Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-26
CouRIsR OFFICE, }
Charleston, Fsb. ia p. W. :
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE!

About : clock on Saturday evening, hire
broke out in a small shop next tn the corner OF
the Market, on East BAY street. occupied BY
Messr.. Iovett & Hawlcv, Hay aud Cu,tou Mon
gers Mr. Hawlev. having occasion 10 ." up
stairs with light, stumbled and tell, and the
li,ht came in contact with parcel OF loose cot
ton, which immediately iS0,ed, aud ~ mo-
meni the whole was IN flame. In u vetv shurt
time the entire cluster OF wooden buildings on
the square between the market and the mansion
of the late Gyu. G. & Pinckney was In fames
From the combustlble nature IT these buildings.
and the wind blowing fresh from the East, The
fire had made considerable progress before en-
eines could be brought into service. The roof
of the market house was soon IN blaze, and thr
dense mass Of wooden huuses on the South side
of the street were threatened with destruction
Fortunately, however, the Vigilant Fire Engine,
together with some Of the city companies. were
placed in very favorable situation to play upon
the buildings, and although several tunes the
fronts of the houses we're IN Il hight blaze. they
succeeded IN extingui,hing the fames, and kept
them frnm extending IN that side Had they not
succeeded in this eff..rt, II w"ul; have been al
most impossible to have saved the whole square
from total de,,,uc,or. o. the nnrth side Of
Market street. the fire swept ali the hau es a far
West as Ausuu street, where Nv the most unre
hitting exert,rns- on The part ot the hremen, and
the blowing mp ol several houses, 1t wa fnaly
stopped The rava.es If the fire extended from
East BAY street on the East. crossing Reaprr's
Alley. To Arson street Oh the West, and from
Market street on the South, including the small
meat market, and the wuoden vegetable market
Immediately nv the " es. Of il (which vas pull!
ed down. 20 Eiery street TN the North. inclad-
ing the houses rn the North side OF Ellerv street
Col Bankhead, with strong detachment OF
u. $ Trnops from Fort Mouitre, and a large
body of seamen from the Natchez, and other arm.
ed vessels in the harbor, under the orders OF their
respective Officers, came promptly to our aid.and
rendered verv valuable assistance in arrestns
the progress of the destructive element The
soldiers aud sailors being fresh, continued the
working OF the Engines, &c. after the men who
had been previously engaged in that service were
completely exhausted. The latter especially,
from their fearless character and READINGS at
mounting the tops Of houses, we're greatly ins'ru
mental 10 saving the range OF buildings on the
South side of Market street. which were repeat.
edy on fire. To the Military anil Naval Officers,
and the Soldiers and Sailors under ther com
mand, the gratitude at the community Is due,for
their arduous and efficient exertions on this me-
lanchoiy OCCASION.
We learn that the houses and other property
destroyed, were not generally insured, probably
to not more than the ,mount Of eight or ten thou
sand dollars. The hnuses DESTROYED were about
40 IN number, and mostly belonging to tenants.
The loss Of property generally, has fallen upon
a class of persons the leas, able to bear it. The
desiruo ton of such mass IF wooden buildings,
affords an opportunity To the prop,ietors Of the
lands in that quarter, to erect houses Of a more
permanent character and thus suhserse their own
interest and both improve the appearance, and
promote the safety of the city.
The loss to the city, IN the portion of the par-
ket DESTROYED, is considerable, estimated at -.
Several accidents of an injurious nature are said
To have occurred. A negro man belonging to
Mr. John Howard, was run over by an engine
and very seriously injured.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to those
by whose active and interchangeable exertions the
city has been saved from a widespread desoia.
ton. which from the height aud direction OF the
wind, and the combus,ibe materials in most Of
the adluining streets. seemed to render il inevi-
table al one period of the conlagratun.
Several oi the houses DESTROYED belonged to the
estate Of the late Gen. {. {. P,nckney-they
were mostly occupied as stores, lodging houses,
SC.