The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

Saturday night last, between the hours of 8 and 10, a fire broke out from a kitchen occupied by Mr. Michael Dillarock, in this town, which, in a very short time was reduced to ashes. Notwithstanding a large wooden house stood not more than 10 feet from the building consumed yet, by the alertness of the inhabitants, who immediately repaired to the place on the first discovery of the fire, it was rescued from the devouring FLAMES —It is not known from what circumstance this accident took place, as there had not been any fire in the kitchen during the day—but it is supposed, as the blaze first made its appearance at the chimney, that some spark had lodged the day before in a beam which ran athwart it, and had been smouldering until the time of its breaking out.—Providentially the wind was very still—had it been otherwise, from the situation of a number of wooden houses situated in the neighbourhood, the most distressing and fatal consequences must have ensued.
QUERY—Whether the above accident may not tend to rouse the public-spirited citizens of this place, to set on foot some plan, by lottery or otherwise, to furnish the town with that very necessary and valuable machine, a FIRE ENGINE, which, of course, would lead to forming FIRE COMPANIES, and consequently obtaining a supply of LEATHER BUCKETS, the want of which was very sensibly felt on Saturday night.