Carlisle Patriot, 03 Dec 1825 - Local News (2)
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Saturday 03 Dec 1825 (p. 2, col. 4-5 and p. 3, col. 5-6) [continued]
MIRAMICHI.—We have just spoken with Captain LOOKUP, of the Diana, who arrived here a few days ago, (says the Dumfries Courier) and whose vessel was moored at Miramichi during the late tremendous fires. Although many other vessels were driven on shore, and in that situation burnt and deserted, the Diana fairly rode out the gale; and had the air been clear, Captain LOOKUP and his men would have commanded a full view of a spectacle which, in point of horror, has more than once reminded us of SHAKESPEARE's picture of the universal conflagration. But the smoke was so dense, that the individuals in question could scarcely see the full length of the ship; and although their station was on the south side of the river, at every little interval immense masses of burning embers hurled over their heads, or fell so near them, that they were every moment apprehensive that their vessel and her cargo would be totally consumed. During these eruptions a glare of light was cast on the scene, which added tenfold to its natural horrors—a scene which can be compared to nothing so aptly as Etna belching forth flames at midnight, and alarming distant nations with his roar. The town of Miramichi is composed of four villages, two of which are situated on the North, and two on the South bank of a river which takes the same name, and is at that point very nearly a mile in breadth. Of the houses on the north side only four remain standing, and had not the river intervened, the village of Chatham would have shared in the fate of the northern division of Miramichi. Betwixt the two points the communication is carried on by means of ferry boats; but such was the fearful violence of the tempest that the Chatham ferry-men durst not for their lives leave the harbour. The few boats on the other side were almost instantly filled with passengers, who, committing themselves to the mercy of the waves, were drifted over to the opposite bank; but while the storm raged not one of those boats could return; and in this way comparatively few persons were conveyed to Chatham, even after they had lost their all, and were in the utmost need of shelter and succour. As timber is the staple trade of the place, the shore is constantly lined with rafts; and to these many individuals retreated; but alas! alas! they were only fated to meet death in another form; for in not a few instances the rafts separated, and drifted out to sea, where every soul on board of them perished. The air was so scorching and intolerably hot, that even stout and able-bodied men sunk down exhausted and overpowered; and a day or two after the fatal 7th of October, Capt. LOOKUP saw a barrel of nails which had melted and run into a solid mass! In the houses, such articles as would not burn, changed completely their original shape, and in some cases dollars and guineas became, as it were, one coin. Indeed, at the time our informant left Miramichi, the inhabitants were searching diligently among the ruins for money, and not a few dollars have been shewn in this town which are only fit for the silversmith's crucible. Amidst the general consternation, the river was the only point of safety; and hundreds of persons were seen standing up to the shoulders in water, and "jouking down" every time they were assailed with a fresh shower of burning embers. Others cowered under brows and rocks, and thus, although half suffocated with the smoke, escaped the fiery element that was raining down on every thing around them; and we even heard of two men who, after they had crept under a fragment of rock by the river's edge, found the place so hot that they had to lave water upon one another by turns. Nay, if report may be credited, even the wild beasts of the forest, such as bears, foxes, pole-cats, &c. were tamed by the common feeling of danger; and, forgetting all their natural propensities, were seen peaceably mingling with men, women, and children, and imitating their efforts to save themselves by venturing a little way into the water. Fifteen individuals, all natives of this district, came home passengers in the Diana. Few of them saved a single article; and the prospect of a long and dreary winter, with the anticipated scarcity of provisions in the Colony, made them all eagerly embrace the opportunity of returning to a home where they knew they would meet with sympathising friends. The Committee that was so promptly formed at Chatham, supplied them with blankets and provisions for the voyage. In the above number there is one family of three brothers, who, after years of patient industry had established claims to a considerable amount, but these claims were mostly unliquidated, and what would have been the use of besieging customers who have one and all become bankrupts from a visitation of the Providence? And this, be it observed, forms a peculiar feature in the calamity in question. With a very few exceptions, the people of Miramichi have all been reduced to the same level—must all begin the world anew. Rich and poor—industrious and idle—debtor and creditor—are words that have almost no application to the altered state of society in the Colony. The merchant's lodger was burnt along with the goods in his store, and even where a debt can be properly avouched, it must become prescribed before the debtor can be in a situation to pay it. Among those who perished we regret to record the names of six individuals of the name of STOTHERT—two men and four women—who were all born and reared in the parish of Middlebie. Only one member of the family escaped, and he has to deplore the loss of his father, mother, one brother, and three sisters. Some of the latter were sick of a fever, and the exertions their relatives made to save them is assigned as the proximate cause of the mournful catastrophe.
Tuesday's Gazette announces that the quarantine order relative to Cromarty Bay and Carsthorn is revoked; and vessels bound to Inverness, Zetland, Orkney, Caithness, and Stornaway, are to perform quarantine at Inverkeithing Bay; and to Dumfries or Kirkcudbright, at Holy Lock, in the Frith of Clyde.
A coach has been established on the Stockton and Darlington railroad which carries passengers at the low rate of one penny a mile inside.
The following gentlemen from Dumfries-shire have been admitted members of the R. C. of Surgeons, at Edinburgh:—Messrs. Walter LAWRIE, John SMITH, William LORIMER.
On Friday night, the 25th ult. the Mary, of Carlisle, J. SEWELL, master, was put into Maryport with her mainsail split, by a violent storm off St. Bees Head; and on Sunday, as the brig Dykes, of that port, was coming into the harbour, she ran foul of her, and carried away her main boom, and all her stern timbers. She is laden with slate from Bangor, for Mr. GILL, of Brampton, and bound for Carlisle. She will be ready for sea again in a few days.
The Grace, MAIRS, of Workington, arrived at Maryport on the 25th ult. from Bucktush, timber laden, 30 days passage.—The Dykes, ATKINSON, did not get into Dublin as we reported last week. She drove out of the bay, and put into Whitehaven on the 25th ult.; 6 weeks passage from Miramichi. She had seven passengers, four of whom had escaped the fire, all belonging to Shap, of the name of MONKHOUSE. A child died on the passage.—The Sarah Marianne, CHRISTIAN, of Maryport, arrived at Maryport on the 24th ult. from Quebeck, laden with grain; 25 days passage—all well. The Dykes, COCKTON, arrived at Maryport on the 27th ult., from Mirimachi, with timber, to discharge for Mr. TICKLE.—The Shaw, BELL, of Maryport, arrived at Whitehaven on the 28th ult., from the Bay of Chaleur. She is bound to Maryport to discharge.—The St. George, FEARON, was off Whitehaven, on Wednesday, from Mirimachi, bound to the northward to discharge.—By a letter from Liverpool, we learn that the Congress, ASHBRIDGE; Collins, ASHBRIDGE, and the Hannah, NEWBY, (all belonging to Maryport) have arrived from Mirimachi.
The Triton, OWENS, (London trader) arrived from London on Wednesday. She was noticed last week as having passed the Downs for Whitehaven on the 15th inst. on the 19th she cast her anchor in Ramsey Bay, thus effecting a passage in four days, which has on some occasions required nearly as many months. This vessel sailed from Belfast for London on the 30th ult., arrived at the Downs on the 3d inst. and at the Wharf on the 7th. On the 12th she cleared out for Whitehaven, sailed on the 13th, passed the Downs as noticed above, and after waiting in Ramsey Bay for spring tides, entered Whitehaven on the 22d! As she sailed on Monday for Belfast, she is likely to complete her circuit (carrying three full cargoes) within one month, during which the weather has been generally as stormy as to confine ordinary vessels to port, or drive those at sea to seek refuge in harbour.
The Waller, TAYLOR, of Whitehaven for Liverpool, is lost near the North Isle of Arran, crew saved.