South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-14

was crowded 10 repletion by as large
and dense mass of persons as are
often congregated on such occasions.
This circumstance alone would, at an
ordinary FIRE, have interrupted the
operations of the engine companies,
but it unfortunately happened that their
usual duties were not called into requi.
sition, by the almost entire failure OF
water. But few engines we're played,
and they only at intervals, continually
sucking from the lack Of a supply. 1t
was useless expenditure to throw the
smallest quantity on the burning houses
they were left to their fate, and the
6remeu applied their engines TO save
the neares. ones not on fire, and their
preservation was at the expense OF
great exertion and hazard.
"The houses on the opposite side OF
toe street, and those at more remote
distance in the range of the wind, we're
saved by persons on their tops, wbe
exlinguished the fires frequently kim
ding on them, by buckets Of water
otherwise the destruction would have
been Of much greater extent. The
distressing cry Of "water! water I" in
all directions was answered by hum
dreds of voices in four words, "there is
no water"
Whilst the FIRE was thus raging on
Spring street another FIRE broke out in
the block Of buildings at the corner OF
William street aud Hanover square, by
which several houses were destroyed.
The Advertiser concludes its account OF
these fires as follows;
"The estimate Of the amount Of pro-
perry lost at these disastrous fires must
necessarily be vague, but from the best
information we are able to obtain, that
10 Spring street could not fall short of
twenty-five thousand dollars, on which
there is supposed to be insurance TO the
amount of one.third ofthe whole prop
erty and that Of William street, Sc
twenty-five thousand dollars, nearly the
whole of which was covered"
New YoRK, Feb. 4.
DIsGRAcErUL.-Yes yesterday morning
motley crowd Of six or eight hundred
men and boys. chiefly foreigners, assem-
bled at one Of the piers on the North Riy-
er. At 10 o'clock they were taken off
by the steamboat Hercules, and convey
ed to Elizabethtown Point, N. j. where,
in an open field, they formed ring, and
the champions, James Reed and Andrew
McClane, had beastly fight, which ex-
tended to Al rounds, and occupied an
hour and three quarters. A Sheriff came
upon the ground and proclaimed the law,
but was only regarded with Kisses. At
o'clock the Boat returned and landed
her miserable cargo at Whitehall. Nei-
Their of the combatants was able to stand
and both were supported on shore, and
carried off to their lodgings. They
fought fer $500. We need not say any
thing to stimulate our authorities, and
those of New Jersey, to take measures
to bring the actors in this outrage to
punishment, and to prevent the recur-
renee of similar scenes in future. We
understand an agreement is already made
for smother match, to take place in o
month hence. We should hope, too,
that the owners of steamboats,, now that
the game is understood, would not suffer
them to be used for purpose SO much a
gainst the peace, the interests, and the
honor Of our city.
A LAuGHABLR ADvENTuRE.---Not
long since, a reverend clergyman in New
Hampshire. (not Vermont, as Concord
paper has it) being apprehensive that the
accumulated weight of snow upon the
roof of his barn might do some damage,
resolved to shovel it off. He therefore
assembled it, but having first, for fear the
snow might all slide off at once. himself
with it, fastened to his waist one end OF
rope, and giving the other to his wife.
he went to work but fearing still for
his safety, "My dear" said he, "tie the
rope round your waist" No sooner had
she done this, than off went the snow,
poor minister and all, and up went his
wife. Thus on one side of the barn the
astounded and confounded clergyman
hung, and on the other side hung his
wife, high and dry, in majesty sublime.
dingiing and dangling at the end OF the
rope. At that moment, however, gen.
tleman luckily passing by, delivered them
from their perllous situation.
From the Centreville Times, Jan. 81.
Distressing Firs.-A fire occurred
last Saturday evening, near keene's
Cross Roads.-The dwelling house,
store, &c. &c. belonging to Mr.. John
F. W. Jackson, were entirely censum-
ed, and the loss he has sustained a.
mounts to several thousand dollars
The greater part OF his household fur
niture. the whole contents of his store,