The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-06-08

FIRE AT FAYETTEVILLE, N. C. This town
was almost entirely destroyed by fire on the
29th OF May. 1t commenced in the kitchen of
Mr.. Kyle Two thousand persons were left
without shelter for their heads. The United
States Bank, the Cape Fear Bank, the Lafay-
cite Hotel, and all the churches, except tie
Methodist, which was distant from the centre
oil the town, were destroyed. The less is esti-
mated at above million of dollars The notes
ana books OF value belonging to the Banks were
saved, but 1t was impossible TO get al the specie
letter from the Rev. fl. Rowland to the edi.
Tor oil the National Gazette, says" Except in
me outSklrts OF the town, and in those streets
Whlch are little off from the centre Of the vii
'aSe, not dwelling house remains All the
churches, with the exception of the Methodist,
the academy, the two splendid hotels, our print
ing ONCE, the two Banks, the old State house,
every ,apelhecary's shop, and some of our mills,
are all IN ashes.
The fire communicated, (it is supposed from
chimney, precisely in the centre of our vii
lags, aud spread with inconceivable rapidity
through every street. 1t was Just after the con-
gregatlon HAD been dismissed, about half past
~ clock, when the fire was first discovered.
and in less than one hour and half our village
was literally a a." sea of fame" The goods were
consumed in the Streets the engines were burnt
in their stands. The tall steeple of the Pres
u
while it stood frm soon the bell descended
with crash-the steepe trembled, tottered
ana Tell. The Episcopal church which appar-
ehIiy caught at the same time was soon in ashes
nc SICK were borne out Of their houses and
were lying on pallets in the street. Others, faint
and exhausted, were reclining on the beds
which had been thrown out 1t is impossible
10 paint the heart'rending scenes which every
where occurred. Parents were inouiring for
Their children and childrao
and IN every countenance reigned DESPAIR. |
have been round the fire in every direction. and
the above statements are the result of nv own
observation. From where now write I can
perceive, for the extent of nearly half mile,
the light, which flashes up from the shoulder
ing RUNS very small portion of the proper
ty was insured. Most of the people lost their
all!
Another letter says, three churches, the
academy, the two banks, the two splendid ho-
tets, the old state house, the printing offices,
ana as nearly as can be estimated one hundred
and tive, stores, independently of warehouses,
dwelling houses and out houses of various do
scrlpuons, and mills, occupying an area of about
nah square mile, are completely burnt up.
The fire spread with such amazing rapdity.
That IN one hour and a half the column Of
smoke and flame seemed to rise from the whole
town at once Except the scattering houses in
the streets off from our village, the dwelling
houses. are all destroyed The goods which
were thrown into the streets, or conveyed, as it
was supposed, at safe distance from the
flames, except the few that were saved by re-
2eated removals, were all consumed. Every
ntiammable substance over the whole extent Of
the wind is reduced to ashes. The engines
played but for few minutes, and were then
deserted and consumed. Powder seemed our
only hope, and now on every side was heard the
thunder and the shock of buildings which were
blown to pieces This, was finally the instru.
ment ofarresting the FIRE in several di. ections.'