The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-05-19 00:00:00

ALARMINII FIRE AT DAMERILLII.

27 Houses BUILDIT.—Oaa of the most serious
oonflagrations that has ever occurred in this part of
Engbuid broke out in the little village of Darner- I
ham, situated about 13 miles from Salisbury, and I
on the borders of Donetehirs and Hampshire on
Monday afternoon. It originated in • cottage in I
the occupation of a man named Ambrose, whose
wife bad gnu. to Fordingbridge on business, leering
three children at home. The roof of the cottage was
discovered to be on tire shortly after one o'clock, and
an alarm wan immediately raised. In consequence
of the unprecedented fine weather lately, the thatch
with which the majority of the houses in the village I
were roofed, was exceedingly dry, and consequently I
the fire spread rapidly. The wind di Monday was
also blowing a complete gale, and this fanned the
flames, and blew large masses of burning thatch in
all directions. The cottages adjoining that of
Ambrose's were soon enveloped in flames, and in the
coarse of a very short time the houses on both sides
of the street were in one ours of flame. Messengers I
were &dumbed for assistance, and in the course of
the afternoon an engine from Craniume arrived,
and shortly altenrards an engine, the property
of Lord Shaftesbury, arrived from fit Mot
It was men from the first that efforts to sue any
of the houses then on lire were utterly futile, and
they turned their attention to the preservation
of the surrounding property. Within three hours'
from the disoovery of the tire not a siogle roof re-
mained 0027 cotteges,and the scene was indeecribable.
The =sputa of the dwellings, thus driven out of
honessand hode,bethiled Ibsirloesir piteousecoente,
and were compelled to become unwilling, as well as
inactive, observers of the destruction of the scanty
property they bad acquired. Throe that had been
attracted to the spot were also unable to render any
amistance, although plenty of water wee at haat
thie side of the street from Ambrose's cottage to be
yoed the Compeer Inn was entirely destroyed,
Dictating the farm buildings and outhouses belotiging
to Mr. Besinniell. The Compasses Inn was roofed with
tiles, and to this cense may be attributed its escape;
for although surrounded by fire, yet it did not sus-
tain any very serious damage. There was one
cottage on that side of the street which had • slate
roof, and this also escapoi. The houses in front of
Ambrose's cottage were also entirely deetroyed,
and the fire ran unchecked down the *zest,
and up the Martin-road as for as the residence
of Mr. Warner. Prom the Madan-reed the
fire 'shaded to the Sthrbary-thed, where the
farm buildings belonging to Mr. Waters were
situated. These were loon consumed, together with
a large quantity of barley stored in the barn prepared
for mathet Opposite the Compered there was •
timber yard. Irina aka Sall a prey to the Ilawsa,
which siwn swiendai,faallaar an to the Foaling-
heigimosed, as for aseksywdedlice, whio:ti Flo
as eamsquansa of hittimartidlei roof. The
pert of the Ile gyre
of Wed ParrraditLisedeniel bull very tithe%
was ialeoreal The fire cesuy.d when the laboured
was away trod their Wad at work, sad wow
wring; very Me of Asir frandars was raved.

The oottagers were obliged to take refuge for the
night in the school-room and barns at another part
of the village. Blankets were obtained from Ford-
ingbridge, as well as a large quantity of bread, so
that the wants of the poor sufferers were supplied.
It was some time before the fire au totally extin-
guished. The wind blew the sparks wildly about,
and We greatest watchfulness had to be dieplayed
by those who were stationed on those houses that
had escaped the fearful ravages of the fire. Bain
desoended during We evening in torrents, and this
damped the thatch, so that the sparks bad not
such effect. Some of the Wilts, Dorset, and Hants
Constabulary were in attendance, and rendered_ good
:service. Superintendent Matthews, of the Wilts
Constabulary received information of the fire on his
return from a journey on Monday evening, and he
immediately proceeded to Damerham, where he
remained superintending the arrangements during
the greater part of the night. The origin of the
fire is unknown, but is conjectured that Ambrose's
children were playing with matches, which ignited
some of the furniture, and then extended to the
thatch. The damage is enormous, and this sad
catastrophe has destroyed one half of this formerly
picturesque and pretty village. The poor
minimum win have to undergo great luu-dahips and
privations, an it will take some time before their
cottages are re-erected. We should suggest that •
SOlSSCription be eat on foot for their relief; for almost
all are rendered pinnaces ; and it will take a con-
siderable time before they will be enabled to furnish
themselves, unaided, with those comforts which they
have heretofore enjoyed. This is a cue worthy of the
consideration of the benevolent, and we trust this
suggestion will be adopted.

WOODFORD.—Tris New Wooorcien, Doan-
101th, AND WISSIOND FRIANDLY Boclut.—The
anniversary of this flourishing society took
place at Woodford, on Wednesday. The members,
honorary and benefit, met at the vicarage at 10.30
a.m., and proceeded to the church, headed by the
Rev. C. Duke and the Rev. K. 11. Chatfield. The
prayers were read by the Rev. C. Duke, and the
101111011 was preached by the Rev. K. M. Chatfield
from Proverbs, 10 chap., 22 verse. The club pro-
°ceded, after church, to the schoolroom, where the
usual dinner was provided. The Rev. C. Duke took
the chair, in place of the Rev. J. FIiDIMAD, who
was president for the past year, but who wee una-
voidably absent. The Rev. K. U. Chatfield sub's-
quently gave the society an account of their funds,
which account had been audited by Mr. Olding, the
sub-treasurer, and it stated that £9l had been ex.
pended on their sick during the past year, being
430 more than in the year preceding ; yet, for all
that, though the sick list was heavier than usual,
they had been enabled to add £6 to their stook,
which now stands at 4:793, invested in consols
and savings bank. After the usual toasts and
speeches the honorary members left the room,
and the members thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
At eight o'clock they were dismissed by the Rev.
K. M. Chalfield, after singing the National
Atatbem.

METHEIIAVEN. Darritucrns Flit& A
serious fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Smith,
of Newfoundland farm, in this vaish, on Thureday
morning, between 10 and 11 o'clock. A new
chimney was being built close to an old one, and the
wood of the latter caught fire, and ignited the build-
ing. The fire spread rapidly, and in a very short
tune the front dwellinglonse, stabling. piggeries,
and the ricks, with one exception, were command.
A portion of • hay-rick escaped the flames; and
the bonne were fortunately out at the time of the
lire. A new stable was burnt, together with •
quantity of timber for building purpees. Man
'Smith, while going to the cellar, glistened some
severe injuries. The farming stock was insured,
but the household furniture was nut. So rapidly
did the fire spread that the whole was consumed in
an hour.

bdIREWTON.—BIBLE MemNG. —The 16th anniver-
sary of the Shrewton branch of the British and Foreign
Bible Society was held, a. usual, on 'Thursday evening,
in the barn at the Wheel Inn, under the presidency of
E. F. MO* Esq. The meeting, which was a very
crowded one, seemed deeply impressed with the import-
ance of the work which they were called on to ambit.
Nearly £IS wars handed to the treasurer at the dose of
Use proceedings.

SIVALLOWCLIFFIL —llsuoai ironic- Avery
beautiful Bert window, in memory of the late lamented
LOrd Herbert of Lea, (from the design of Mr. A.
O'Conner, of London,) wee Let week put up in the
parisbjchurch, by the direction and at the expense of
Lady Herbert, of Wilton House.

WARMINSTER. —Aso gin ORDER or Foasarruut
The Warminster Court of Foresters held their seven-
teenth anniversary dinner at the Pack Horse Inn, on
Thursday afternoon. Host Duel, as on former years,
Rovided a capital entertainment The chair was taken
Charles Vicary, Hag., the surgeon of the society.
• customary toasts followed the removal of the cloth.
The society is gradually getting stronger, numerically
and financially and the annivetuiry of Thursday is the
Moat satisfactory the society has celebrated since its
establishment.

WESTIWRY.--Prery Sassiotim, May 11—Present:
Capt. Ludlow, J. L Phipps, and A. laverton, Fours.—
James Newman, Edward Mead, Seth Cowdry, and
Frederick Ehnen, all of Bretton, were charged by
Thomas Reeves, P.C., with being drunk and disorderly
at Bretton on the night of the 25th of April —lt being
their first offence, they were discharged on payiniz?
• . 61. each—Philip Walters, of Bretton, ems o
by John Newman, Innkeeper, of the same place, th
resulting him on the 6th of May --Setiled out of court.
--Fain Newman, of Bretton, vu charged
by John Newman, with sneaking him on
the fith day of May.—Case diamond.— Joshua
Smith, of Bretton, labourer, was charged by John
Burma, with assaulting him on the 6th day of May.—
Settled out of Courk—Ebeneror Sly, of Westbury,
was brought up charged with stealing a hand-vi, from
a cloth (eatery at %Vest Leigh, the property of Mr.
John lianupp.—The prisoner was remanded.
WEIATCOM RE. —WarrOlt planar/mon—We
believe It is generally admitted by naturalist' that
the branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruit of a tree, all
derive their support and nourishment from the sap
which arises from the roots, and which is by the
root, drawn from the soil. Whether certain parties
in this village thought it would be best to go to the
fountain-head at once, rather than wait for the
autumn seem= for the full ripe fruit, or whether
they were desirous of " bearing away the belle" for
foolish and wanton destruction, we cannot say, but
we are given to understand, that when about to
leave the houae, shaded by one of those fruit trees
which, at this season of the year, are eo very
beautiful, to take another dwslllngi where they will
be allowed by law to sell something stronger than
Adam's ale, they actually dug round the tree which
had given "a local habitation and a name" to their
reeidence, and bored a bole in its trunk. We trust
this was not with the view of depriving others of
seeing it. beautiful blossoms, or tastiug its delicious
fruit. If such, however, was their intention, we only
wish they may never hereafter taste cherry-brandy.