Litchfield enquirer., 1878-06-20
WASHINGTON DEPOT.

MR. EDITOR.--We are so often asked by people who come to see the ruins of the burn ed barns, how it was possible to save our house, that am impelled to tell through your columns how it was done; and my desire to do so is the stronger that may publicly express our gratitude to the brave men and kind neigh bors who worked so Zealously to save us from being rendered homeless and destitute, while suffering severe illness.
 The first intimation we had that the barns were on fire was by being wakened by mys- terious roaring sound from sleep that may have lasted an hour, but certainly could not have been of much longer duration, for at lit tie before twelve, Mir. Titus was receiving some necessary care and had not then been asleep. The first thought was that the sound proceeded from the rooms above us, occupied by Mir. Grant and family, and we knew that something must be wrong. Without uttering a sound rushed out of the door and saw the flames from the barn far overlapping the house. Only waiting to scream ''fire," and to reply, 'the barn!' to Mir. Titus question of what was on fire, ran shouting to the house of MT. Chase, who lives but few rods below us. My first scream alarmed him, and as rang his bell he appeared in the hall Providentially, his two brothers and Loren Peet came home that night to assist at an extra job of mason work, and they, with Mir. Harris, who occupies part oi Mir. Chase's house-were here almost as quick ly as I returned but not a minute too soon. Mir. Titus, almost too feeble to stand alone, stood in the garden directing Mir. Grant, who wakened at the same time we did, where to throw water most effeetually. Grant says but for his cool commands he should not have known what to do, that ''he had been in thir teen battles, but was never so scared before. , All his household goods were the rooms most exposed to the fire, which was so near him threw water from the landing at the top of the stairs, and from which he was obliged occasion. ally to step inside the door to get breath o1 cooler air. MT. Geo. Chase first made an una vailing attempt to rescue his horse by calling him into the tin roofed shed which was the last part of the barn to succumb to the flames, but the bewildered horse turned twice around, staggered and fell to rise no more. The tears streamed down his masters face while he was drawing water from the we'll, as he exclaimed My poor horse, my poor horse, saw hin fall"
 Frank Chase, too forced an entrance to hi, horse through the n-house, on the south side but before he could unite him, the fire swep from mane to tail, and Chase barely escaped himself. After running that risk fer his poo horse, he went through the scuttle upon tn, tin roof of the east part of the house whicl was so hot he could not bear his hand on it where he had to shelter himself behind tn | chimney when the fire burned fiercest, ant from whence ethrew water on the gable end 6 the house, which hissed as the water strucl the heated surface. Messrs. Ford, Hurlburt Beebe and Sanford were but few moment later than those before mentioned, and al worked with will, as did the kind neighbor who, being more remote, could net so soon b at the scene of action. In the account ''S.' gave of the fire, he was mistaken as to the ney buggy which was burned, it having belongs to Mir. Chase instead of Mir. Grant, The latte lost few articles of no great value. We hay felt so thankful that we and our dwelling wer not consumed that we have made no attemr to estimate our loss. Our barn and content were uninsured, but several of the letters ( condolence we have received from sympathi1 ing friends, have contained money remittancel which was succor for our needs, and the kin messages were balm to our hearts. Truly "A friend in need, is friend indeed"
 s. w. TITUs.