Russian galley fleet at St. Petersburg, Russia destroyed by fire according to the Dutch newspaper Friesche courant dated 13 July 1796

An item dated St. Petersburg, Russia 7th reported that two days earlier during a heavy lightning around 21.30 o’clock a tar store house at the end of the galley harbour was set afire and completely lost. As the people believed that there was no longer any threat and gone home broke again fire out, now in huge stone built warehouse where all rigging and other belongings of the fjord/skerry or galley fleet was stored. Except for the wall was the complete building destroyed but even worse the fire skipped over to the galleys lying in the harbour. Around 80-100 small and large galleys burned and some sailors were killed. The damage was estimated to be several millions roubles.