The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Sept. 19. On Thursday at 5 o'clock a terrible fire broke out at Messrs. Buxton's and Enderly's oil warehouse, Paul's wharf, which consumed the same, with the Fortune of War public house and another dwelling-house in front; the flames then spread with amazing rapidity to a large timber yard adjoining, where they destroyed a prodigious quantity of timber, together with two large lighters on the river, and several houses, backwards; the great Sugar Baker's house, the corner of the opposite wharf, was with the greatest difficulty preserved. On the explosion of some gunpowder, the flakes flew as far as Watling street, and some of them set fire to a house in Sermon lane, Doctor's Commons, but being immediately perceived, was soon extinguished. St. Bennet's church once took fire, but was happily extinguished. Rivers of oil ran about the streets, and into the Thames. A large loaded lighter with oil was also consumed, and at two o'clock the flames caught a vault, wherein oil, to the value of 10,000l, was placed, which made it burn with redoubled fury. It is supposed to have been occasioned by a servant leaving a lamp burning in the cellar, near a basket which took fire. In the cellar were two large bricked cisterns, one of which contained 42 tons of oil, the other 45 tons. The quantity of oil destroyed is imagined to be worth near 20,000l.