The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-08-25 00:00:00

STRATTON.

Somot Boaan.—This little parish has drifted into a
School Board to make provision for elementary education,
but the inhabitanta have had the wisdon to avoid scoot...at
in the election of members ef the Board, and if they avoid
" no a pestilence" appointment of any extraneous officials,
but keep the management in their own hands, and work
harmoniously, we may observe in operation an economical
School Boara. The members elected are- The Rev. W. L
Barnes. Mr. T. Chick. Mr. W. 11. Dean. Ur. C. Short°,
and Mr. W. Randall. .

FITZ CI-MAZZA BURNT Lows.— On Thursday morning
some children in play here staied a fire the possible
results of which quickly filled the whole village with
alum. In the middle of this "straight-to"n" was crow
of five cottages and a fuel-house, all of which had been
recently repaired and smartened up and one of them re.
thatched. About nine o'clock in the morning some chil-
dren were amusing themselves in the fuel-house, and
having obtained some heifer matches enjoyed the fun of
kindling them and burning bits of furze, kr. But, before
they scarcely knew what they were about, the whole place
NW in • blaze, and they screamed in terror to find the
mischief they had done. Mr. 1. Chick, on hearing of
the fire, rode into Dorchester, with the greatest
haste for the engine. The flames quickly extended to
the adjoining cottage, occupied by Francis Brown, and
ere long involved the whole row in one common destruc-
tion. All the villagers earnestly applied themselves to
checking the spread o: the fire, lines of men, women, and
Attire]. extending from the cottages t the water at the
lower end of the plots, and passing buckets-ful along to
be rest on the harming awellings. lhe cottages are the
property of Mrs. Patteson, of Wracklet•rd, end the Attlge
occupied by Brown Is one of those rented by Mr. W. H.
Doan, who, of course, was wetly at the scene of the fire,
directing the efforts of the persons assisting, and himself
being twist earnest and energetic in staying the progress of
the ilanies. Mr. Giles Symonds, steward of the manor,
nisi) arrive.' soon after the news of the tire reached Dor-
chester. The fire engine, from the county town, arrived
after whet seemed to he a great length of time it seems there
was delay in getting out the engine, and then some diffi-
culty in procuring horses. In the meantime the fire had
made rapid prOgresa, ani WWI burning with uncontmllable
flan', sending forth clouds of smoke .bat were visible for
• ~orY lain diadem:o. Mr. H. )). Middleton, the Rev. W.
1.. Barnes. Mr. C. Sherto, Mx. wa, Mr. W. Randall,
Mr. R. Darts, Mr. R. Pudgy, and Mr. ‘ff. l'arddy, with the
inhabitants generally rendered willing hap. good
deal of the furniture of the poor people was gut out of the
cottages, but, of course, the hasty renewal and tile streams
of water caused much damage to be done, while
many things were lost in the fire. The efforts of the
villagers with the Resistance of the engine and fire
brigade, however, prevented the conflagration from
extending beyond the row where it originated, though
other progerty is closely adiacent and • wheat rick
of Mr. ass ct one time in imminent danger.
Soon after mid-day the erisarqps were gutted, and the
flames had so far been got under that all dump, was at an
end, but of course the fire smouldered Mail> hours !ringer.
The burnt-not families are these of Francis Brown.
lienjourin Northman.. Charles Watts, Joseph Sergeant,
John iret 41.4)611 Bridle (father and son). They were all
empiideredoly provided for in different places in the
village. The property is insured in ;he 4.11.ee othee.