The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-14 00:00:00

IN CEN DIARISR.

BIGGLESWADE, SEPT. 11.—The little village of
Arsley has been the scene of another incendiary fire,
attended by the most disastrous results, as the great
bulk of the property destroyed belongs to persons of
the poorest class, some of whom are literally without
a home. The fire broke out at midnight, and appears
to have originated in a hay rick close to a beer-shop
kept by a man named Livett. The spot was sur-
rounded by a number of cottages, the inmates of
which had long before retired to rest. There was
scarcely a breath of air, but owing to the hay being
thoroughly dry the flames spread to the adjacent
buildings before the arrival of the engines, which
were obtained from Biggleswade, llenlow, and
Ilitchin, all some miles distant from the
scene of conflagration. There was also much
difficulty in securing a supply of water, for which,
in rural districts, no _provision is ever made. The
Rev. H. Smith, Mr. N. G. E hnonds, a large land-
owner residing in the neighbourhood, together with
Superintendent Blunden, of the local police, were
early on the spot, directing the operations of the fire-
men, and encouraging the labourers to exertion. The
fire, however, was not got under until nearly four
o'clock, having totally destroyed six small houses, be-
sides seriously damaging several others. From exa-
minations subsequently made, there is no doubt that
it was the act of an incendiary. The flames were ob-
served in the first instance by constable Link on
going round his beat; and he states that, although he
kept a vigilant look out, he saw no person near the
spot. The part of the stack fired was furthest from
the beer-shop, and could not possibly have been the.
result of accident. The presumptionis that it was
caused by some chemical preparation, which was de-
posited in the hay at an early hour in the evening.
The occupants of the cottages in their terror were I
unable to save any portion of their furniture, all" of 1
which was consumed, together with their harvest
gleanings.—Cambridge Chronicle.

EATON SOCON, SEPT. 11.—Last Tuesday evening
some vile miscreant set fire to a large stack of wheat
straw (the growth of 1843), standing in the centre
of the rick-yard of J. 11. Day, Esq., in this village.
The flames threw their unearthly glare over the
neighbourhood for miles around, and thousands has-
tened to the spot. The first persons present put a
large cloth over the barley-rick, close to windward,
and wetted it; those were soon aided by the Eaton
Socon and St. Neot's engines, and thus the devouring
element was confined to the large straw-stack, which
was all consumed. Happily the evening was remark-
ably calm, otherwise it is probable no efforts could
have saved the entire homestead. We understand
Mr. Day is insured in the County-office, and that no
suspicion attaches to any individual.—Cambridge
Chronicle.

On Thursday afternoon, about one o'clock, a fira
was discovered on the farm premises at Lymage, oc-
cupied by Mr. Philip Armstrong, of Graffham. It
was first observed by a labourer, who had left his
work in the barn for the purpose of fetching some
water for his dinner, burning at the corner of a straw
stack placed round the yard, and communicating with
the. outbuildings of the barns. The most efficient
assistance was rendered on the alarm being given, and
by judiciously cutting off the'communication by pull-
ing down an outbuilding the damage was confined to
the destruction of the straw and the outhouse. Had
the flames once got fairly hold of the buildings the
destruction of property must have been great—the
whole of the produce of the farm standing on the spot.
At present the loss is confined to about .301.; insured
in the Suffolk Fire-office. How the fire originated is
not known, but from happening in the middle of the
day, with but few persons on the premises, it is one of
those cases where the most searching investigation
ought to take
place.—Cambridge Chronicle.
INCENDIARY' FIRE.—We regret to have again to
record the occurrence of an incendisryy fire in Suffolk,
which occurred on IVednesday evening last. Between