one to two hundred persons perished within immediate observation, while
thrice that number were miserably burned or wounded, and at least two
thousand were left destitute of the means of subsistence, and were
thrown for a time on the humanity of the Province of New Brunswick. The
number of lives that were lost in the woods could not at the time be
ascertained, but it was thought few were left to tell the tale.

"Newcastle presented a fearful scene of ruin and devastation, only
fourteen out of two hundred and fifty houses and stores remained
standing.

"The court-house, jail, church, and barracks, Messrs. Gilmour, Rankin,
and Co.'s, and Messrs. Abrams and Co.'s establishment, with two ships
on the stocks, were reduced to ashes.

"The loss of property is incalculable, for the fire, borne upon the
wings of a hurricane, rushed on the wretched inhabitants with such
inconceivable rapidity that the preservation of their lives could be
their only care.

"Several ships were burned on shore, while others were saved from the
flames by the exertions of their owners, after being actually on fire.

"At Douglas Town scarcely any kind of property escaped the ravages of
the fire, which swept off the surface everything coming in contact with
it, leaving but time for the unfortunate inhabitants to fly to the
shore; and there, by means of boats, canoes, rafts of timber, logs, or
any article, however ill calculated for the purpose, they endeavoured
to escape from the dreadful scene and reach the town of Chatham,
numbers of men, women, and children perishing in the attempt.