The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-09-08 00:00:00

PITDDLETOWN.

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Desrercrive FlRE—This (Monday) morning, a fire,
originating in a chimney, destroyed in a few hours, eight
of the thatched cottages remaining in this village, and,
had it not been that a slated house intervened, there Is
little doubt but that the damage would have been much
more extensive. About half-past six o'clock it was found
that the kitchen chimney at the house of Mr. Charles
Young, builder, was on fire. One of his workmen, James
Bushred, got upon • ladder, and pushed the burning mass
down the chimney, when it was expected the danger was
averted; but ins very short space of time, flames burst
out from the roof and spread right and left with great
rapidity. Mr. Young's workpeople had all assembled in
the shops and immediately turned out to render assistance.
P.C. Bishop, the constable stationed in the pariah, was
also early on the spot, and telegraphed information of the
disaster to Supt. Batty, at Dorchester, who immediately
started off to the place with bon-a-dozen men. He also
sent to Supt. Coward, the chief of the Dorchester lire
Brigade, apprising him of the fire and the need of the
engine. Mr. Collins, fireman, and other members of the
brigade were collected, three horses obtained from the
King's Arms' Hotel, and 60011 after getting information.
the engine and firemen were on the road to Puddletown,
where they arrived in about twenty minutes. Meanwhile
everybody in the village had come out to help. The two
engines, belonging to Mr. Brymer, under the management
of Mr. C. Young and Mr. W. Hardy, were got out, and
water for them obtained by means of buckets from the
wells in the neighbourhood The engines were found to
be in a good state of repair, and they did valuable service.
The cottages stood on the north-east side of "The Square,"
and formed two sides of a triangle. They jut out into
the main road, which they greatly narrow, and it is said
the late Mr. Brymer much desired their removal, in order
to improve that part of the parish. But it seems that all
In the row, except Mr. C. Young's house, are copyhold
premises held by Mr. John Payne, of Cenie Abbas. How-
ever, they were very fair cottages, and had not long since
been thoroughly repaired and refurnished The occupants
were speedily got out, and some furniture was saved but
with thatched cottages there is not much time for
rescuing property, and a good deal was destroyed, as well
as valuable timber and materials, in the building yard of
Mr. Young. Amongst those who assisted we may
mention the Rev. F E. Freeman (vicar), the Rev. Mr.
Salmon (curate, who had apartments in Mr. C. Young's
house). Mr. Miller, Mr. Paull, Mr. Dunznan, Mr. Denman,
jun., Mr. Hardy, Mr. J. Young, Mr. Arnold, Mr.
Greening, Mr. Stickland, Mr. Toms, and others. The
Royal Horse Artillery, stationed at Dorchester, were out
early in the morning for exercise, and the officer in
command, hearing cf the fire, took the men to Puddletown,
and they exerted themselves in the most praiseworthy
manner. When the Dorchester engine arrived the fire
was blazing fiercely. Severel lengths of hose were
attached to the engine, and cot,, to the wireent
and, with plenty of hands to work the pumps,
the water thrown upon the burning mass soon
diminished its fierceness. The chief work to be
done, however, was in preventing the spread of the
fire, and by partially stripping the roof of Mr. Jerrett's
slated house, next Mr. Young's, and applymg plentiful
libations of water, it was happily effected. AU the
thatched cottages were completely gutted. The persons
burnt out are-1, Mr. C. Young, builder; 2, Mrs. Yoimg ;
3, Mrs. Portions; 4, unoccupied; 5 Lawrence (*lark and
Rife; ti, Mrs. Gear and Mrs. Davis; and also two cottages
behind these used by Mr. Young, one as • store the other
as a fuel house. The Vicar was most active at the fire,
and he obtained shelter at differentcottages for the persons
rendered homeless by the disaster. It is said that the
houses were insured by Mr. Brymer, but Mr. Charles
Young has only .Cl5O insurance on his furniture and build-
ing materials in the yard, a large quantity of which was
destroyed. Mr. Young spooks very highly of the efforts of
the Dorchester lire brigade as well as of the willing help
given by all persons in the village. Considering the diffi-
culties under which the Dorchester brigade labour, and
the scant encouragement given them, it is gratifying to
find them showing such alwrity when a fire occurs, os any
supineness or delay might occasion the lasso( thousands of
pounds worth of property.