Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-09

am Inquiry into individual losses and dlstresses,
that our true condition Can be best understood.
Many who ON the morning Of that day were IN
the full enjoyment of all the ordinary blessings OF
life, have now nothing left to them but TIE single
suit of clothes which they then wore, not a NOR
sci in store, either Of bread vr IF meat, to meet
the common demands Of nature, destitute even
of the shelter of the rudest howell from the IN
clemency of the climate. Nor is this state OF
privation confined to men in the full enjoyment
of natural strength and independence, but IN
cludes a,l.conditions of life-the widowed mo
Their bending benath the weight Of years and sur
rounded by her furnishing babes-the helpless
and unprotected female-the sick. the lame and
the aged, Many who were IN a state OF prosper
ity. now find themselves denuded Of property,
and burthened with debts Of Immense magnitude.
But we forbear.
Furnished with the foregoing outline, imaglna-
ton can fromiits own resources fill out this PIC
sure of wretchedness, with more truth, than by
adopting the cold suggestions Of any recital 1t
seems that those who were best able to loose
were most successful In saving. The Banks
were all so fortunate as to secure the whole or
their money, books and valuable papers. atho'
their losses must be great in the destruction OF
real estate, and the entire and partial prostration
of so many OF their debtors. Ii is remarkable
circumstance, that some money. aud many vah-
able papers, left in the vaults Of the two Banks,
were taken out after the fire uuinj ured.
1t is due TO all the citizens TO say that their
exertions were unremittng while their strength
lasted, wherever there was prospect Of effect
ing any thing, and although many were readyto
faint under their labor, and some were partial.
ly burnt, it is great alienation to our SORROWS
To be able to say that no lives we're lost.
The slaves and other colored population, de-
serve great credit for their conduct OH that event
full day, there Was nothing like riot Or disturb
ance among them, but they all seemed to work
with zeal and intrepidity which manifested
hearty sympathy in the Common cause, and that
devotion TO the interests Of their masters so re-
markable in the African character before sick
ly and false humanity had instiled into his bo-
som the poison of discontent, and alienated his
feelings from those whom God had appointed
him to serve. Acts of herolsm and disinterest
eduess were done by them on that day which
may be proper on some future occasion TO nell
ton.
Many of our fellow citizens from the country
attracted by the smoke and fragments Of burning
materials, (sOme of which it is said were borne
to the distance of twen,v-six miles, came in dur
inc the progress of the fire, and rendered MS real
hearty and useful aid. But variety of causes
combined to render all their efforts for long time
unayaling. and the last remnant of strength and
resolution was nearly expended before the enc
my was subdued.
The day on which it occurred was unpropi;ious.
The citizens had just returned to their houses
from their several places of worship, that state
of mental calm, and cOmposure. which the day
and their late employment were SO well ealcuiat-
ed to inspire; and which, however >propitious to
the attainment of spiritual strength, is perhaps
not the most favorable state of feeling for sudden
ly and unexpectedly engaging in any temporal
strife or labor. Besides this, being at their pri-
vate residences instead of their places of busi-
ness, they were further removed from the scene
of action, and the enemy had gained much strength
before they could bring themselves in conflict with
it. Contrary to all expectation the supply Of wa
ter was found to be insufficient from the water
works, probably owing to the improvidenty tax
ing out some Of the upper plugs and thus in mea-
sure cutting it otf-Owing to the pressure of the
fire, the sudden confusion, and the anxious soil
cltude OF each one to save his own property, it
was not found practicable to form continued
line of communication with the creek, and indeed
the engines themselves, SO far even as they were
supplied with water refused to perform their func-
tons.
The great heat of the weather was also We
nv unfavorable; the suns rays had heated the
roofs of the houses almost to inflammation, and
rendered them fit to be lgni,ed BY the smallest
spark; added TO this, was its relaxing and oppres
sive effect upon those engaged in endeavoring to
extnguish the fire and thus diminishing their abb.
lily neafi. one half, A very large proportion Of
those who we're engaged in this service were those
who had already been worn down with exertions
to save their own chattcls. But of all the unfa-
vorabe circumstances none contributed So large
Y to the spread of the fire as the absence of any
wind Of sufficient force to impe the flames in
any one certain course, which would have con-
centrated the exertions of the citizens to one
point and prevented the fire from spreading in
other directions
We have thus laid before our readers very
imperfect account of this awful catastrophe Ma
ny particulars doubtless have not yet reached US.
and IN the present excited state of feeling it is
difficult to trust to any thing. which we did not
ourselves see with our own ewes. and have there
fore confined ourselves principally, if not entire
ly, to the relation Of such things. Amid such
Il of