Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-06-28
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AWFUL CALAMITY! - Destruction of the Can
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AWFUL cALAM1rYi-D Destruction Of the Capitol
Of North Carolina!
RALEIGH, Jure 23-It is with indescribable emo.
lions OF regret that announce this awful caasro.
pho Ga Tuesday morning, about z o'clock, he build
ing was discovered to be on FIRE, by The smoke which
Issued from the roof on the west vide. The alarm was
INN ediaely given, and our citizens fastened 10 the
IA al spot with hope of exnguishng the fims. Blu
II was soon discovered to be imprascable, and the
erons Of al! hands then directed to the obi
Of saving the papers in the difsrn tices ard lend.
log he other public buildings in the Square. In this
hey were happily successful but, most unfortunate
Iy, the whole State Library was destroyed. The
house having been newly covered with II ne, il was
perhaps half an hour after the smoke was di'-
covered before the fire the outside hut
in few minutes after il burst through the rooi the
spreading flames covered the top of the house; after
which the top began rapidly 10 break and by o'clock
the walls alone Of that once boaulifal sd6ce which
justly the pride OF the Slate, and adu ration Of all
who have visited our CITY, were TO be SEEN with the
rolling smoke and curling flames gushing in terrific
volumes through every door aud window, and at the
top OF its wide and coVerlsss walls. Gres,
was maniiese ed for the preservation OF hs Statue OF
Washin gon which stood in The centre OF the roiunda
and an effort was made TO save but il vain and
ffui.iess; and this monument reared by the grateful
and patriotic sitizens OF North Carolina in honor Of tn
father OF our country, al expense Of about $50 900,
and which said - be the 6nett piece OF sculpture
In the world, was abandoned in despair TO share the
fate OF the supers,rueture which IL had long graeed
Ahor the house was SLED with haues, the statute pre-
sentsd awful aspect, being alternately yeloped in
dark volumes Of smoke and curling she OF rsdde
blsLs and when the dome fell in, the he sd were
broken OIL and great portion OF the hgurs reduced to
state Of calcnslioD aud IL stands amidst the sneTal
ruins melhr chpy itness OF the INCONSISTENCY Of earth
ly things. We are glad 10 state, however, that the
elegant full length portrait OF Arlington which hung
near the Speakers Chair in the Commons Hall, was
saved. All the furniture, with every thing else, save
the papers in the Comptroes Office, The Office Of thu
Clerk Of the Supreme Court, and the offices OF the
Clerks OF the two Houses Of the Legislature,
sumed
The House had just been covered with Zine, sgresa-
bly, TO the provons Of resolution OF the last lie ga.
uro and the work complssd, with the p,ion OF
supposed that the Eve accidentally communicated
10 the building by the use Ct the furnaces necessary
in such work 1t is Notifying refestion that tbs
very adopted for The security Of the buldiD z
bave been attended With fatality that pfoduceds de.
| 8 ructon.
II s due 10 our citizens TO say that every exerIion
within the compass OF human power made avert
This Dr. adfui calamity,
The 6re caught upon two three hou'es At the dir
lance OF one TWO hundred yards from The State House
but by prompt exertons II ediaieIy exiins uish
cd. II vas happy thing that the Inflated building
wa' surrounded with thick grove Of tall oaks, and
was not covered with shingles. The stmosphers wa
very damp, aud the wind was Afro in very iaVorsbs
direction But for these propitous creums,sn.
eeS the IRE might have extended lie ravagss The
| city.
| The books and papers removed from all the
pubic Office and the slate ofdsraDgemsn into which
they have been thus precipitsted, will impose :
task upon tue Hesds Of ID psrtmtn's which will 70
qure many months Of The most sssduous labor 10 ac-
eomplish.
a mseicg Of ,he members Of the Presbyisrisn
Church was held 10 he sherDoor o., Which sresoIu.