The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-02-18
BOsToN. Feb. Il

BosToN, Feb. IA.
DISTRESSING CoNFLAGRATIoN. The
town of Charlestown was visited on Thurs
day evening last, by calamity, probably
the most dreadful ever experienced in that
place. About ii o'clock fire was discov-
cred in shed adjoining large three story
dwelling house on Joiner's-street, owned by
the heirs of the late VIM. Gray. So rapid
was the progress of the flames that thew
communicated almost Immediately with the
main house and carpenters shop near by.
occupied by Mr.. o. w. Preston, the latter
OF which was soon consumed. A tlistillerv
adjoining, occupied by Messrs Putnam &
Pratt, was slightly damaged, having caught
in the roof, nor was it saved without diff
Guilty. The dwelling house is now heap
of ruins. The horror of this scene is pecu
liarly heightened by the fact that four per-
sons persisted an the flames Their names
are as follows Mrs. Sally True. wife of
Capt. Henry True, aged AS; Stephen their
son, aged IL; their two daughters, Mary
Ann and Catharine, the first aged IL, the
latter years.
There were other families in the house.
who saved but very few of their effects, and
barely escaped with their lives. 1t is be-
lieved that the persons who persisted might
have been saved, had not a report been
spread that the house was clear.
Boston CentineI.
On Wednesday night at IL o'clock the
alarm of fire was given, which was soon
found TO proceed from range of stores in
Dock-square, occupied by Charles Brooks
& Co., Seth H. Barnes, Thomas D. Fran
els, Jr., George Domett, and several other
individuals on the second and third floors.
The two former are dealers in hardware
Messrs. Francis and Domett manufacturers
of whips. saddles, &c. The upper stories
of these four buildings are entirely destroy
ed-the lower, but partially so. The per
sons named, we are informed, were fully
insured, or nearly so.
At 2 o'clock Thursday morning, a sec
ond alarm was sounded. The store of ~
Houghton, Broad-street, was discovered to
he on fire. The lower story was greatly
damaged, and considerable portion of the
stock consumed.
Mr.. Daniel Wise was killed on Friday
last, by the falling of stick of timber while
employed in removing the rubbish in Dock
square.-Boston advertiser.
DEATH FROM SUFFocATIoN. An alarm
vi Hl0 eooh PluCS yesterday HorHlHg IIOm
the lighter, Belus, of this city, lying at Han
cocks wharf. The vessel was attached a
few days since, and Abel Billings of Lin
coin, Middesex county. put on board as
keeper. The night being rainy and the
wind high, the cabin was closely shut up
The fire (which was soon extinguished) APP
pears to have taken in the closet near the
fire place. Billings was found in one of
the births, in position as if sleeping quiet
I ly; his eyes closed, one arm resting on the
side of the birth, the hand scorched to a
cinder. The smoke must have suffocated
him before the fire had become hot enough
to be felt The cabin was much burnt.
Billings was about so years of age, with
out family. 1t is stated that he some
times, though not often, INDUCED in spiritu-
Gus liquors, and bottle, partly filled with
rum, was found at the head of his birth,
which may have been the direct or remote
cause of the disaster by which he persisted.
Boston Patriot.
The MASSACHUSETTS, CLAIM. Colonel
Drayton and other members of the Military
Committee in Congress have several times
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