Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-24
Burning Of the Episoopal PARSONAGE

. burning Of the Episcopal Parsonage
ANOTHER FIRE.-Again have the slumbers
of our people been disturbed by the startling
midnight fire alarm. On Friday morning
last, between one and two o'clock, the Epis-
copal Parsonage of this town was discovered
to be burning, but such progress had the flames
made, that no efforts to save the building from
destruction, could prove successful. To save
the furniture of the house, and to prevent the
further spread of the fire, was all that could
be done, and to this eud the energies of our
citizens were directed, we are glad to say, with
almost entire success.
The circumstance under which this fire
occurred leave not the slightest doubt as to its
origin, and establish the fact that we have not
only iuccndiaries but heartless plunderers in
our midst. The Rector of the Parish, Rev.
W. II. MEADE, was absent from town, as were
also the membersof his family, and the house,
as a consequence, without an occupaRt. This
fact was d9ghisss " Known to the party or
parties, upon whom rest the guilt Of this crime.
From all the information we have been able
to gather, it seems that entrance to the wing
OF the house was effected through one of the
back doors, and the house pretty thoroughly
pluudered of such articles as could be con-
yeniently carried away. Trunks were riaed
of their contents, beds stripped Of their cover
ing, and the clothing of the Rector and his
family struggled off. This was discovered by
those who first reached the house, aud COM
IL &C, - T.,
, ly every room, the indications Of the recent
plumber were pereeptibe. Having secured
their booty without creating alarm, the rob-
bers, either through gross carelessness or de-
sign-the latter we suspect-fred the house,
and in an hour or two it was i mass Of smok-
ing and charreJ ruins.
Upon the building there was no insurance.
We have heard no estimate of its value, but
it will cost the congregation a considerable
amount to replace it. MIR. Meade's individ-
ual loss it is difficult to estimatc-composed
as it is Of such articles as must necessarily
subject him to great Inconvenience.
Who perpetrated this diabolicdl deed? is
a question yet to be solved, and it is one in
which every property owner, and every good
citizen of this community is deeply interested.
If the ministers Of God are robbed, and their
labitations burned to the ground, Yho may
expect to escape? Although the fact of this
robbery was one we'll established, and known
to every man in Ike town, in two hours after
the fire was discovered, not single house
was searched or a cabin entered to ascertain
who had committed tia offence, and up 20
this hour the whole matter remains cnveloped
in doubt and darkness. We have thrown
out some suggestions in our editorial columns
which we hope will have the effect of more
thoroughly arousing the people of the town.
1t becomes them to be on the lookout. One
effect this last Gre has liad-it has given fresh
impetus to the organization of q FIRE depart
mcnt, aud we may calculate now upon all eff
cicnt fire company in short time.
On Friday meeting OF the vestry of the
church was held, at which resolutions were
adopted expressive OF the gratitude Of the con,
gregation 10 the citizens OF the town who so
zcalously laborcd to preserve ,h2 parsonage
. property.