Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-03-09

The PRINCE FREDERIcK FIRE.-A
painful report reached our town on
Sunday last, to tie effect, that the
village Of Prince Frederick, the Shire
town Of our sister county Of Calvert,
had met with a great misfortune, the
whole Town being laid in ashes by a
FIRE which occurred during the high
wind which prevailed on the previous
Friday. From the indirect manner in
which the report first reached US, it
wac generally discredited, or believed
to be greatly exaggerated. subse-
quent information. however, confirmed
the original statement and g univer-
sal sympathy was developed among
our entire people for the unhappy viii
lage. We are indebted 10 the enter
prize Of the Baltimore DAILY Sun for
the following particulars Of the disas-
ter. and We submit them to our read
ers with the expression Of our SINGER
eat sympathy for the unhappy sufferers
BY the cOnfagration, particularly our
brothers Of the Cak@t Journal who
were involved in the general wreck.
''The fire started with the Metho-
dist Church, Rev. ]. Wilson, pastor.
The edifce, . neat structure of wood.
was to have been dedicated last Sun
day. and workmen were putting the
finishing touches on the interior. the
pastor being also present. It is said
that child, son Of the minister. plav-
ing outside with matches among some
shavings. accidently started the FIRE.
and ~ high northwest wind was
blowing. the flames spread rapidly.
aud in an incredibly short space al
time. nearly the entire village was laid
in ashes. The Methodist Episcopal
parsonage, adjoining the new church.
and occupied by Rev. Mr.. Wilson and
family, was soon destroyed, and the
occupants saved nothing, not even
their wearing apparel Next the wind
carried burning shingles q quarter of
. mile distant to the dwelling occu-
pied by Mr.. s. r. King, which was
burned. Dir. King lost everything,
intending sum of money. The FIRE
then became general, Involving the
hotel, courthouse. law Offices, Journal
newsrapeT ofice, store-honses ofShem-
we'll = Bro, &c. Tn an hour and q
half. or By dusk. the place was IN
ashes except the jail, which il = log
structure in rear ofthe courthouse.
The dwellings, Of Mrs. Dowell and Mr..
Shemwell, and an old house built by
Judge hagruder.
Mr.. GOmerville Sellers. clerk az
The county court. was in hia ofica. ii
the courthouse. and saved some b.
pers, but with these exceptions all the
county records were lost. Every book
and paper in the county commission
efs Office and ii the oficn Of the reg
lister ct wills were burned N. Tn the
clerks oEice al the original papers
were lost. and . great many records.
trimming = far back - 1850 and manv
piapers Of great interest relating to the
early history Of the county. These
records and papers were invaluable.
and their loss viii cause inconveni-
ences and expenses that viii Be felt
Tor nany years. The courthouse szas
brisk structure. built in 1878. to re
place one that stood on the river tank
and Nas burned b the British in 1918.
after the records had been removed by
the county authorities, however.
The Brentford House. the hotel
that was bngned. was built i dozen
years ago by Judge Daniel n. .Maaru-
d u cost Is Lieut. 81. COO. anu ii