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Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
A devastating forest fire swept through the upper settlement on the Eastern River near Machias, Maine, on July 17, destroying mills, houses, barns, livestock, crops, and leaving many families in ruin with an estimated loss of $20,000.
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A letter from Machias (Maine) dated July 18, to a gentleman in Boston, says :
" While our western brethren complain of agricultural disappointments, incidental to a drought, we have in addition to the same misfortune, to lament the effects of a sweeping and desolating fire.--For some time the fires, incautiously kindled, had raged in the woods in a northern direction ; but upon a change of the wind yesterday, they were blown back with unusual velocity towards the upper settlement on the Eastern river, and it was impossible to resist or arrest them. They consumed mills, houses, barns, fences, sheep, cattle, and even crops, in their desolating progress, and in some instances, the inhabitants were unable to save their furniture. That settlement, which but a few weeks since, smiled in prosperity, is now a black and dreary waste, with a few smokes issuing from those spots where the work of destruction was incomplete. Many families have fallen from independence to utter ruin. The aggregate loss is estimated at not less than twenty thousand dollars."
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Machias (Maine)
Event Date
July 17
Outcome
consumed mills, houses, barns, fences, sheep, cattle, and crops; inhabitants unable to save furniture in some instances; many families fallen from independence to utter ruin; aggregate loss estimated at not less than twenty thousand dollars.
Event Details
Fires kindled in the woods raged northward but changed direction with the wind yesterday, blowing back with unusual velocity towards the upper settlement on the Eastern river, impossible to resist or arrest; settlement now a black and dreary waste.