Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-08-27

night clothes; but it caught in the hinge 0
the window shutter, and was left behind.
When Mrs. Vallette jumped from the win
dow, she fell into the arms of colored mar
who had formerly lived with her father, anc
struck with such weight upon his stomach
that he never recovered from the blow.
Mrs. Murphy, when she saw the flames
coming into her room, was partly undressed
and her husband had onl y taken off his coat
AS the stairs were winding, and he was un.
acquainted with the house, she Immediately
took his arm. and led him to the bottom o.
the stairs; then returning for her children,
perished with them in the flames.
Mrs. Murphy was seen coming to the win.
dow, with a child in her arms, when bed
was held up, and the cry was, ''throw your
child, If you cannot come YOURSELF but
from that moment she was seen no more
Two elderly ladies, members of her fami-
ly, likewise perished in the flames. One o1
these, by the name of Gill, was aunt to a
gentleman was afterwards Governor or Lieu
tenant Governor of Massachusetts,. The
name of the other old lady was King.
Fanny Clark, faithful domestic who had
lived in Mr.. Milliken,s family many years,
was. badly burned, but escaped with her life.
James Milliken, the only brother of Mrs.
Vallette, had been to wait on some of his
sisters company home. When he heard the
alarm of fire, he was at the head of what was
thenscalled Seven Star lane, which is now
Summer street. He ran at once toward
home, and, on reaching the house, found it
almost wholly consumed. He could get no
tidings of his sisters. Some said all the in
mates in the house were burnt up; others,
that a small woman had been seen to Jump
out of the window, and was nearly if not
quite killed. The young man, accompani-
ed by some of his friends, searched the streets
in state Of almost utter distraction, and
when informed, before morning, that his sis
ters we're safe, refused to believe it. They
had 5gsd shelter with a family of the name
of Holland.
TIE scene Of the ruins the following morn
ing. IS described to the author by an eye
II lilftsn came to the ruins. and saw Mrs.
Vallette, with one of his little sisters, he
screamed aloud, crying out, "Where, where
is Polly ?'' forgetting that the child was on a
visit from home s'Safe, safe, dear brother;
she is away, and has saved her clothes" re-
piled his sister. He still went around in a
state of little less than distraction, saying,
Sister, yesterday we had home; to-day
we have none: no mother, father away, and
our country ruined" In this way he raved
ID, until a gentleman in whose store, on
Long wharf, he was an apprentice, came
through the crowd, and, taking him by the
arm, forced him into carriage with his sis
.ers and took them to his own house, where
Kind and soothing attention and care brought
James to himself again not, however, un-
i'll the youngest child was brought into his
presence.
Every article of furniture and clothing in
4 few short hours had been swept away, sill
YER melted to dross, valuable papers and the
records Of family concerns, so highly priced
BY succeeding generations, together with
old-fashioned brocade silks, left by grand
mothers and great grandmothers, were all
gone: yet Mrs Vallette was heard to say,
in after days, that, when looking over this
utter desolation, nothing affected her so
much as seeing the cage Of favorite parrot
her husband had broug ght her. the first voy-
age be went to sea. kicking about the ruins.
The husband of Mrs. Vallette had amply
provided for her during his absence, so that
she could draw sufficiency, not only for
herself, but her poor, desolate sisters.
James Milliken, though only nineteen
years old, was Jealous patriot, and had al
ready performed many small services for his
country. He was we'll known to Messrs.
Dennie, Molineux, Proctor, and other gen
tlemen who were deeply engaged in the re-
movement. Every possible at
tention was paid to the young man, and
much sympathy felt for his sisters. AS
Boston was in such troubled state, they
we're advised to go to reside in Lexington,
where they had friends, with which advice
they Immediately complied.
In April, Its, Mrs. Vallette and her
friend Mrs. Reed were sitting in the even
ing in their home at Lexington, over few
lying embers, with their infants in their
arms. The clock had struck eleven-guns
had been heard through the day-the ireing
had ceased-and they sat talking of the per-
is of the times, when Mrs. Reed said
''Hark-I hear footsteps.''
cit is only the rustling of the trees" said
Mrs. Vallette, ''and we will not be need
essly alarmed" pressing at the same time
her infant closer to her heart, as if fearful it
might be wrested from her, and trying to
assume courage which she did not feel.
At that moment, gentle rap at the door
was heard
''Who is there ?" asked Mrs. Reed, in a
;remulous Tone
"Friends,' . replied low voice, speaking
through small hole, where the cord had
been drawn in to prevent the lifting of the
atch outside, for few had locks and keys in