Gazette Of The United States

From the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET and DAILY ADVERTISER.
Messrs. Dunlap and Claypoole.

No calamity is so terribly destructive as fire, will merit attention.

An eye-witness of the calamity which happened this morning in Third-street would suggest the propriety of having a suitable number of small engines, of such a size as might be easily introduced through an entry or passage in a house, or even, if necessary, be carried up stairs; such as are usually made for watering gardens, the box being no more than a plain tub, capable of containing 15 or 20 gallons of water. Fire sometimes lurks in places inaccessible to the large engines in the street, and out of the reach of the hand: one of these small machines, which would carry water 25 or 30 feet, would then be found of great advantage.

When the ravage of fire is so sudden, that the family barely escape with their lives, and leave their property to destruction, it often happens that there are many articles of an incombustible nature, which receive but little injury, and if carefully picked out of the rubbish, and restored to the owners, would diminish the amount of their losses. But the morning after the calamity, the ruined buildings are generally overrun with boys and idle people, scrutinizing, not without risk, the scenes of destruction, and probably secreting any small article which they find uninjured, while no attention is paid to secure to the disconsolate and unheedful owner the larger effects, which a little care would preserve. The magistracy might direct a slight fence to be run round the place in the morning, and constables to be stationed till the ruins were properly examined; or if they would not attend to it, fire companies might have a committee constantly appointed for the purpose.—A watch, belonging to poor Brown, the hair dresser, and some dollars, were picked out of the ruins this morning, and delivered to the unfortunate people; what was concealed amongst a crowd of boys cannot be told.

The great inclemency of the weather increases the merit of the citizens who attended, and exhibited the usual activity of Philadelphia upon an occasion so melancholy. There are, indeed, few duties more incumbent on the inhabitants of a large city, where so much property is comprised in so small a compass, than to step forward without hesitation, in opposition to an enemy, which assails at once both life and property with equal violence. And it has been the meritorious character of my fellow citizens, to sacrifice on such occasions the distinctions of civil life, and the consideration of personal safety; rich and poor, black and white, old and young, mingling together in lanes, or assisting at the engine, with a zeal which reflects honor on human nature.

That there are some, whose love of ease subdues their sense of duty, who, without ill health, or advanced age, will coldly ask from the window, Where is the fire? and will return to their beds with the selfish remark, that there will be people enough there, cannot be denied—but their numbers are few, and their praise is small.

A. CITIZEN.
November 26, 1789.