New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-23
From the New Haven Courier.
Destruction OF n DwellinS-HOuse-ANy
denth of u Father and two Children.

death OF u Father and two Children.
Mr.. 4t,oM: The following are the particulars
connected with the shocking death of DR.. LU-
cIEN SPENCER, of Bethany, and two of his chill
dreA, which learned to-day on the spot.
few minutes after midnight last night, some
Of the family discovered the house to be on fire.
At this time the kitchen was nearly consumed,
and DR.. Spencer and his wife had barely time to
escape, not being even able to save particle Of
clothing except such as was on them. Mrs. S.
seized the two youngest children and brought
them from the burning house. The Doctor, how
ever, appeared to lose all presence of mind from
the very moment when he discovered the fire. and
even rushed SO near the flames and stood there,
that the little clothing which he had on actually
took fire. Ills wife drew him away, and endea-
vored to REGAL him to a sense Of their situation,
when he commenced throwing SHOW upon the
fire. About thus tune, girl, who lived IN the
family (and who expected that all the members
oil the family were out of the house, heard the
children screaming % dear She exclaimed,
the children will be burnt to DEATH whereupon
Mrs. 5. (Who had been so much concerned at the
frantic and excited condition of her husband that
she appeared to have forgotten every thing else,)
rushed into the house to save her other two chill
drcn. But the attempt unavailing as the
house was then all wrapt in flames She returned
and told her husband that they were doubtless
dead before that time, (Which was unquestonably
the iact,) but before she aware OF 1t he had
escaped from her sight At first she supposed that
he had started off down the street In his frenzy,
and even for some minutes she was not informed
to the contrary. But he had been seen to rush
INTO the house by ayoung man who near
In fifteen minutes after he entered, the roof fell
III, and was entirely consumed. Nothing was
saved, as some time occurred before the neighbors
rallied, and water was obtained with difficulty.
portion of the remains of DR.. S. and one of
the children have been dug out of the burning
RUNS. There IS nothing of each except the
trunk, the head and limbs being wholly consul
med The children who pershed in the
flames were of the ages Of 10 and years re-
spectlvely. The two that were saved were
younger.
DR.. Spencer was native of Naugatuck,
at which place he has resided sincehe gra-
duated at Yale College, until within two
years. He was in comfortable circumstances
aged about 40 years, and for some years has
been celebrated as one OF the most skillful phy
sicians IN New Haven County.
Wednesday. Feb 3lst.
The children burnt were slseping in th nom j.; rho
second story with young named Stevens who SAVED
himself b! sapRs rom the window The fire is supposed TO
bordering on distraction
u The British Consul informs us that n p
Nj. ship Vestal will sail from this port on Monday
next Tor Rlo de Janelro, Singapore and Hong
kong, and that Cap. Talbot will be happy to take
charge OF mail and of all letters for those places
Letters may be left at the Consulate Office. No.
80 in the Exchange. American.