Record Data
Transcription
Destructive Fire in Carlisle
We learn by a slip from the office of the Carlisle Herald, that about one o’clock on Monday morning last, a fire was discovered in the council house of the borough of Carlisle, in the basement story of which, the fire apparatus of the town consisting of three engines with hose carriages was kept; so rapid were the flames that it was impossible to get out more than one of the engines and that in such a condition, that it was unfit for use.
The citizens who rapidly reached the ground, were thus left wholly without means to check the progress of the flames – and the wind blowing with great violence from the N. E., the flames were instantly communicated to the Court House, and spread over the building with alarming rapidity. – The scene now presented an appalling prospect – with no fire apparatus, no means of arresting the mad career of the devouring element, the full destruction of the whole Southeastern portion of the town seemed inevitable and no one could say where the destruction of property might end.
Leaving the buildings therefore to the destruction which was unavoidable, measures were taken to secure the records, books, papers, &c., in the different county offices, which were speedily removed and safely deposited in neighboring houses. It is probable that many will be lost or damaged however. By the most unceasing vigilance and labor the roofs of the neighboring buildings on the South East corner of the public square were also kept from taking fire, although this at first seemed scarcely possible owing to the difficulty of getting sufficient water by means of buckets. In preventing the further spread of the fire we must not forget to say that the U.S. Artillery company at the barracks, who were on the ground as speedily as possible, rendered essential service.
The fire is thought to have been the work of an incendiary – a more atrocious act of villany never was conceived. The preservation of a large and flourishing portion of the town seems almost miraculous. The loss to the borough and county cannot prove less than $40,000.
