38

31

The following persons were chosen Direc-
tors to the Phoenix Insurance Office
Hezekiah Barnard
Jared Coffin
Matthew Crosby
Timothy Hussey
Peter Macy
David Jones
Wm. B Coffin

30th. 1 o/m [OF MONTH]. 1830. The weather has been so mild, & warm
that we began to flatter ourselves, that Winter
would pass without any very severe weather.

Even the river has been mostly open for
Vessels to pass up & down.

But on the day of the above date, in the
morning there was every appearance of a severe
Cold. The therr. [THERMOMETER] in the morning was at 15° above
& the cold rather increased during the day
with a strong wind at NW. At sunset
the wind had increased to a heavy Gale.
& the Thermr. [THERMOMETER] was at 5° above.

Many people observed that if an extensive fire should
take place, what a ruinous thing it would
be to property, & probably to lives, considering
that the harbour was covered with Ice and a
gale of wind at NW. Many cautionary remarks
were made. But, by the time [TEA?] was
over, Fire was cried, & the Bells ringing
but the wind was so strong, that in many
parts of the town it was not heard.
But the most of the people heard it, & repaird
to the scene of danger; fortunately it
proved nothing more that the Chimney of the Phoenix
I. office, which was very foul, & endangered
the adjacent buildings. The Cinders extended
among the buildings, to an alarming degree.