Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-08
GREAT FIRE ATT FAYETTEVILLE

Extract ola letter to the editors of the
Philadelphia Gazette dated, FAvETTE-
VILE, N. c. Sunday evening, 7 o.
clock, May 90, 1881.
am sorry to inform you that we are
all burnt out. The town is now heap
of smoking ruins. The fire commenced
in Mr.. Kylc's kitchen, and extended up
Hay-st las far as Mrs Gas's on the north
side, and up as far as the Wagon yard on
south side, burning every thing in its
way. The Presbyterian and Episcopal
Churches are also gone, and all the in
tcrmediate houses. We are also house
less and homeless. There are about two
thousand persons who have no place to
Law their heads. The loss is above one
million dollars. The L. S. Bank and
Cape Fear Bank are also gone, the la
Fayettc Hotel likewise. l believe no
lives were lost.
Another letter of the same date says,
-"We had not left the church half an
hour before the fire broke out. All the
notes or books Of any value belonging to
the banks were saved, but it was found
impossible to get at the specic.-llopes
are entertained, however, that it will not
all be lost. The Branch Bank Of the
U. S. is to be moved to my mothers res
idencc. She has given up Il room for the
transaction Of their business. The State
House, the Hotel-both churches, the
Cape Fear Bank, and all the other Prin-
cipal buildings arc burnt"
From the Philadelphia National Gazette of June g.
The following letter came to us by the
mail of this morning. > We deeply de-
plore the great calamity which Mr.
Rowland, a Presbyterian Minister, go
vividly and sorrowiully describes. The
public will sympathize with the unlort-
unate inhabitants Of Fa ayettevlle.
Fayetteville, ~ C. Nay 90, 1881.
To tho Editor of the National Gazette:
SIR-FAYETTENILLE is NO
MORE!-This morning the sun rose
upon us in its beauty, and with gladden.
ed hearts we focked to the churches of
our God-Now We are in RUINs.-But
two stores Of all that this place contained
arc standing. The rest are entirely con-
sumcd. Nothing but stacks Of tottcrng
chimnies remains to tell what we once
were.
Except in the outskirts Of the town,
and in those streets which arc 4 little of
from the centre of the village, not a dwell
ling house remains. All the churches,
with the exception of the Methodist,
which is distant from the centre of the
town, is destroyed. The Academy, the
two hotels, our printing Offices, the two
Banks, the old State House, every a
pothecary's shop, and some of our mills,
are in ashes.
The fire communicated (it is suppos-
cd,) from chimney, precisely in the
centre af our village and spread with in
considerable rapidity through every
street. 1t was Just after the congrega-
ton had been dismissed, about half past
Q O'Clock, when the fire was first discov-
cred, and in less than one hour and
half, our village was literally "sea ol
flame" The goods were consumed IN
the streets, the engines were burnt at
their stands. Some who had property
removed to distance in expectation OF
safety were disappointed; TOO soon lne
dcvouring element reached them. The
churches though at a distance from each
other, were soon in flames The tall
steeple Of the Presby byterian church seem
cd a pyramid of fire; for while il stood
firm, soon the bell desc ended with crash
the steeple trembled, tottered and fell.
The Episcopal church, which apparent
ly caught at the same time, was soon in
ashes.
As wandered through the outskirts OF
the place, to administer relief so far al
possible to the distressed, my heart sunk
within me- The sick were borne out
of their houses, and were lying on pal
let. in the street. Others, faint and ex-
hausted, were reclining on the beds
WHICH had been thrown out. Every mo-
ment our ears were stunned with the ex-
plosion Of fpowder, to demolish the buIld-
Il -. tho Hanng2 l,lI