The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-09
&c correspondence Of The Cecil Wing
Port Deposit Letter.
Destructive Fire -Four Persons Drowned.
PoRT DEPOSIT, July 9th so.

! ing with awful brightness and closing with
dreadful gloom. The truly glorious memories
called up Ivy the returning anniversaries Of
July 4Ih, 7O, were aIrayed III dark and fear
: ful contrast with our realization Of the occur
euc,s of Monday last. The one 50 pregnant
with all that is dear to the frcemans heart
the other fraught with horrcr, gloom and
woe. The day opened in terror its progress
sion was marked with many festive scenes,
It's close was shrouded in pail of the " black
ness Of darkness" The chief scenes will be
noted as briefly as possible and given as cor
rectly as may be, in their order.
The Sabbath service had ended with the
quieteSs usual to our community; and the
citizens and visitors, were at rest in tranquil
sIutnher, IN supposed security, perhaps in
duigng delightful antcipalions, through the
medium of dreams, of the coming day glad
ness. Short was the sleep. AT fifteen
minutes past twelve the continued ringing Of
the bell o. The Sash Factory, aud the ever
startling cry of fire" alarmed the people
who rushed to their windows to find the sk y
growing bright with a lurid glare which all
TOO plainly showed the presence o: scourge
which no man loves to serve. Rapidly the
people rushed to the centre of the town, and
found the old frame house opposite Mr.
Crumpton's Hotel Washington Iouse) in
flames, and the fire communicated to the
stone dwelling occupied by Mr.. W. Falls.
The Engine was brought out under the
management Of Mr.. r. Thomas and Thomas
q. Bond, while part of the crowd entered the
buildings threatened for the purpose OF saving
such articles az could be removed, and others
brought buckets to increase the volume of
water The wind at the beginning of the
fire was from The south, and turned the flames
toward Crumpton's; it soon changed how
ever, and drove the heat down town quick Y
driving out the families CT MesSTs Falls,
Peace and Kidd, who occupied the block
adjoining the frame house where the fire
originated. The fire progressed with wonder
tul rap:dty, and finding 1t useless to attempt
its subsection. all effort was turned to con.
| fine Its ruvages. Carpets and other articles
weie spread on the roofs, and porcEe, a! hand,
and kept saturated.
The wind frcshened and while it gave secu-
rtv to the buildings above, and opposite,
it rendered The hope Of preserving the lower
part Cf the town almost desperate. TO add
to the distress, the wall Of Mr.. Kids house
facing the residence Of Mr.. J. II. Row land
gave symp tons Of falling. and at the same
4 time The Engine failed Buckets were
Il
ply was passed from the river which though
sometimes rising in rebellion beyond her
bounds. never fails us in such dire extremity
as this. The side wall stood and prevented
the extreme heat from making lateral pro-
gress, and :" thus far shall thou 20 and no
tai Their" was the mandate provlentiallv
given and obeycd. At three o'clock the
danger was past, and many thankful hearts
there were
Four houses We're DESTROYED Three the
property of Messrs Taylor and Gvttings, the
other belonging to Mr.. j. Tome. The frame
was unoccnped, and was undoubtedly pur-
pUSely fired by some miscreant especially
favored Of hell, on whom The devil holds a
mortgage which must speedily be forecosed.
The fire was placed in the 2nd story
back room, passed thence to FalI's through a
window Mrs. Falls awolie 10 find her ward.
robe in a blaze; Mr.. Sinnot. boarder was
aroused when the fire was streaming in his
window all of the three families lost nearly
the whole oc their clothing and the greatest
portion of their iurnituee.
Messrs Wiley & Mccoy who occupied the
store rooms under Mr.. Kidd s succeeded in
removing almost all Of their store goods, but
it was done i'll such necessary haste as to
danag them greatly. Mr.. Wiley was partcu-
iariy unfortunate, his being the third time
he has been burned out I'm fortunately
their insurance expired in June and had not
| been renewed las the cash system is not the
exclusive custom here, and these gentlemen
have been obliglng to many, would it not be
wCll TO reCiprOcate fayors under present Gin
cumstanccs in spite of the grinding of the
miSer Hard Tunes "O Several buildings,
below were fired by sparks bu, as a watch
was kept, little damage resulted. Another
| favorable circumstance was that the burning
houses were rooted with slate. All are thank
iul that while expecting more extensive
coniagrauon, we escaped even as we did
Long be the interval which precedes d similar
| time.
As soon as the immediate danger had pas
SGD black man named Morrison approached
another and after few words without prov.
ocation, drew razor and cut him severely
on the shoulder, wrist and both hands. The
wounded man was attended 10y DR.. Norris and
is doing well the Other was released on bail
the Capt. of the. Whildon," on which Nor
lison is an employee going his security.
| a projected pic mic on the Gypsey " was
postponed; the managers having been worn
down by their eXertions at the fire Several
| VI tile young loihS attehueu PIC nc IN 1ar-
ford: party left for Norfolk at p NJ, and
others had impromptu parties in the woods
and on the islands. The day passed as
pleasantly as could be expected after the
mornings event.
| In the evening between and 7o'cock the
| little companies, were returning with hearts
light and cheerful, when a report passed
| through the town. none knew whence, which
| banished the fire and its effects as well as
| the JOY which the after scenes had ranspired
IN the morning many said: "Well, no one
has been hurt, no life has been lost" but
| now there was talk of children drowning
Before the dawn, fire! before the twilight,
rdter! number of persons had crossed the
river in small boats during the day; aoout
half past 6 O'Clock. Mr.. Isaiah Lawrance
| was returning in one, with portion of his
| family ana some friends thirteen in all the
wind was light and they were sailing slowly
| when the boat ran upon rock, far out in the
| river but nearer the Cecil shore. Mr.. Law.
rance attempted to raise the centre board and
failing, tried to kick it loose but unfortunately
| the well became oosened and rose, letting in
stream Of water that filled the boa, IN a very
brlet time. The boat cisl'sized and thew them
! out, eight children and five grown persons -
The scene may be imagined it is too heart
rending to be described. Boats started TO the
rescue at once. Mr.. Lawrance, his wife, two
brothers named FIRST and four children We're
rescued. The Inflated boat was righ.cd and
| two little children found these were tax EN-