The New Hampshire Gazette Newspaper, March 28, 1760, Page 2

B O ST ON, March z1. 1760. ETWEEN 11 and 1z 0'Clock at' Noon on B Monday laft, 2 Fire broke out at the Weft Part of the Town, New Bofton fo called, by fcme Accident, whereby a joiner’s Shop was con- fumed, and a large Dwelling Foufe adjoining thereto, was @ great Part of it deftroyed, and many Things thercin burnt ; and feveral other Hou'es much da- maged in the Neighbourhood : The Wind blowing very high st N. Ealt, it was a confiderable Time be- Jore it was cxiinguifhed : The Roof of the AWcft- Meceting “Hcufe catched on Fire in {everal Places — - But by the Dexterity of the People, and a conitant Supply of Water, a Stop was at length put to it. And On the Day following, between 10and 11 o’Clock in the forenoon, a ftore at the upper end of Mr.Grif- fin's whatf, the chamber of which was improved asa Laboratory by the detachment of his Majefty’s train of royalartillery-now here, eatched on fire by fome accident ; the fire foon got to fome powdzer chat was thercin, whereby the buiiding blew up, and [eme of the implements, fmall arms and ftores were deftroyed; though the damage to the train was not {o great as 1t has been réported, or as it was ag firft imagined to be; four or five men, who were ac work in the time of the explofion, Were 'wounded, and two of them very mauch burnt : In the ander part of the ftore, a varicty of merchandize, provifiens, {ult, &: bclonging to M:.Griffin were confumed or damaged,which, with the building, makes the lofs very great to him. A carpenters fhop was burat, and a blackimith’s much Thie lalt was between the place where the fire began, and the warehoufes on the lower end of the wharfe, whercin were depofited the chief of the artillery ftores.; but the wind being moderate; and a plenty of water, the tide being up, 2 Communi- cation of the ‘flimes with thofe ftores was by the vigilance of the people fealonably prevented : One or two of the granado thells, and 2 few fmall arms went off during the fire : buz thro’ the divine favour, no lives were loft. "The explefion was {o great at fift that acorfiderable fhock was fele even'to the extreme patts of the town. " Since the above accounts were compoled, for this paper, & molt terrible fire happened in the town, {uppoled 10 b= greater than any that Las been known in thefe American colonies, far excceding what was generally called, the great fire, which happened here Octob.2d 1711. It began about z o’clock yefterday morning, thurfday March 2oth; and broke out in the dwelling houfe of Mrs. Mary Jickion, and Son, at the brazen head incornhill, by what means is uncer- tain, tho’t by accident; the flames catched the houfes adjoining in the front of the ftreet, end burnt three or four large buildings, a fiop being put to it there, at a houfe improved by Mrs. Weft on the fouth, and Mr. Peter Cotra on che north 3 but the fire raged moit violentiy towards the e:ft, the wind being ftrong at N W. and carried sl befere it ; from the back fides of thofe houfes, A'l the &ores fronting pudding lane, together with cyery dwelling houfe,trom thence, cxcepiing thofe which front the [outh fide of king ftreet, and a Rore of Mr. Spocner’s on water ftreet to quaker lane, and from thence only leaving alarge old wouden houfe, and the houfe bélonging to the Jate Corn:iius Weldo, Efq; it burnt every houle, fhop, fore, out houfe &¢. to Olivers dock : and an eddy of wind carrying the fire contrary to its Conrfe, it tock the buildings fronting tue lower part of king- ftreet, and deltroyed the heufes from the corner op- pofite the bunch of grapes taverr, to the warehoufe of Mefli'rs Box and Auflin, leaving only the warchoule af the Flon. John Eiving Ef.; and the dwelling hou'e of Mr. Huftings ftanding ; che other brick warchcyfes towards the long wharfe were confiderably damaged. On the fouth eaft pait, the fire extended from Mr. *Torrey’s, the baker in water ftreet, and damaging fome of Mr. Dalton’s new fhope, proceeded to Mr. Hall’s working hou'e, and from thenc- to milk ftrect, 2nd confumed every houfe from the nextto Mr. Calfe’s dwelling hou'e, to the bottom of the ftreet, snd the oppofitc way from Mr. Dowfe’s iacluded, it carried before it'every houfe to fort hill, except the Hon. Sccretary Oliver's, and two or three Tene- ments oppofiie ; as alfo every houfe, warchoufe, thop end ftore, from Gliver's dock along Mr. Hallowell’s thip yard, Mr. Hallowell’s dwelling hou'e, the fconce of the fouth battery, all the buildings, fhops and ftores 6n . Col. Wendell’s wharf, to the houfe of Mr. Hunt flip builder. So that from pudding lane, to the water’s edge, there is not a building to be feen, ex- - cepling thofe on the fide of king ftreet and thofe mention’d above, all being in Afhes. Befides which a large thip, Capt. Eddy late mafter, lying at Col. Wendell’'s wharf, and two or three floops.and a {chooner were burnt, one luden with woed, and a- nother with ftores of confiderable value. The fire did notextend to any part of the north fide of king- firee:. There was & quantity of powder in the [conce of the fouth battery, which blew up, throwing the ftoncs and timber at a great diftance, aud caufed a very great explofion, which, with the light of the fire was heard and feen many miles in the country, and on the fea coaft: It is impoffible, and therefore it would be in vain to fet forth the diftreffed condi- tion of thofe who inhabited the buildings which avere confumed, fcares knowingwhere to tnke(;zer from the rage of the fire, which had fo got the maltery as to carry ail before in, fpreading deltrullion wherever whe flames reached : —To prelerve thole who lay on fick beds, and the childrea wis the atten- tion of many. Y : j It is alio impoffible, to eftimate the lofs which the fufferers have- fuitained, or who have fuftained the greateft ; for, ®efides the heules and furniture that were burnt, there were large ftores ncar the wharves, ‘and thereon,wherein were merchandizes of all kinds, Weft India Goods, Rum, Wine, Provifions, Salt, Cordage, Sails, Rigging ; and the Siocks of a great many Tradefmex : In fhort, the lofs is fo great that many will be fcarce able ever to retrieve it,and which the town will fell the effeéts of for many years. The people ingeneral of all ranks were very dex- terous during the fire, and thole of the nzighbouring towns, more particularly Charleftown, came to the relief of the diftreffed, with their Engines, which were very fervicesble : The rage of the fire was not over ’till noon on the fame day, and where it bornt fcarce left any of the ruins except the ftone and bricks of the chimneys, the rcit being confumed to afhes. Great quantities cf goods, which efcaped the flames, were otherwife deftroyed: during the cenfufion..... Notwithftanding the .long’eontinuance of the fire, the explofion at the fouth battery, and the fallirg of the walls and chimnies, divine provideace appeared maercifully in that not one perfon’s life was loft ; and only a few wounded. ‘ The following is from a Lift of the Perfons who dwelt in the Hsufes, which are now confumed, which was taken by the Afiffors i November la ; and al- tho’ it may mot be exsil, fo that it can be determined who are’the greatefl Sufferers, set it may ferve uniil a more compleat Account be given. Several Widows and a few others are probably omitied, which we ¢ould ngt come to the Knowlege of, and fame of thofe that are inferted, wrong placed. Mackrel Lane. John Gardner Jehn Powell Vincert Munderfol Hafle:on Barber’s Shop and 2 Gunfmith’s Shop Edmond Perkins James Perkins Severa! ChairmakersShopa Jsmes Graham €apt. Atherton Haugh Johs Poane Cap:. Benoni Smith Samuel Bangs Daniel Remoek Csrnbill. Mary Jackion & Son Widow M*Neal Jonathar Mafon Pxdding Lane. William Faicfield, Mr Rogers John S.erling George Glen James Steward Widow Marfhall Edmund Dolbear - Upper Part of WaterStrect. Henry Laughton, jun. An old empty Houle George Perry Mrs. Grice § Paul Baxter’s Shop An empty Houfe of Mr. Berjamin Salifbury Caznesu’s Nicholas Dyer William Palfrey Wm Sutely Jofeph Richardfon Perer Airs Dinley Wing Francis Wharden Benjamin Jefiics Benjamin Phillip’s Store Jebin Durant McNeal’s Sail Loft Lawfon : Palirey’s dicto A large Currier’s Shop Potter’s Coopers Shop William Hyflop Davis’s Blackimith’s ditto Samplon Salter, with 2 James Graham's ditco Brew Houfe Fifh Market Cap:. Robert Jarvis Suwerfby’s Shop Daniel Ray Read’s Ditto Friends Meeting Houle Harris’s ditto Towards Oliver’s Dock. Mellus's ditto David Spesar T. Palfrey’s Sail Loft Thomas Benneét Widow Brailesford William Baker John Oiborn Ebenezer Dogget Obed Crofs James Barnes Ifaac D:fforn D:niel Henchman The lower Part of Water Joleph Marion 8treet, ! Thomas Hawkins William Torrey Shops and Barns oppefite Jacob. Bucknam Widow Savel James Beaton James Thompion Nicholas Lobden Hugh Moore John Rice , Widow Davis ABlack{mith’s,Carpenter’s Nicholas Tabb and Chaifemzker’s Shop Michael Carrol Thomas Palfrey 2 Tenements FreeNegroes Thomas Hartley, jun. Edmond Man Benjamin Hallowell, Efqs Col. Thwing Daniel Ingorfol James T'wing. "Two Black/mith’s, and 2 Widow Noyes Baat builder’s,and fun- Edmond Quincey, jun.~ _ dry other Shops. Thomas Walley - Thomas Salter Widow Parrott Peter Bourn Benjamin Parrott Widow Perkins Mrs. Stevenfon Nathaniel Eddy Thomas Read Jofhua Sprigg Thomas Read, jun, Zephanish Haffet Brackley Read ohn Boyce Robert Williams Jacob Ridgway ames Tucker James Moore John Fullerton Muggot Capt, Nathanicl Winflow Wm Fullerton - Oliver Wilwall - : 5 Jofeps Webb, jan! Hill. Bainard & Wicelwright's John Nowell Shop & Stores acjoining Wm Cox ’ Milk Street and Battery laac Perce, and Difill March. Houfe Mcffir’s Hall's and Calef’s A Bake Houe = . .Tan Houles | Benjamin Frothingham T'hamas Barhes Edward King Widow G ffen Jzhn Giffen .lones Mr. Bright A Wateis - Themas Spear Nathan Fofte fter Capt. Killeran Thomas Spcakq’an lfaiash Audebert Wm Freeland: Ed. Brattle Oliver 1faac Hawfe - Matthew Salter Hon. John Ofborn; Efq; Jofhua Bowles Widow Brown James Phillips Hasc Wendell - John Allen Wallis Wilfon : All the Stores, Shops, &e. Edward Stone on Col. Wendell’s Wharle Andrew Oliver, jun. Efg; King Street. ohn Powell John Stevenfon,tbe Corner dward Davis of Mackrell Lane "Mafters Widow Fofter Thomas Mafters Simom Elfot Benjamin Cobb Peck, Glazier James Orill John Green John Pierce james Lamb . Ebenezer Cufhing Widow Checkley Eb. Cuthing, jan. John Wheatly James Rickerd John Jepfon Jofeph Uran Berjamin Jepfon Jo'eph Patman Thomsas White Stephen Fullerton H:zekiah Cole ohn Province Goodwin's Shop Andrew Gardner Jobn Peck’s Shop ; Finnefey Meflirs Apthorp’s and Andrew Lepair Gardiner’s Warchoufe Samue! Hewes John Knight's di:to Increale Blake Barth. Cheever’s ditto Capt. Edward Blake Where the Fire fopg. Caleb Prince Mary Oliver Joleph-Dowfe, Efq; David Burnet There is upwards of 6o Deelling Houfes, Skope and ether Buildings confumed, befides thofe mentisned above, which we bave mot time to izfert in their praper places. The. zoth of this Inftant March will be a Day memorable for the moft terrible Fire that has hap- pened inthis Town, or perhaps in any other Part of North America : It is impeffible to exprefs the Confternation the Town was in ; nor can we delcribe the Diftre(s of the unhapoy Sufferers. Te fee up- wards of a Thoufand, Men, Womcea and .Childien, - many of them in eafy Circumftances the Day before, at Midnight forc’d out of their Habitations, and depriv’d atonce of all the Comforts of Life—by thofe - Flames, which in their Progiels confumed near 400 Dwelling Houles, Stores, Shops, Shipping, &c. toge- ther with Goods and Merchandize of *almoft every Kixd, to an incredible Value. At the firft Appear- ance of the Fire there was little Wind. but thid Calgy was foon followed with a- fmart Gale from the North Weft, thea was beheld a perfeét Torrent of Fire bearing down all beforeit ; in a feeming Inftant, all was Flame—and in that Part of the Town where was ¢ Magazine of Powder—the Alarm was greas, and an Fxplofion foon followed, which was heard and felt to a very great Diftance ; the Effeét mighe have been terrible, had not the chiet Part been re- moved by fome hardy Adventurers, juft before the Explefion; at the fame Time Cinders and Flakes of Fire were fcen flying over that Quarter where was vepoficed the Remainder of the Artillery Stores and Combuftibles, which were happily pieferv’d from taking Fire. . : The People in this and the neighbouring Towns exerted themfeives to an uacommon D:gree, and wers encouraged by the Prefence aid Example of the greateft Perfonages amongz us, bat the hiughty Flames triumphed over our Engines, our Art, amd cur Numbers. The diftreffed Inhabitants of thofe Buildings now wrapped in Fire, fcarce knew where to take Refuge From ‘he devouring Flames ; Num- bers who were confined to Beds of Sicknels and Pain, as well as the Aged and Infant, then demanded 2 compellionate Attention ; they were removed from Houfe to Houie, and even the Dying were obliged to take one more Remove before their final one. It is faid that the Damage which only one Gentle- man has received, cannot be made good with £. 5000 Sterling ; it is in general too great to be made up in any Mealure by the other Inhabitants, exhaufted as. we have been by the great Proportion this Town has. borne of the extraordinary Expences of the War ;. and by 8 Demand upon our Charity to rclieve & Number of Sufferers by a Fire not many Moanths, paft, a partial Relief can only now be afforded ta thele miferable Sufferers, and without the com- paflionate Affiftance of our Chriftian Friends abroad, Diftrefs and Ruin may®quite overwhelm the greatelt Part of them ; and this once flourithing Meiropolis muft long remain under is piefent Deiolation.