Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-05-09
DOMESTIC.
From the HagersiO,cn Torch Light.
THE CUMBERLAND FIRE.
address totac People Of the United STATES

The Undersigned, being a committee
appointed by the citizens of Cumber-
land, TO draft an address TO the people
OF the United States, detailing the par
tlculars of their late dreadful calamity,
and the condition to which they are re-
duced, and Of soliciting contributions
m their behalf, are enabled, from their
own view and from their inquiries on
the subject, to make the following state
nent:
The town Of Cumberland is situated
at the junction of Wills creek, with the
river Potomac. The national road pas
sing through the place, has given it the
advantage OF agreat amount Of travel,
and large sums were expended for its
accommodation. The principal Hotel
was a splendid building, and cost the
proprietor upwards of twenty five thou
sand dollars. There were two other
large and commodious Hotels, well
kept and provided, upon the same
square.
Cumberland being the chief town of
Allegheny county, and its seat of JUS
tice, the principal mercantile business
of the county was here transacted.
Here also the coal from the mines is
brought and deposited for transports
zion. The merchants, tradcsmen, and
mechanics, were all in prosperous cir
emastances, and We're located, as near
as conveniently might be, in the .vicini-
ty of the Hotels, which formed the
centre of business.
The calamtous fire, which forms the
occasion and the subject of this adj
dress, broke out at 2 o'clock, p. M. Oh
Sunday the 18th Of April last. 1t orr
glnatcd in u joiner's shop, and is said
10 nave been occasioned by a lighted
cigar, which careless boy threw a.
mongst some saayings. This shop I'M
happisy stood at the northwestern cx-
tremlty of the business portion of the
place, and a strong north nest giad,
prevailing 1T the time, the flames, burn
ing shingles, and other combustiblcs,
were carried directly through the heart
., the town. The citizens labored first
70 save the building, which was frame,
adjoining the Shop where the fire com
menced; bat this was soon abandoned
as hopeless.
The panic then became general and
uncomfortable, and each endeayoring
to save his own effects, carried Out
store goods, beds, bedding, clothing
and furniture into the street; but thu
houses ON both sides were now in full
blaze, the progress of destruction was
g4pid beyond conception, and thost
who had placed their effects in the
street, were driven from them by "a
body Of flame and scorching smoke
that filled the entire space from side to
side, burning up sideboards, chairs, ta-
bles, articles Of male and female at
tine, beds and bodcloths, before the
eyes of their owners.
Ihenext effort OF the citizens where
tae flames had not yet reached, was to
carry their goods to to houses oftacir
friends at "a considerable distance from
wnat was supposed to be the scene OF
danger. In the midst of these labors,
what was their CONSERVATION to behold,
these places Of refuge, even the mos,
distant with all the Intervening houses
on fire.
The inhabitants now withdrew in
despair to distance from the raging
element. From right to left, one UNI
broken sheet of fame extending full q
quarter ola mile, raging and roaring
like a tornado, was the awful spccta-
Gle presented to the eye. The two
sections of the town were completely
separated from each other; to those on
Iae west, the fate and condition oil
their friends beyond the flames, we're
involved in mystery and dreadful APP
Observation-Disclosures were separated
from their children, and wives from
their husbands-but fortunately not al
single life has been lost.
In two hours and n half, seventy FIVE
houses fronting on the principal street
of the town, including the Hotels, all
the stores save one, all the dwellings,,
shops and materials of the tradcsmenl
and mechanics, were burnt to the
ground. The whole number of build
ings destroyed, including barns, stables,
and other out buildings, cannot, it is
believed, be short of one hundred and
fifty. In this brief space of time, sew
On hundred people have been rendered
hoaseless and otherwise dcplorably
destitute. The value of the property
destroyed has been estimated at S272,-
600, and the Undersigned believe this
estimate TO be rather below than a.
bovc the truth.