“Fires”
Date
1-14-1812
Newspaper
Lexington Kentucky Gazette
Page and Column
Page 2, Column 3
Newspaper Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Serial Number
223
Abstract
Account of fires in Lexington, Kentucky in early January 1812 blamed on arsonists but possibly earthquake related.
Transcript
FIRES. The citizens of this town were called out three nights in the last week to suppress this powerful and destructive element, FIRE.-About half past 5 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday last they were first alarmed:--at this hour, a small house connected with Mr. Huston's front building on main-street, was discovered to be on fire; by the prompt attendance and exertions of the citizens it was quelled, without further injury than the destruction of the roof of the house in which it originated. At the same hour on the next morning a fire broke broke out in Mr. J. W. Hunt's Bagging Factory. Seventy or eighty tons of Hemp, & a part of that extensive building, were destroyed. From the combustible nature of the contents of the factory, it was impossible to extinguish the fire before it had destroyed that part of the building in which it commenced. This is the second loss Mr. Hunt has met with-and in both instances by the hand of an incendiary. But the most serious alarm that we have ever seen in this place, occurred on Saturday night, between eleven and twelve o'clock. Mr. Tibbatt's bake-house & chandler's shop took fire, on the inside of the buildings, and was entirely consumed. Nothing short of the most heroic exertions and courageous activity, preserved the valuable building adjoining the fire from destruction. The houses on that square are all connected, but the roofs of two or three only nearest the bake-house were burnt-many individuals sustained considerable loss in the removal of furniture &c. but Mr. Tibbatts is the greatest sufferer.
Recommended Citation
"“Fires”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 216.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/216
