Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-01-22

WITH ueatn on fTlday evening last. Various
reports were afoat as to the cause Of this sad
event, among others that they had greatly
fatigued themselves and then laid down on
the ice In McKee's case this could not have
been the cause, as he merely skated to the
point below town and back The probability
is that both had the seeds of disease implant-
ed in them, and that the skating merely pro-
duced what any other exercise would have
done. Young Ross was a promising youth
in his eighteenth year, grandson of Samuel
Witherow, Esq, Of Beaver Dam Mills, and
his early departure to the home of the dead
called forth Il general sympathy from all cIas-
ses, and especially from his associates. His
remains were conveyed to McVeytown on
Sunday last, and there inferred by the side
Of his mother. Mckee is still confined, but
will probably recover.
The WATER CoMPANY.-Although subse-
quent facts proved that the censures so freely
bestowed on the Water Company were un-
called for, the Managers have determined to
take measures for ascertaining in what way
an additional supply of water can be obtain
ed, and at q meeting on Monday afternoon
appointed John Il. Weekes. Ge,. Frysinger
and Francis Mcclure committee TO make
examinations, surveys aud estimates, and re-
port to the board the most feasible plans for
carrying the proposed extension of the works
into effect. For ordinary use 1t + certain
there is water enough, but for leakage, breaks,
and culpable negligence in repairing hydrants
in addition, there is not. This can be best
illustrated by 4 few facts: last week the basin
was exhausted on three or four days, whcge-
upon Mr.. Miller was appointed to examine
the hyirants and shut of all that were leaky.
lie turned off number and the result was
that on Saturday morning there was about
II inches Of water in the basin; on Monday,
at noon, it Lad risen to > feet inch, and has
continued to rise since From this, making
all due allowance for frozen hydrants, &c,
some estimate can be formed Of the quantity
Of water a dozen leaky places will waste.
DESTRUCTIVE FRE.-The immunity our cit
liens had 50 long enjoyed from this destruc.
tive element was broken on Saturday morn
ing about three o'clock, by the discovery of
fire in 4 shed kitchen OF outbuilding attached
TO the dwelling of Mrs. Mayes, in Brown
street. above Third. Before any effective
alarm had been raised, tho heat hurst win
dow in the rear Of the frame dwelling adjoin-
ing, owned and occupied by James Wallis. in
which it spread so rapidly that not more than
one.half of the contents could be removed
By this time considerable number of per-
sons had congregated on the spot, but unfor-
tunatoly an impression was abroad that there
was no water in the reservoir, so that O ma
iority Of the frcmen, instead Of being at their
nosts, were either at the fire aiding wherever
they could, or idle spectators. A few mem
bers Of the Henderson attached their hose to
the plug on the corner of Third and Main
streets, but on running it out to their dismay
discovered that some hundreds of feet were
not on the reel The Juniata first took pos
session Of the plug at Parker's corner, but
under the same fatal impression that there
was no water, then proceeded to the feeder
below Fetzer's blacksmith shop-the nearest
place they could get water-when both com.
panies' hose was attached, but reached only
to DR.. VanValzah's. These movements, un-
der the circumstances, were correct, but had
all the hose been IN its proper place on the reel,
it is certain water would have been thrown
on some of the buildings destroyed, as it was
afterwards ascertained there was rcater enough
in the RESERVOIR TO rua one plug at least an
hour and half
In the meantime the fire spread slowly On
both sides, until the whole row, consisting of
four frame and one brick dwelling, all two
stories high, were mass of hVid fame,
throwing a bright glare on the surrounding
hills and valleys. The other buildings de
streyed were-one owned by Rev. Mr.. Hughes
and occupied by David Shatzer one owned
by John Clark, occupied by Lafayette Webb;
and one owned and occupied by I. W. & j.
Moore The only insurance was the house
owned by John Clark to the amount of 1888
in the Lycoming.
Mr. Wallis lost two beds, portion of the
furniture, considerable quantity of clothing
&c. In all the remaining buildings yarieus