Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-25

The Ward Committees OF baltimore
are now in the discharge OF their duty OF
soliciting contributions ca behalf OF the
sufferers by The late Gre at Snow Hin.
The following address, from the scene OF
distress has just reached u.s. Bah. sioler.
TO TUE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.
FEi.Low CfrizESs The people Of
Snow Hill have made il our duty, 10 ad
dress you in behalf of the sorely scouFged
inhabitants Of their unfortunate Village.
The public press win have already ap.
psised many OF you. that IN the night OF The
9Th ut. q considerable portion of the
Town the centre OF its business. its most
valuable sectien, was consumed by ere
It's hotels, ils public offices. and all save
two. Of its houses OF merchandise, are IN
ashes. Notwithstanding one hundred acres
OF land are included by its limits, little of
the hum Of business can now be heard
within them, aud few and far between are
the shops OF its handicraitsmen. Ii we
seek the houses IN which bat few DAYS
since cheerful labour earned homes. bread;
or those which heretofore supplied the
town and its neighborhood with the neces.
saries, the comforts and elegancics of life,
heaps of ashes tell the tale. Instead of
the industry, the commercial prosperity
the domestic happiness, 10 be seen two
weeks ago. we now gaze upon solitary
chimneys and ruined walls II looks as
though the curse of the Almighty had de.
scended IN fire. The awful agent has
consumed more than ninety houses. OF
which seventeen were dwelling houses,
and has been extinguished forever in fifty.
six ehimneys.
Where arc the men, wonderland child
rea, who lately thronged the site Of these
ruins. and were then prosperous and hap.
py. Some are sheltered, clothed aud led
by charity, Some whose circumstances
two weeks since, were comfortable, must
begin the labors of life alresh younger
persons mourn over blighted prospects
older ones, that the results Of life of toll,
were consumed in one hour
Not FOR ourselves, but for others, would
we excite your sympaihies, fellow citizens,
we would not exaggeraie, nor give sin
gle color to the picture, for the accuracy
OF which our community would net vouch.
We cannot estimate our loss in dollars
and cents, but in proportion TO the whole
value Of property in the Village, that loss
is enormous. We leave with you state
mcnt of simple facts.
The residences, the food. the clothes Of
children and parents, of young aud old,
OF males and females the goods of mer
chants Of large amounts in value; the
libraries and offices Of professional men !;
the shops, the tools. the working mate,i
ais Of mechanics, are gone forever. With
out the aid of our fellow citizens. Snow
Hill must continue heap OF ruins, more
painful to the eye OF tho beholder, than
any similar sight 10 Maryland OF Perhaps
ia the Uniica States.
Wccannot conclude this paper without
abiding in this public way. 10 city of
sister State. In glowing terms, for our
hearts indite them, we would thank Phil
adelphia for what she has doae for us.--
The prompt and generous manner she
has come to our relief, would alone entitle
her to her very significant name.
BY order of the Committee appointed
by the people Of Snow Hill TO solicit and
receive for, and distribute TO the sufferers
by the late fire at that place. donations
which may be received from abroad.
JOHN S. MARTIN, Chairman.
IRVINE SPENCE, Secretary.
Snow Hill, Dee. 8, 1884,