Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-06-30
Norm carolina .staie HOUSE Burni!

From the ksisign Register, June 70.
.QuJM Cont7sgyotion lit is our
painful aud melancholy duty ssaiu 10
annouDce to the public. another appal.
ling instance ofioss by fire. which will
be- deeply felt and lamented by every
individual in our State. IL is nothing
less than the total destruction IF the
Capitol Of the State, located in this
City, Of that noble ediiicc, with IT,
splendid dec orations. nothing now re-
mains but the blaokeped walls and
.moullering ruins The State Libra
~ is also entirely consumed, and the
Statue Of NAsHIscTos. that proud
monument Of national gratitude. which
was our pride and glory. is SCI mu,ila-
ted anil defacsd, that none can behold
il but with mournful feelings, and the
conviction involuntary forces itselfup-
on their minds, that the loss is one
which cannot be repaired. The most
active exertiohs were made TO rescue
this chef d'ourrs Of CANova, from the
ravages Of the devouring element. nor
were they desisted from until the dan
ger became imminent
The alarm was given about seven
o'clook on Tuesday morning, and IL
vas presently evident that a n attempts
TO eAtinguish the FIRE, would prove per.
fec,ly fruitless. Ire efforts of the bv :
ISLANDERS were then directed towards
the protection of the Public Office, ON
the square, and the adjacent private
buildings. and TO the preservation of
the ofiiCia! archives. We are happy
10 add, that none Of the former were
injured, and that the latter. including
the Legislative records, were oil saved.
The beautiful grove of Oaks. Of which
the Capitol was the centre ornament,
did more towards staying the progress.
of the flames than any human effort,
aud inculcates most forcibly the pro
priety OF cultivating shade trees in CT
ties. on the score of security from fire
alone, 10 say nothing of other conside.
ra'ions. Seldom has the eye witness
ed so awful a spectacle as this vast
building I'm one concentrated blaze,
streaming from every window. and a
vast column from the roof, forming al :
together scene not adequately TO be
described.
The origin OF the fire is not certain
~. known, but we believe the general
Impression is, that il wa, the result of
most culpable carelessne on the part
Of man who had been employed to
assist in soldering the new Zinc roof,
as he was seen that morning CARRYING
up coal of fire between two shingles
considerably 'gnited. spark from
which. IN all probability, fell amongst
some combustible matter between the
roof and ceiling. which took fire while
the hands were at breakfast.
Consider ing the rapidity with which
the fire progressed. il is an aIleviating
circumstance that the public papers
we're all secured. Besides the papers
of the Clerks Of the two Houses If the
Legislature. and those of the Comm.
troller and of the Clerk Of the Supreme
Court. the fine copy "f Stewards Paint.
ing OF the Father Of our Country. and
some articles IF fur niture Of the Legis
fstive Chambers, were preserved from
the flames.
The congregation and pew -holders
ct the Presbyterian Church, with Ian
dable public spirit, have rendered TO
the Governor the use Of their build
ings for the temporary aecommoda alton
of the Legislature.