Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-09
THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE 9. 1881.
DESTRUCTION OF FAYETTEVILLE

day last, the cltiZens OF fayetteNlhe wereaiarNeu
BY the cry Of FIRE, and the other signals usual
on such occasions. The roof ola Kitchen belong
ing to Mr.. Jas. Kyle near his elegant brick build
ing lately erected at the y. W. corner OF Market
Square. was found to be in blaze, but to SO in-
considerable an extent, that it was believed the
efforts made to extinguish il would certainly be
successful Deceitful hope. They were all UNI
availns. In very few moments, the flames ex-
tended themselves to the large brick building, and
90 many small wooden buildings in its vicinity
In few minutes more,the roof of the Town House
caught, and that building was SOON envcioped III
flames From thence four large torrents OF fiames
were seen pouring In as many directions along the
four principal streets Of the town, with rapdity
and force which defed all stay resistance. In
"A western direction, the hre extended itself up
Hay street, the light hand short distance be-
vnnd the point OF Its intersection with Old street,
extending backwards III northern direction to
the very edge OF the creek embracing in It's devour-
INC sweep the intermediate buildings on Old st.
aud Maiden lane. And on the left as far as Mr..
Cannte's wooden building. being the next house
below Mr.. John MacRae's long row OF wooden
buildings, at the Wagon Yard, extending back
ward soulhwardly to Franklin st. Along Green
street the Aames progressed northwardly, eros
SING the creek, and consuming in their transit MIR.
Ecclcs's mill, store and dwelling house. and the
-Atndsuinc 5;,dsCerected few years since by the
tnya. sweeping before them many valuable build
in-s, including tie Episcopal Church on the right
hand side of the street, until they reached the pri
>ate residence Of Jas. Seawel, Esq. which was
saved, by proyldeatial turn of the wind, and the
active exertions Of very few persons with water
and blankets On the lesthand side of the street,
they progressed until they were stopped at the
house Of J. W. Wright, Esq. BY blowing it up,
l. L.. Il tkA., haI
house Of L j.. ilybart,> Esq, which was saved
by exertions OF great activity and persever-
ance. Along Person street they destroyed every
bsidiug on both sides as far eastwardly as few
doors below Liberty Point, including the store Of
Mr.. lWm. Mclutyre, situate on the opposite point
formed by the junction oi Person and Cool Spring
alley, extending back northwardly as far as the
edge of the creek, consuming the Presbyterian
church, Catholic chapel, and all the other build
ings with the exception OF the dwelling house,
mills and warehouse Of MIR. Jas. II. Hooper, all
of which were saved with much exerhon) includ-
ins the buildings on both sides of Bow street.
Along Gillespie street, the flames extended as
far as the State Bank building on the right hand
side, which being nearly ere proof enabled the
citizens To contend successfully with the flames at
that point, and to save that building On the cas-
tern side of the street, they destroyed every build
ing to point opposite the State Bank building,
aud extending eastwsrdly so az to include all but
three Of the buildings on Dick street between Per-
son and Mumford street.
1t is impossible To form any correct estimate Of
the entire loss in real estate. There probably is
no instance in history of 50 large portion Of "a
town being consumed. where It was not the result
of voluntary human agency. The fire continued
20 rare with undated fury until about six O'Clock
when, by the blowing up of houses, and the other
l.
deprived oi fond for its raging appetite.
The public buildings destroyed ere. the Town
House, the Cape Fear Bank, the Catholic Cha
pel, the PRESBYTERIAN and Episcopal Churches,
the Academy, the Lafayette and Mansion Hotels.
The buildings in which the Z. States Bank did
business, and the office of the Agency of the State
Bank, were also DESTROYED, but as they were
merely rented for that purpose, they are not put
down as public buildings. The private buildings
destroyed, in number about SIX HUNDRED,
would require long catalogue to enmumerate |
particularly.
But besides the buildings, immense quantities
of Books, valuable papers, money, household |
furniture. goods, wares, merchandise and pro-
duce, were destroyed. When the fire first broke
out persons near the scene, would remove
such things to what were then supposed ,
places Of safety, but BY the time they would get
flames in hot pursuit of them and would be dri-
ven to farther efforts for the security of their
valuabes. until driven from place to place, and
completely worn down with their exertions. they
would at last be compelled to abandon them to
the power Of the merc,less flames:-a very small
portion of any Of these articles were saved. The
amount DESTROYED IL is difficult to estimate
We cannot undertake to fer a correct list OF the
houses or even point out the principal sufferers.
Ii would be infinitely mare easy, to make cat
logue of those of our citizens, who have not sui
iered. Language Is entirely inadequate to the
sublime and awful scene of Sunday, or to con-
vey an adequate idea Of the appearance of ruin
and desolation which town now presents
If pity was wrung from the iron heart Of the
stein Marius, d,sinterested foreigner among the
ruins Of Carthage, what must be the feelings
Of every warm hearted citizen of the United
states, and especially Of our State. when he shall