National Republican., 1883-03-19
ALL ABLAZE.
The Residence Of Mr.. John H. Hewlett at
Mt Pleasant Destroyed by Fire.
Marrow Escape OF Members OF the Family
Other buildings Threatened.

A Ere early yesterday morning in Mt.
Pleasant burned down one of the largest
houses in that village and threatened the
destruction of the whole place. The building
burned was the residence Of Mr. John ii,
Hewlett, the contractor and builder. The fire
was discovered about $3.50 o'clock In the morn
ing and the flames spread with unusual
rapidity. The house was of wood as are all
of the buildings in the village. The great
distance from the nearest fire alarm station
prevented the fire department from being
notified until much time had elapsed, and
tho Howlettshou with all the outbuildings,
including conservatories, was completely
destroyed So rapid was the spread of the
fire that the furniture and household goods,
even the clothes of the family, everything ex-
cept the piano and few chairs, were burned.
1t was with difficulty tho children were
saved alive. Miss Hewlett, young lady
about 81 years old, was rescued by her parents
and some of the immediate neighbois in her
night dress, and taken out of her room by
means of ladder. The amount of loss is
$6,500, covered by insurance.
While this house was burning the houses
and stables of Deputy Second Auditor Har-
mon, Mr. Exlcy, and Mr. Arnold caught fire
from the flying sparks, aud the utmost en-
deavors of the ncighbOrs only suticed to keep
the flames in check until the arrival of the
fire department Mr.. Harmons house caught
fro five different times from this source.
Deputy Second Comptroller Delaro, Stationary
Clerk Sturtevant, Mr. Arthur Hendricks, chief
of the money division of the registers Office,
Mr.. Cobb chief clerk of the paymaster's office,
Mr.. Rogers, of the bureau of engraving and
printing, Mr.. Shanklin, Mr.. Harmon, Mr..
Exlcy, Mr.. Shcnkle, and others worked with
hcoroic zeal to fightt the flames. Among those
Mr.. Shcnklin, n blacksmith and an old fire.
man, deserves especial mention for tho coolucss
and efficiency with which he labored, climb
ing upon tho steep roofs and keeping them
flooded with water. Chief CrOnin and his de-
partmentupon arrival did all that mon could do
to stay the fire and finally succeeded Nothing
was burned but Mr. Howlett's property. The
morning was quite and still, no wind fortu-
nately blowing. Had there been the brisk
gale of Thursday and Friday nothing ON
earth could have saved the whole village
from destruction. There is no water avail
able there for such purposes except that con-
tanned in cisterns. The fire department ex-
haustCd one cistern in about minute, and
took up all that was in the cistcrn at the hall,
the largest in the village, in less than three
minutes.
Mr.. Howlett's loss was complete, even some
of his fences being burnt, while the great
peril to which his family was exposed and the
difficulty with which they were saved by his
own efforts and those of his neighbors, have
awakened the livliest apprehension of the
inhabitants. The attention of the commits
sioners is called to the state of affairs, and an
urgent request is made for the location of a
reservoir in the village. A mass meeting
will be held on Tuesday night to express the
sentiments of the villagers, and probably
convey to the commissioners knowledge OF
the condition of things in Mount Pleasant as
regards danger from fire.
The fire in the first place, it is thought
originated from u defective furnace in Mr.
Howlett's house.