Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-30

so the coal from the mines is brought aud depos'
tied Tor transportation. The merchants, trades
men, and mechanics, were all in prosperous cir
cu,nstances, and we're located, as near as con-
Seniently might be IN the vicinity of the Ho.
tells. which formed the centre of business.
The calamitous fire which forms the occasion
and the subject of this address, broke out at o.
clock, P. NJ on Sunday the 14th of April, inst.
1t originated in Joiner's shop, and is said to
have been occasioned by lighted cigar which a
careless boy threw among some shavinss. This
shop unhappily stood at the northwestern extrem-
ity OF the business porton of the place. and
strong north ,cest ,Dind prevailing at the time
the.fames, burning shingles, and other combus-
TITLES, were carried directly thrOug1 the heart OF
the town. The citizens laboured first TO save
the building, which was frame, adjoining the shoF
where the FIRE commenced; but this was SOON
abandoned as hopeless. The panic then became
general and uncomfortable, and each endeaVor'
ing to 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 progress Of destruction was
rapid beyond conception, and those who had
placed their efftctsin the streets, were driven
from them BY body Of fame and searching
smoke that filed the entire space from side to
side. burning up sdeboards. chairs. tables, arti-
cles Of male and female attire, beds and bed
clothes, before the eyes of their owners.
The next effort of the citizens where the
flames had not yet reached, was To carry their
goods to the houses of their friends at a conside
rable distance from what was supposed to be the
scene Of danger. In the midst 81 these iabprs,
what was their CONSERVATION to behold, these
places OF refuge, even the most distant with
all the intervening houses. already Oh fire.
The inhabitants now withdrew in despair TO a
distance from the raging element. From right
to left, one unbroken sheet OF flame extending
full quarter Of mile. raging and roaring like a
tornado. was the awful spectacle presented to
the eye. The two sections Of the town were com.
pletely separated from each other: to those on
the west. the fate and condition Of their friends
beyond the flames. were involved in mystery
and dreadful apprehension. Mothers we're sepa
rated from their children. and wives from THEN
hushands-but fortunately not single life ha,
been lost.
In two hours and a half, seventv.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 the
tradesmen and mechanics, were burnt to the
ground. The whole number Of buildings de.
stroyed, including barns, stables. and other out
buildings, cannot, it is believed, be short OF one
hundred aud fifty. In this space Of time. seven
hundred people have beeh rendered houseless
and otherwise deplorably destitute. The value oil
the property destroyed has been estimated at two
hundred and seventy. two thousand dollars, and
The undersigned believe this estimate to he rather
below than above the truth
Ia appealing, in behalf of the Cumberland suf-
ferers, to the generous sympathie. Of their coun
trymen, The undersigned cherish lively hope
that the appeal will not be made in vain The
spectacle of a thriving village. daily increasing
in all the comforts, Of life, reduced in sn short 4
time to melancholy waste of broken wall, and
naked chlmneys, cannot fail TO call forth those
principles of active beneyolence that form SO dis
tnguished characteristic Of the American peo
pie.
The following gentlemen, residing in Cumber.
land, constitute the committee, to receive con.
tributions and distribute them among the suffer
ers. namely: John Hoye. Thomas J. McKais,
Richard Beall. Rev. l. II. johns, WIN. McMa
hon, and James P. Carleton. They are moi
Among the sufferers; and have been instructed
and will feel it their duty, to apply all contrnu
TONS received by them, TO the relief Of those wht
are most destitute. The undersigned avail them
selves Of this occasion to assure the public tina
all donations which may be entrusted to the care
OF these gentlemen, or either of them, will b'
faithfully applied and accounted for.
John Buchanan,
abraham Nhrirer,
Thomas Buchanan,
n. W MrDonald,
John McHenry.
UMiam Price,
Frederick Il. Sehley,
John King.
N. B. Printers throughout the United State
will be pleased to give the above an insertion.
COMMODORE PORTER.
This gentleman has been dangerously I'll. II
writes to friend in this city: ~ haze been ca
ceedingiy SILK for some time past. Ihape jas
crept from the edge Of the grape." 1t seems tina
the place Of his abode is very unhealthy. H