The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-15 00:00:00

A VILLAGE DISASTER`

A most calamitous fire broke out in a village
named Damerham, about 12 or 13 miles south-west
of Salisbury, on the borders of Hampshire and
Dorsetshire, on Monday afternoon, which resulted
in the total destruction of 27 houses, besides farm-
buildings, stables, &c. The fire originated in a
cottage occupied by a man named Ambrose, whose
wife had gone to Fordingbridge on business, leaving
three children in the house. Shortly after one
o'clock the roof of the cottage was discovered to be
on fire, and the wind being exceedingly high at the

time the flames speedily extended to the adjoining
houses. The cottages were generally roofed with
thatch, which was very dry, and consequently it
burnt rapidly. Large pieces of flaming thatch were
carried in all directions by the wind, and the houses
on both sides of the street, with the exception of
three cottages roofed with tiles, were in a very
short time in one complete blaze. Two engines
were obtained—one belonging to Lord Shaftesbury,
from St. Giles's, and the other from Cranbourne—
but on their arrival it was found that the flames
had made such progress that their services were un-
availing, and they-'allowed the fire to burn out.
Twenty-seven cottages were destroyed, together
with the farm buildings of Mr. Scammell, and also
the residence and farm-buildings belonging to Mr.
Waters, including barns, stable, and a large quan-
tity of barley prepared for market. A carpenter's
shop, smith's shop, and timber yard were also
burnt, and the damage is enormous.
Within three hours of the discovery of the fire
not a roof was remaining on either of the houses,
A great deal of the property belonged to Mr. Eyre
Coote, of West Park, and the greater portion is un-
insured. The cottagers were entirely burnt oat,
and had to be accommodated for the night in the
schoolroom and barns in another part of the village.
A number of blankets wore obtained from Fording-
bridge, and the poor sufferers were supplied with
refreshments. The labourers were for the most part
at wcrk when the fire occurred, and consequently
but very little of their furniture has been recovered,
their wives being sitter too much frightened or
engaged in saving their children to pay any atten-

tion to their property. The loss will be very
severely felt by them, as they are now deprived of
house and home. It is supposed that Ambrose's
children were playing with matches hi the house,
and that the fire caught the thatch, The result is
that nearly half of one of the prettiest villages in
the south of England is destroyed.

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Attorney-General of a most unpromising character, has re-
tired from the contest. It is said that a third attempt will
be made against Mr. O'Hagan, and that Mr. Denny, a
local Conservative gentleman, who in the first instance de-
clined to stand, will be brought forward.
HORRIBLE MURDER.—The Court of Assizes of
Seine-et-Marne on Tuesday tried a man named
Serein Voye, a farmer, residing at Chanlantre, charged
with having, on the 11th February last, murdered M. de
Fava, a retired auctioneer of Provins, and also with having
from
the
to murder Mme. de Fava. It appeared
attempted
evidence that the prisoner, who possessed real property to
the value of about 14,000 fr., but encumbered with a mort-
gage, had borrowed on bond of M. de Fava the sum of
1,600 fr., the time for the repayment of which had been long
past, and legal proceedings had been threatened for its re-
covery. On the evening of the 11th of February, about Biz
o'clock, the prisoner went to M. de Fave'e house, and
pay her master some money. M. de Few,
the maid-servant who admitted him that he had come
but he ordered the woman to show the prisoner •
on the ground floor, and went to him almost
Madame de Fava being surprised that her
returned half an hour after, went to s was at . t°
dtuner,
into a room
immediately,
husband had not
On entering the ante-chamber 1 sec what detained him.
room she met the prisoner, wh "ding to her
husband's
with a heavy chopper, mil; h 43 struck her Rev
not before her cries had c felled her to the several blow.
came to see what alarmed the serve ground, but
was the nt. The latter
made a rush toward matter, and th
8 her, but e prisonert then
ran to alarm the she managed
assistance and th neighbours. She soon returnedoescape and
of which she happenede moment she unlocked the st With
rushed out and disappearedprisoner in the darkness. Medme de
having received seven yi
ginsensible in the antechamber,
never entirely recover, severe
end
room, de Fava lay dead in his
with his skull dreadfullyM.
was arrested the same fractured. The prisoner
had time to night at his own house, before he
remove the bloodstains
first from his clothes. At
he denied all knowledge of the murder, but find-
ing that the servant's
evidence rendered his denials
useless, he confessed his crimes, and stated that he had killed
M. de Fava with the chopper while the latter was look-
ing among his papers for the bond, and that after that first
crime he had determined to murder both Madame de Fava
and the servant. The chopper, a heavy and most formi-
dable weapon, newly shapened, was afterwards found by
the police in the place indicated by the prisoner. In his de-
fence Voy6 stated that he dui not go to the house with in-
tent to commit murder, but the fact of his taking such a
Weapon with him was considered sufficient proof of the
contrary. The jury, therefore, at once returned a verdict
of guilty, without extenuating circnmstanoes, and the court
sentenced him to death.—Gatignani.
TrrE TRADE or LIVERPOOL.—The collector of
Customs at Liverpool has just issued a returii to the
effect that, notwithstanding the depression in trade caused
by the war in the United States, the trade of Liverpool has
• d immensely since last year. The following '
increase
declared value of British and Irish goods ex .
months ended April 30, 1862 and 1863. I
there railed 382 ships, with cargoes valued
in April, 1863, there sailed 456 ships, with is the
ported in the
In April, 1862
at 43,756,220 ;
£5,402,186, showing an increase of 74 h. cargoes valued id
over the name mouth of last year, 8 !Ps and 51)645,946