Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-02-11
LEWSBURG CHRONICLE WEST BRANCH FARMER


FIRE.-On Monday night, last, about
l2 o'clock, the Mammoth Drug Store Of
DR.. Thornton & Christ, on Market Street
in this place, was discovered to be on fire
in the second story. The flames soon
burst out through the roof and spread With
frightful rapidity. The adjoining DWELL
ing house Of DR.. T. H. Wilson soon caught,
and, with the drug store-both frame
bui!dings-was totally destroyed. DR.. W.
was wakened by the cracking flames, and
rushing to the window of his chamber, in
the rear of bis house next the store, was
met by adense volume of smoke and fame
that nearly suGocated him. He immedi-
a,cly aroused Mrs. W. and, with their child,
they fed prccipitately as for their lives,
and only partially clad. Only small por-
tion of the contents of the drug store was
saved, including several cans of guupow-
der, which were removed at the FIRST alarm,
together with several kegs of it, in an ad-
jacent warehouse. But the FIRE was for.
,uuately kept in check until a large portion
of DR.. W.'s house and Office furniture was
rescued, much of it in damaged condi-
ton. The brick house Of MIR. james Ged-
des-adjoining the drug store on the West,
and occupied in part by Messrs. J. Spyker
& Son as hat and clothing store-was re-
peatedly on fire in different places, and
seemed doomed to inevitable destruction,
but was finally preserved, thanks to the
cool and determined efforts put forth to
save it. The large brick store Of Messrs.
j. & j. Walls, on the cast, Was also in i'm
minent peril, but with the help Of We:
blankets and carpets On the roof and sides,
its destruction was luckily prevented. DR..
Wilson's office, small building within
three feet Of his kitchen was also saved.
The sparks and burning cinders TELL IN
showers on the stables and ware house and
loose straw within sixty aud eighty feet Of
the flames, and also on the Baptist church,
but the dampness occasioned by the late
rains prevented their ignition. The night
was clear and cool, with the wind at first
from the west, then from the north, when
it lulled for time With high wind
and dry roofs, most of the southern half
Of the town would doubtless have been de- |
stroyed. As it was, the escape has been
a narrow one, for nothing but the most
and desperate efforts, excessive
and exhausting, could have confined the
fire to such narrow limits. The surround
ing buildings are of highly combustible
,and if the flames had spread lit,
tie further,n no one could have predicted the
extent of their ravages. Our single engine
was out Of order but yet performed noble
service, and the gallant fremen who manned
and directed it are entitled to high praise
for their effective labors. The Ladies, too,
worked with hearty good will that should
have shamel some male bipeds who idly
ooked on with their hands in their pockets
The loss of DR.. T. & {. and DR.: w. is Sc
7ere but is partly covered by insurance in
he Muucy, and Harrisburg Cash Mutual
The loss Of Mcssrs. Geddes,
Walls, and Spykers, also amounts to seve-
.al hundred dollars, in the aggregate. The
ire was probably caused by rats making
away with matches.
We regret to add that numerous thefts
Of wearing apparel, and other valuable
were committed during the con-
fusion; and articles were rescued from the
devouring element only to be stolen. Some
of the guilty parties are known, and will be
apt to find themselves in limbo if resttu-
ton be not promptly made.
We are informed that Dr. VS. house is
the only dwelling consumed in Lewisburg
for 40 yearspast. Shall xe be as fortunate
hereafter!
N. No mails from below since last Sat
urday until 10 o'clock last night, when We
got shoals of documents and exchanges