Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-02-13
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
The Late Fire In Louisburc Nc

The evening of the 28th Dec, 1850, will
long be remembered by the citizens of
houlsourg' as presenting one of the most
terrific and distressing tragedies ever wit.
messed by that people.
Twas o'clock The night was cold and
piercing, and while the wintry blasts were
nowllng round their peaceful dwellings, many
OF the citizens of Louisbu-g were buslv nre-
parIns tor party, to which they were that
evening invited by one of the leading citi.
zens OF the place. Thus while peace and
| quiet relgned and all was calm and still-nor
harm nor danger seemed to be about them
ana Whle the mellow moon was SLOWLY ris
ing from her eastern bed, and shedding DER
the Things OF earth her soft, effulgent ravs
a cautions, prudent, unobtrusiye man was
passing by one of those hot beds of sin and
all abomlnable wickedness-a drinking sa-
| heart of the towrf-eee,vs saloon and restaurant
BILE gentleman, and therefi99.5lishment, in the
and patronised by very respectable people.
! Indeed, Mr.. A. the proprietor, to say the
least of it, was a much better man. at heart
than those generally are who engage in sncb
a dirty business IT'S true, he steamed too
much some times, and cit some mighty fun.
ny antics up when the By snakes would get
about him, but after all, he was clever feI-
low-so his frien ds woud say, and deserved
liberal support, whichit seemed he usual.
ly obtained.
On the fatal night alluded to above. our
gallant hero being little how come We
So" | suppose, Determined to have honse
warming. Accordingly ! large stove, occupy
ing position in or ner the centre of the
building for the purpos of warming the es-
adjustment, and the rany respectable peo-
pie who from time to tine assembled there
was heated to rednessk The prudent gentle
man already alluded ., in walking BY, OBJ
went in and remarEed--'se consequences
check the heat of that sove you viii setyouI
house on fire and burn bis town up. anu
pray what was Mr.. IS reply nave
) been burning that stovR two years ana nave
. not set the twon on fifyet. Boys, thro" IN
5 some more woodm Ie boys Ihre" III
, the wood-the cautns gentleman, pass
od nm the stove grvy hotter still, but
: twenty minutes had nt elapsed before the
:, crv of frel firel fire land now-oh! Eor-
r;ble to relatel that cry house-by tnat
C vprv stove was in blae! The bells began
,. to rino the people f1y the rescue! strong
o arms and stout hearts nd brave spirits rush
g together, as one manb tight the merry eie
ID nent, but all, alas Z! y vain Inc greeoy
ID flames burst forth AMI seized upon anolEei
p! building near, and in moment, as II "elo
n tha+ too was wrappes within their hot en-
ID hraco From this ar1ther house was selzet
ne upon, and then another and another, am
ds thus, from roof to root the trenZied elefhen
e. dashed along, sublimev, mocking all attempt
es to cheer its mad and Wild career.
as All hope now to saS9 the town, Is ioS' an
ed ponel The stoutest hlarts grow faint-cor
sternation seizes every mind, and mlcst III
all shrieks of lovely womSn and walls OF NIT
lat ones, added to the coars se rough voice OF ma
he and coarser cracking of the flames the seer
ate how sad and sickenins to behold!
House after house-aore alter store
his caught and seized upon, until at length sol
tho twenty buildings, which, but just two nou
since stood proudly as tie ornament and g
zap, ry of the town, are now reduced to ashes a
to ruin.
lit The particulars of the fire in Louisbu
Mr. Editor have already been given to yo
readers by abler pens than mine, ana
not, therefore enter into details now.
line leave, however, to make brief aliusloh
that sad and melancholy occurrence VII
took place during the contp grafton throw
as it did, the pail OF MORNING over eF
heart.
William Brown, have no doubt. was
loved by all who knew him. Social, irl'
ly, companionable, modest, moral, lntelllg
honest and upright in all his dealings
dustrious and attentive to business, WI
Judgment inferior to few of bis age. lie
The entire confidence of the communlt
which he lived In short, he was an
ment to society. an honor to his parents
maze am example to his friends-and his own
tory would be the best eulogS that woul
pronounced upon his character,
After having, at the peril OF his life,
ted himself in rescuing his own property
the property of others from the des
tive fire, until poor human nature overe
he could no longer stand upon his Zee
, deal supported by much loved friend was I
:, No. to retire to distance to seek repose-a
Satan ed gun which had been thrown upc
t you, ground, discharged its contents into thu
ID you er portion of his body, intiicting she
minor mortal wound that beggars all descrlpt
clock; Kind friends took him to an adjacent
!, they ing, placed him on bed and soon
/ have clans, the most skilful that could be col