Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-05-29
THE CUMBERLAND FIRE.

Inc undersigned, 0eing committee appoln-
ted by the citizens of Cumberland. to draft an
address to the People of the United States, de-
failing the particulars of the late dr. ful ca
lamity, and the condition to which they are re-
duced, and of soliciting contributions IN their
behalf, are enabled, from their own view, and
from their enquiries on the subject, to make the
following statement:
The town of Cumberland is situated at the
junction OF Wills creek with the river Potomac.
The national road passing through the place,
has given ii the advantage of great amount
of travel, and large sums were expended for its
accommodation, The principal Hotel, was a
splendid building and cost the proprietor ups
wards of twenty five thousand dollars. There
were two other large commoduus Hotels, we'll
kept and provided, upon the same square.
Cumberland being the chief town of Allies
ghany county, and Its seat of justice, the prln-
cipal mercantile business of the county was
here transacted. Here also the coal from the
mines is brought and deposited Tor transporta-
ton. The merchants, tradesmen, and mechan-
les, were alt IN prosperous circumstances, and
were located, as near as conveniently might be,
in the vicinity of the Hotels, which formed the
centre of business.
nC CdldHiitouS uTc which itlTlilS LIE OCCaSlou
and the subject of this address, broke out at 2
O'clock, P. M on Sunday the 18th OF April :.
1t originated in loiner's shop, and is said to
have been occasioned by lighted cigar, which
careless boy threw among some shavings.-
This shop, unhaopilv, stood at the northwestern
extremity of the business portion of the place,
and strong northeast mind prevailing at the
time, the flames, burning shingles, and other
combustibles, were carried directly through
the heart of the town. The citizens IaDored
first to save the building, which was frame,
adjoining the shop where the fire commenced;
but this was soon abandoned ashopeless. The
panic then became general and uncomfortable,
and each endeavoring 70 save his own effects,
carried out store goods, beds, bedding, clothing
and furniture, into the street; but the houses on
both sides were now in full blaze, the pro-
gress of destruction was rapid beyond concep-
ton, and those who had placed their effects IL
the streets, were driven from them by body OF
flame and scorching smoke that filled the entire
space from side 10 side, burning up sideboards,
chairs, tables, articles of male and female at
tire. beds, and bedclothes, before the eyes of
their owners.
The next effort of the citizens, where the
goods to the houses of their friends at consid
cradle distances from what was supposed to be
the scene of danger In the midst OF these la
bors, what was their CONSERVATION to behold
these places of refuge, even the most distant,
with all the intervening houses, already on fire.
The inhabitants now Withdrew in despair to
a distance from the raging element. From
right to left, one unbroken sheet of flame eX
tending flu! quarter of a mile, raging and
roaring like tornado, was the awful specta-
Gle presented to the eye. The two sections of
the town were completely separated from each
other: to those on the west, the fate and con-
diion of their friends beyond the flames, were
involved in mystery and dreadful apprehen-
sion. Mothers were separated from their chill
dren, and wives from their husbauds--but for
tunateIy not single life has been lost.
In two hours and half, sevepty-fve houses
fronting on the principal street of the town, in
GLIDING the three Hotels, all the stores save
one, all the dwellings, shops, and materials of
of the tradesmen and mechanics, were burnt to
the ground. The whole number of buildings
destroyed, including barns, stables, and other
out-buldings, cannot, it IS believed, be short of
one hundred and fifty. In this brief space of
time, seven hundred people have been rendered
houseess and otherwise deplorably destitute.
Tho value of the property destroyed has been
estimated at S272,0O0. and the undersigned
believe this estimate to be rather below than
above the truth.
In appealing, in behalf of the Cumberland
sufferers, to the generous sympathies Of their
countrymen, the undersigned cherish lively
hope that the appeal will not be in vain. The
spectacle of thriving village. daily increas'
ing in all the comforts of life, reduced in a
short time to melancholy waste OF broken
walls and naked chimneys, cannot fail to call
forth those principles of active beneyolence
that form so distinguished characteristic of
the American People.
The following gentlemen residing in Gums
berland, constitute the committee to receive
contributions and distribute them among the
sufferers, namely: John Hoye, Thomas J.
McKaig, Richard Beall, Rev. l.. H. Johns,
VIM. Mcmahon, and james p. Carleton
They are not among the sufferers, and have
been instructed and will feel 1t their duty, to
apply all contributions received by them, to the
relief of those who are most destitute. The
undersigned avail themselves of this occasion