Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-01-26
From late Canton Pepe,s.
DREADFUL FIRE AT SURAT.
NAQpArIVp

ne late destructive hire at Snrat common.
ced on Monday afternoon, the 24th April. il
the house Of Parsee. which had been ac
cidentally set on fire by boiling pitch or dam.
mer, which ignited. To whatever cause its
origin may be attributed, il appears tha, in
consequence of the difficulty in obtaining
water it was at first neglected. A fresh
northerly breeze was blowing at the time,
the flames spread rapidly, and shortly after
sunset exhibited a fearful extent and strength
OF fire The wind in the evening decreased
but the hire was augmented, and the vast
volume OF dense smoke which rose in enor
nous masses, was brilliant with the intense
~ fierce fame. In some of the narrow
streets, crowded with fine spacious houses,
the fire acquired force past all endurance
or description. The fire was so fierce, the
heat so intense, the volume of fame SO vast,
that nothing escaped In its progress, the
flame, as it were, licked up every thing
Walls fell in, and, when the fire continued
with such strength, every thing was eveed
to the ground. The heat and dryness Of the
season aided the combustion, and the conha.
grafton was soon beyond The power of man
TO control. All night the fire ragged fierce,
and within few hours from its commence.
ment must have covered as is stated, an area
Of three miles, shifting its course as the wind
varied. After an interval of calm, Just nj
daylight, on Tuesday a breeze suddenly
sprung up from about SW and directed the
fire up u new column of buildings. and il
ragged the whole Of Tuesday in the same aw-
Iul manner as before. Many of the poor
inhabitants, who had removed their proper.
~ to distant places of fanced safety, from
which the fire had passed away were sur
prsed by return there Of the conflagration,
and lost their all At2, PM, on Tuesday,
it was nj its height. 1t then reached one OF
the city gates which was destroyed, and the
umbers which supported the road being burn
ed, the bridge fell in.
In the quarter of the city inhabited chiefly
by people Of the Borse Caste there was one
entrance only from the street to the houses
they inhabit. All the men had left their
homes 10 aid in eStinguishing the fire, which
did not.then appear likely to reach this quar-.
ter This it unfortunately aiterward did.
and before they could return, the only outlet
was developed in flames, and numbers OF
helpless women and children persisted, and
the property was all destroyed Some Dor.
ras are said TO have taken refuge in one OF
their murjeedS, where, it being entirely built
of stone, they fancicd themselves secure with
their families and the little properly they
carried with them Surroupded eventually
by the fire, however, the building became so
heated, the inmates were scorched 30 death,
and all persisted, literally baked as it were in
an oven
Corpses were discovered in such position
as to indicate that the parties had persisted in
the very act Of escaping, with money and
gold and silver ornaments found in their
hands The loss OF life has been immense,
and as far MS has yet been reported, no less
than 500 are stated to have persisted. Great
numbers Of cattle likewise have been burnt,
and the whole scene is one OF widespread
ruin and desola,ion.
The number OF houses destroyed is said
10 be upward of 5000, and from the dense
population Surat contains some faint idea OF
the misery and wretched state OF the poor in
habitanls may be conceived; most oil them
are left without food or shelter, and life has
been preserved but 10 sink under famine and
want Whole families have been dispersed,
and parents are seeking their children and
children their natural protectors; so that,
beside being deprived of all the property
they possessed. numbers have to bewai the
loss of their nearest and dearest relatives.
A MARRIAaR-ALMos LII for nothing
else New Hampshire Thanksgiving this
year, is memorable for one important and
interesting incident in the history of lovers.
1t was appointed as the wedding day OF a
young Physician 10 one Of the prettiest and
most interesting girls in town just over the
line and but short distance from this city,
The morning came, and the Physician, who
resides in this State, repaired early, to the
home of his destined bride. The time appoint
ed for the ceremony was two o'clock, +. Nj.
The guests were invited and had already
begun 10 assemble, the tables were spread,
and the parson ready to impart his blessing
amid the gratulatons of happy family,
when a private discussion arose between the
intended bride and her swain as to the pro-
priely OF attending evening meetings.
Through the whole courtship, which had
been lengthy, the parties had often attended
meeting together, and prayed and conversed
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