The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-09 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ARLEY.

On Sunday night last at half-past eight o'clock
a fire was discovered by Thomas Littleford in a
barn adjoining the farm house of Mr. Thomas
ot the High Trees Farm, Arley. It ap-
pears that Littleford went into one of the cow-
houses, and saw some fire at the feet of a inan
named David Stanley. He tried to wake him
up, but he did not speak, and Littleford at once
ran to his master (Mr. Wan) and told him what
he had seen. Mr. Wall immediately hastened
to the spot, and found that the flames had made
considerable progress within the cowhouse. He
at once made an attempt to rescue some of the
animals, and after considerable personal risk he
succeeded in getting a calf out of one atoll, out
another four oxen and four horses. This was
done without any assistance. In the meantime
Mrs. Wall had gone to Mr. Abbotts, and told
him of what had occurred ; messengers on horse-
back were also sent to Kidderminster and Stour-
bridge for the fire engines; and other messen-
gers were sent to Kinver and Enville for assist-
ance. Sergeant Baldwin, accompanied by his
men and others from Kinver, at once went to
render assistance. At this time the flames were
making great headway, and it was feared that
the farm house would be burnt down, and a
number ,d persons began to get the faurniture
out of the house and carry it to a short distance.
During this time others were carrying buckets
of water from an adjoining pool; but it seemed
quite clear that unless the engines soon arrived
the fire would burn itself out. 'The Kiddermin-
ster engine was the first to arrive, as the distance
was shorter than from Stourbridge, and soon
began to play on the flames, and did much to
reduce them. The Phadfix and Alliance engines
arrived, but too late to be of any use. and the
cow sheds on the north side of the house were
, burned.

We regret to say that in one of the sheds ten
fat cows were tied up. They were all destroyed.
The condition of the cows while they lived was
most distressing. At first they struggled to
break the bonds that held them to the stake, and
they gave vent to their sufferings in roost piteous
moans. Nothing could be done to save them.
They were literally scorched to death, and the
roof fell in upon them, and some of their en-
trails were crushed out from the heavy weight
of timber and bricks falling upon them. The
cows were worth .L 16. and we regret to say Mr.
11, all was not insused ; but the building was in-
sured in the Salop Fire Office. The fire was
got under by half-past eleven o'clock.
the Alliance engine was hastening to the
• scene where the fire was, and when at the Stew-
pouey bridge, a man named Jones fell off, and
uis leg was broken. He was taken to the Stew-
poney Inn, and after sent back to Stourbridge.
David Stanley was brought up before the Ma-
gistrates sitting at Brierley Dill, on Monday
last, on the charge of arson. Mr. Addison ap-
peared for the prisoner. Sergeant Baldwin
asked for a remand, as he had not been mile to
get the evidence he required, and prisoner was
remanded to Wordsley, on Monday next, when
he will be tried.