Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-08-04
A Mysterious Firc-The City OF
Shcmeld, England, I'm Danger
from II Raging Fire L..AesHe...s.
1t.


At.
Ono of the most remarkable fires which
has ever broken OF, ia Sheffield is now rag.
ing under property of considerable value al.
most in the centre of the town The scene
of this singular occurrence is Trinity Works,
Eyrestrcct, in the occupation of Mcssrs An.
! drews Brothers, who carry on business as
cutlery manufacturers and merchants under
the title of Mcssrs. Butler a. Co.. They let
OFT large portion of these premises to other
persons in the cutlery trade, and to Mr.. Viii
soo, glass grinder; also supplying their
tenants with steam power In connection
with the engine is large boiler, thirty feet
in length. For some time past this boiler has
been observed to be gradually sinking, but
has not gouc OH to SO serious an extent as to
warrant IL careful Investigation.
The cause of the subsistence, however, was
discovered on Monday morning, in most
singular manner. Mr. Holden, the engineer
in charge of the machinery, rakcd his fires
as usual on Saturday evening, but on exam.
lining the boilers some tjne afterwards he
found, to his astonishmcnt, that the Withdraw
al OF the burning fluid had not the usual re-
suit. The boiler was full of steam, Mr..
Alastn, builder, was sent for, and the result
of an examination make by him and others
was that layer of shule in connection with
coal seam extending beneath the works,
and passing Immediately below the boiler was
found to be on fire. A number of men were
at once set to work to remove tho burning
material, but it was found that the fire was
not confined to that particular spot. There
was every reason to believe that it extended
considerable way on each side, and to sub
due it excavations of an extensive character
not only below the boiler, but underneath or
| near the foundations of the manufactory
would have to be commenced. The excava
vators at II o'clock on Thursday night, were
| engaged in the cellar below that portion of
the building rented by Mr.. Wilson, and the
result OF their labor was that quantity of
burning shals was removed Tho seam of
the coal and shalc extends SsyGcnd the works,
passing underneath an adjoining dwelling
house, occupied by Mr.. Ioldcn, the engineer,
andto the cott"ges on the opposite side of
Eyre street, the inhabitants Of which state
that that they have observed peculiar OK
halation from their cellars.
On Thursday morning the services of Su
perintcndent Pound, of the Corporation Fire
| Brigade, were called into reuusition, and he
pr"ceedcd to the spot with hand engine,
| which, however, could not be used to any
purpose The fire can only be overcome by
means OF the spade The removal of 80 large
a quantity Of earth beneath the boiler shed
| anu mnnutnctory must necessarily be attcn
d"d with considerable risk and danger, great
care having to be taken mt to leave the bull
ding without sufficient support 10 prevent
the possibility Of any accident of this kind
walls OF brick arc being erected in suitable
places to uphold the great weight which must
have rested upon the earth, shalo and coal.
which have been dug out. A gang of men
have been Employed at the work night and
day since Monday The origin Of the fire is
1t present mystery. 1t may have been ra
gng for some period, possibly for years The
boiler, of course, cannot be used, and the op.
ertlons OF the manntactory, at which about
four hundred men are employed, have cnnsc.
quently been brought to a stand still. .-tShcc
FeM Telegraph, June 24M.
TEXAS TO DE DIVIDED INTO THREE
STATES. At the fall election in Texas the
people arc to decide upon tho division of
their State into three. The new States are
to be called Eastern Texas, Middle Texas,
and Western Texas. The names are not
such MS we should select Distinct names for
| the two slices, east and west, would seem pre-
ferabs. But the name is n secondary affair
The present State has territory enough for
three, but territory is of less account than
population. The proposed divisions are !:
Eastern Texas, all east of the Trinity river,
population something over 346, 5000; Middle
Texas, all between the Trinity and Colorado
rivers; and Western Texas, all west of the
Colorado. The population Of each of the
two last is over 100000; that of the West.
crn division being tho least. T!,e population
of tho whole State as it now stands is lit
Ito over 100000 (S00,842,) Of whom 251,.
l27 arc colorcd, leaving the white population
558,715, but a trtle of half million. The
whites are in lurger proportion to the blacks
here, however, than 10 the other Gulf States,
being over two to ono. Whether tho dvis
ion will be voted or not cannot be predicted
1t is slid tho Republicans are generally in
favor Of it, as they would probably gain two
United States Senato:s, while tho Democrats
oppose it for tho same reason. The division
has long been contemplated In fact provs.
ion was made for it in the treaty of annexa.
tion. Philadelphia Press.
SOLDIERS LAND BoUNTIEs..--General j.
II. Baker. Commissioner of Pensions has
just issued oircular containing the regula
tons relating to bounty land, together with
the statates These regulations give all the
rules necessary to be followed in making up
an application under the recoDt act of Con.
gress, giving one hundred and sixty acres of