Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-06-16
TIE GREAT FIRE ArrAyErrEviiLr.

THE GREAT FIRE AT FAYETTEVILLE.
From particular ace cunt Of this az
niciiDg di.prosstion. published in q
Fayetteville paper. we learn that the
number al private houses DESTROYED
as about air hundred! The public
buildings destroyed were, the Town
! House. the Cape Fear Bank. the Ca
tholic Chapel, the Presby terrain and
( Episcopal Churches, the Academy, the
Lafayette and Mansion Hotels. The
building IN which the United States
Bank did business, and the Office of
the Agency of the State Bank, were
also DESTROYED. but as they were mere.
~ rented for ,ha, purpose. they are
not put down as public buildings. The
account continues
But besides the buildings, immense
quantities Of books, valuable papers, mo-
ney. household furniture. goods, ware-.
merchandise and produce, were de
sfroyed. Where the fire first broke
out, persons near the scene would re-
move such thing Ito whaf were then sup
posed places Of safety, tut BY the time
they would get them fairly deposited
they would discover the flames in hot
pursuit at them. and would he driven
tn farther Efforts for the security of
their valuables. until driven from place
10 place and completely worn down
with their exer,ions. they would ai
last be compelled to abandon them 20
the power Of the merciIess flames:-a
very small portion Of any Of these ar
ticies were saved. The amount de.
stroyed is difficult to estimate. We
cannot undertake TO offer a correct
list Of the houses or even point out
the principal sufferers. IL would be
INFINITELY more easy, to make cata
logue of those of our citizens, Tho have
not suffered. Language is entirely
inadequate 20 the description Of the
sublime and awful scene Of Sunday, or
to convey al adequate idea Of the APP
pcaraBce Of ruin and desolation which
our town now presents. If pity was
wrung from the iron heart Of the stern
Mar'us, disin,erested foreigner, amid
the ruins Of Carthage, what must be
the feelings of every warm hearted citi-
zen OF the United States, and especi-
oily of our own State, when he shall
look upon the melancholy wreck Of our
late hourishipg viiIages But II is b,
descending To an inquiry into indIvi-
dual losses and distresses. that our
true condition can be best understood.
Many who on the morning of that dav
were in full enjoyment Of all the ord
nary blessings of life have now nothing
left TO them but the single suit of
clothes which they wore. not a morsel
IN store either If bread or Of meat, 10
meet the common demands Of nature,
destitute even Of the shelter Of the
rudet howell from the inclemencv Of
the climate. Nor is this state Of pri
vation confined TO man in the fu! en-
joyment Of his natural strength and
independence, but includes all c0ndi-
tons OF Ile-the "idowrd mother
bending beneath tho weight If wears
and surrounded by her furnishing babes
! tic helpless aud unprotected female
the sick. the lame and the aged. -
Many who were in a state Of pr0speri
~, now find themselves denuded of
property, and burdened with debts Of
immense magnitude.
Furnished with the foregoing out
line, Imagination can from its own re-
sources, oil out this picture Of wretch
rdncss, with more truth, than by ~
dopting the cold suggestions Of any
recital. Ii seems that those who were
best able to lose were most successful
in saving.
! The Banks were 80 fortunate as TO Sc.
cure the whole OF their money book sand
valuable papers, although their losses
must be great in the destruction of real
estate, and the entire and partial pros
tratIOn OF go many &c their debtors. IL
is remarkable circumstance. that
some money and many valuable pa
pers. left in the vaults of the two Bank
were taken out after the FIRE, uniniur
ed.
The entire loss Of property is esti
mated at one million and half Of dol
lars.
Trial of j. ~. Marshall The trial
OF j. w. Marshall Of Kentucky, for
malIciously and unlawfulIy shooting
MIR. William Gait Of this CITY, with
intent 10 MAIN. disable, dis6gure, or
kill, came on the 9Th inst. before the
Circuit Court for this county, Judge
May presiding. The commonw ealth's
attorney. MIR James Lyons. appeared
for tho prosecution, and Messrs Is. w.
Leigh and Chapman Johnson for the
/ prisoner. IL Will be recoIleeted that
the renoonire originated in q quarrel
between the parties Al a ball, which