The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-04-23
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
BY JOHN A. GRAHAM.

The pretty town of Brentwood lies far
down upon the shores Of Massachusetts
Bay, rough and rocky place, save where
the summer mantles it with robe Of
bright green, yelling its ruder features
from the eye, and engrafting upon the
wild scenery Of the coast the softer hues
and blended beauties of the country. Un-
fortunately there are no beautifully shaded
streets, with ornamental trees arching
gracefully overhead; but here and there
clump Of chesnuts or spreading elm
marks the taste of some individual, and
refreshes the eyes that have been gazing
TOO long upon the shining sands or granite
pillars that greet the lingerer by the sea.
"Our rocks are rough, but smiling there
The acacia waves her yellow hair;
Lovely and sweet, nor loved the less
For Towering in the wilderness"
AS in most sea-coast towns, it often
happens that the stronger and healthier
portions of the inhabitants are absent.
The sea is the sphere of their labors and
their pleasures; and there is perhaps
scarce a single family that does not boast
its sailor-few, where the head is not styl-
ed captain.
As early as four in the morning Of
September day, the inhabitants of Brent
wood were awakened by the dreadful
sound of fre-dreadful, because almost
every house was of wood-because most
of the strongest and hardest men were
away, and because the arrangements for
extinguishing fires were so shamefully
scant. At the first alarm, a low, dense
smoke alone could be seen. Presently a
luminous streak appeared, spreading slow
ly-slowly at first, but at length burst
ing into towering flames, fed with some
powerful combustible, and spreading as it
seemed, half over the most densely inhab-
tied portion of the town. It had CON-
menced at landing where was deposited
an immense quantity of oil; while near
these were various shops in which were
liquors, gunpowder and turpentine. Had
m incendiary planned the fire, he could
not have chosen q spot more favorable.
Then long street full of wooden build
ings, many of them old and unpainted,
completely dried by the autumnal winds
mere tinder boxes indeed; and it SEEM
ed almost an impossibility that these
should not extend the fire into the fur
thest part of the town. The place was
destitute of a band of firemen, well or
ganized, with that practical knowledge of
their duty which is worth ten times the
amount Of mere physical strength. But
secure in the absence of the dangerous
element for so many years, the people Of
Brentwood had made no effort 10 repel it.
The foe had come to their very doors, and
not sentinel had walked from his slum-
bers. Of course all was hurry and con.
fusion; each one was scurrying to diff
ferent place and with different purposes
some to secure furniture and valuables,
some laden with unimportant baggage,
some destroying, by haste and want Of
Judgment, far more than the most judi
cious could have preserved.
Then it was so long before the heavy
sleepers could be aroused and properly
clad-the aged, the children and the In
valids. And there were so many, too
who occupied the time in loading wagons
with half useless and inexpensive things
and carrying them miles distant, deposit
ing them upon the ground, and wasting
the time of grown men, in watching ef
fects not worth groat.
Meantime, the more enthusiastic were
zealously forcing blinds from the windows
and throwing them vigorously 10 the
ground, pitching china, glass, clocks and
mirrors into the street, and in one instance
knocking out the windows of three sto
ry dwelling house to savesome empty foul
barrels, while the latter found resting
place upon the aforesaid glass articles
And all this the fire was burning ant
spreading!
One Of the prettiest dwellings in The
town was occupied by the family of Capt
Efingham, then at sea upon a long voy
age. His SOD, boy of fifteen, and tive
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