The Gazette

DREADFUL FIRE!
NORFOLK, FEB. 26.

Sunday morning presented to our citizens a spectacle truly awful. Never since the revolution, have they witnessed such an one in this place. At about two in the morning, they were awakened from their peaceful slumbers by the loud and repeated cries of fire.

It made its first appearance in a house near the head of Woodside's wharf: and already had it become so formidable as seemingly to threaten all with the most dreadful consequences. The usual means, engines, axes, &c. were used, in order to arrest its progress, but without effect: every moment gave it additional strength. The weather was calm, the crackling flame extended in every direction: sentiments of dismay and horror pervaded every breast; and even hope was almost extinguished.—

Such a scene few have beheld. House after house was successively torn down; the furious flames did but mock the effort to stay their progress. In this dilemma, the last sad hope rested on the effects of gunpowder. It was accordingly brought. Those houses in the different quarters of communication, which, if suffered to stand, would endanger the whole town, and which must themselves soon have fallen before the destructive element, were successively blown up. This caused an immediate abatement of the fire; and the citizens seizing the favourable moment,

succeeded in their endeavours to extinguish it. At about seven in the morning, the danger was entirely over.

Had it continued for about an hour longer, ere this the town would have been a heap of ashes: for the wind sprung up from the west, and continued to blow very fresh for the remainder of the day. This was a direction which could not fail to have communicated the flames to the other parts of the town.

All the houses within the square bounded by Water, Commerce, and Main streets, and by Burke's wharf, were totally consumed. The whole number is computed to be about sixty, the greatest part of which were built of wood, and occupied principally by tradesmen.

Thus, in a few short hours, the work of many years has been reduced to a heap of ashes; the affluent to bare competency, perhaps to poverty; and the industrious tradesman to want and misery!—Let the hand of charity be extended: let the rich seek out distress, and administer comfort. Many are the objects which call for assistance; and many are there who can afford to give it. The voice of humanity cries aloud, "forget not that the sufferers are men as well as you".