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 house!,
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 Cranbour
to Mr,
but on their arrival it was found that the flamer}
services
burn were
out
:-
belonging
destroyed, together
un-
availing, adi
Imi
eagd,easeudc h t progressh
ey al
le wt headt tthheei r
fire
Twenty-seven cottages were
with the farm-buildings of Mr. Scammell, and also
and a large quan-
tity of barley prepared for market. A earpent '
inndg fabraairnsb,uisitdaibir,
Waters,
the a
treerssi:l7nnocieuda
shop, smith's shop, and timber yard entera
burnt, and the damage is enormous, were also
I Within three hours of the discovery
not a roof was remaining of the fire
on either of
A great deal of the the houses.
property
Coote, of West Park, and belonged to Mr. Eyre
insured. ..,,yro
insured. The cotta greater portion is un..
gore; were .
and had to be aceonim d entirely burnt oat,
schoolroom and barns • o ated for the night in the
A numbert in another part of the village.
of blank
bridge, and the poor
s were obtained from Fording..
refreshments, The labourers were for hat work when the fire occurred, t e most pare
and consequently
but very little of th •
eir furniture has been recovered,
their wives being either 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'a,
children were playing with matches in 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.

Tvativit
:LeaE
his prospect against the
nEdEidLaEteCyTlON.—Captain
finding .ICnoz, the Conner.
Attorney-General of a most unpromising character, has re•
tired film the contest. It is said that a third attempt will
be made against Mr. °Wags'', and that Mr. Denny, A
local Conservative gentleman, who in the first instance ds,
dined to stand, will be brought forward.
LIVERPOOL.:aITuehde collector of
with cargoes valued at
Customs at LirveOrpPool has just issued a return to the
effect that, notwithstanding the depression in trade caused
ibnyerteashe
edwairminmethneseUlynsiitendoe States, sy,eathre. trTadheeoffoclivweirnpgooial has
e
declared value of British and Irish gooshdispseaxnpaor4tl,64-
5,946
dse
hd
omAwopinnr
tgi
hl a
,23 00, i
lathe 186 r :
ea na
1.1 li . £l3 63 . e.d in the
itnhoAreprsiali,lolclB633B,2thsebriepss,aivileidth4sc6arsgohipess In Apni,
1862
X 3,756,220
046:4n 11
thesame.lBe