented it, We trust will be suf;i
Gent We shall not weary you with the ffiod vnn-
lilies o rlretoriIcal common place, in which the adj
yocaie remembers himself, rather than his cause -
Ne appea! to your leartsto the tribunal of l.lipos
not words We address you in bcalfof your t;,llo2v
men, and fellow citizens, struck down bv 4 sudden
shock o aiFesityi and we doubt ~, that we shall be
healu' Iaoy. Canning. ;r.