The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-17
Letter from Parnassus.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
p.vNAsSrrs ApriJ 18th

PARNAssUs, April 18th, 1879.
Messrs. Editors:-About o'clock Sunday after
the residents of our little village were alarm
ed by the cry Of fire. 1t was soon discovered that
the family residence of Mr.. James A. Hamrick,
situated about quarter of mile south west Of
Parnassus was in flames; the alarm soon spread
throughout the immediate neighborhood, and in
a short time quite crowd had collected and ev-
cry effort was made to save the contents Of the
burning building. great quantity of wearing
apparel, bedding sc. was rescued, but a large por
ton of the clothing was lost, there being several
wardrobes that contained clothing that belonged
to the family, that were consumed, together with
a secretary containing some valuable papers
All the furniture of the kitchen, dining room, in
Guiding all the silver ware as well as the china
and other ware was total loss. The fire is sup
posed to have originated from spark on the
roof. 1t has since been ascertained that one OF
the chimneys had been burning for an hour be-
fore the family aware of it, and the first init
nation they had OF the fire was from Mr.. James
P. Byers, who lives some distance from but OPP
posite the building. The fire seemed to be confln
ed for some time between the attic floor and the
roof Mr.. Hamrick in the house in converse
ton with Mr.. J. H. McFall, and the first warning
they had was given by Willie Hamrick, who heard
Mr.. Byers crying fire. Willie, without showing
that he believed their house was on fire. They
ran out and found dense volumes OF smoke issue
ing from the roof, ladder was procured, and MT.
McFall endeavored to get on the roof, but was
driven back by the intense heat. A neighbor was
dispatched to give the alarm, when Messrs. Ham.
rick, Byers, McFall and Chas Snapp set to work
to save the contents of the upper rooms. They
were soon reinforced by the neighbors, and it
would be doing injustice to particularize when
every one worked so heroically in their efforts to
snatch from the burning rooms what they could.
Several ladies exhibited as much daring as the
men in rescuing property, and Miss Cornelia By
ers, who was endeavoring to save the parlor Turn
iture. in coming down the steps, was struck on
the head with heavy chair that was thrown from
the upper story, and received a very painful but
not dangerous wound. Mr.. John Randolph, OF
Middlebrook, was overcome by the heat and fell
close to the burning building; he was speedily re-
moved, restoratives applied, and was again at his
post fighting manfully the raging fire. strong
and steady south west gale was blowing at the
time, and fire carried by the wind to large
oak tree some three hundred yards distant. The
tree had to be feled to prevent the ignitlng OF
Mr.. oh. Drivers residence, situated short dis
lance from it, and the first building in the village
For while it was feared that our little "burg'
would be at the mercy of the devouring element,
as the wind carried burning fagots into and be-
You'd it. The house destroyed was built some rs
years ago by Mr.. VIM. Kyle. and was very large
three-story frame structure, being about sixty by
forty-eight feet and situated elevated knoll,
presented q handsome appearance. Mr.. Ham
rick was insured in the Augusta Mutual Insur-
ance Company, but independent OF that, his loss
is very heavy He intends rebuilding at once up
on the site of the old mansion. After the fire
had become manageable, the neighbors moved
the rescued property and family back to their old
homestead, which was kindly placed at their dis
posal by Mrs. Doctor Wilson, the owner. in which
they had formerly dwelt for upward of 22years,-
years interspersed with many Joys and sad Attic
tons. am confident that there is no one &C.
quainted with this kind, universally loved and
esteemed family. can suppress deep sigh of re-
gret when they learn of their great calamity.
Our farmers comp laining at the poor pros
peet the wheat now presents; without great i'm
provsment the crop will undoubtedly be short
one.
Mr.. Abraham Huffman, who has been confined
to his room all winter from a broken limb, is now
able to be out.
The Sunday Schools reorganizing for the
summer, and all anticipate larger attendance
than the preceding year. Our energetic chorister
is pushing forward with good success project
that will place first class organ in our little
church, and the Ladies' Mite Society is preparing
for the improvement an greatly needed comforts
to the church, and feel confident that they will
succeed foe it is nowhere recorded that the ladies
ever undertake scheme and failed.
Candidates for Office are as numerous as leaves
in the Forest consequently Misunderstanding and in
quiry after the health Of the little buds OF prom
Use, is the order of the day.
MORE ANON.