The Newtown bee., 1900-12-28
DISASTROUS FIRE. Residence of Levi C.
 Morris BURNED TO THE GROUND ON CHRISTMAS
 MORNING. Disgraceful Action of Local
 Youths. LOSS EXCEEDING $6ooo: INSURANCE LESS THAN $4ooo.
LOSS EXCEEDING $6ooo: INSURANCE
 LESS THAN $4ooo.

pI0sOub6 WAkSA u0A0 N0PRy S~ eA0Ay children. He arrived at his house about 10 o'clock on returning from the church and shortly before midnight retired. About 12.45 Mrs Morris awoke her hus- band, saying she smelled smoke. As quickly as possible MT Morris lighted lamp, and going out into the hall from his room discovered the house was filled with smoke. He hastened down stairs, through all the rooms, passed to the cellar, but saw no sign of fire. He then returned to the second floor, passed to rooms occupied by members of his fam Honan, but saw no fire. He then opened the attic door and discovered at once the roof afire, large sparks dropping on to him. Seeing the blaze was practically beyond control, he opened the window and shouted fire, and awakened the sleeping members of hls household. His faithful man, William Honan, jumped into his pantaloons and, barefooted and hatless, rushed up the Street shouting "Fire" with all the lung power he could com mand. He then returned to MT Morris' to assist in re emoving the furniture from the house.
 The first to respond to the cry for assistance were Dr Edwards M. Smith and Patrick Cannon. In short time . crowd gathered, but strange to say no one north of Attorney Northrop's knew of the fire till morning as the church bells were not rung as has been customary heretofore. Dr Smith assisted MT Morris and Miss Mabel Morris in removing the valuable papers to a place of safety, and in short time there was the ueual disorganized scram- ble to remove furniture, etc., from the house on the part of the crowd that had gathered.
 Seeing that his house was beyond saving MT Morris urged the men to pro- tect the buildings of Mrs Marble and his own barn by water and some valiant work was done in this direction, the buildings being saved.
 As before stated, the fire broke out at about 12. 45 and at 3 8. m. the house was total ruin, the once handsome and at- tractive residence being heap of ashes, with the gaunt form of the central chim- ney towering like spectre in the light of the dying fire.
 The family saved most of their outside wearing apparel, but much of value was of course burned. MT Morris saved the trunk of Principal Gardner (who boards with him but is away now on his vaca. tion), and also most of MT Gardner's books. When he came to inventory his own wearing apparel, the selectman found the only hat he had reserved was summer head covering, but was thank full for that.
 Just what Mr Norris loss will be is hard at this time to estimate, exactly, but it may be stated as $6 900, with less than
 4 900 insurance. h. the cellar were many bushels of potatoes and quite a quantity of canned goods and other eatables. He was insured through the agency of W. A. Leonard.
 The only unpleasant feature of the fire so far as the attitude of certain cnes who came to help(O was the disgusting and disgraceful actions of certain young men who attempted to assault John R.. Peck, MT Morris' brother-in-law. It ap- pears MT Peck's only provocation waa that he attempted to warn certain of these-what shall we call them ?-who were looking oyer MT Norris goods as if it was 80 much Chinese loot. MT Peck was too much for them, and when one of them attempted to hit him he quickly "lit out" at them and several 'sbit the dust" Later they struck Ernest Haight on the back of the head with a stone and about this time Fl. w. Wright landed some knockout blows on the forms of these young desperadoes. The affair has awakened the most intense indignation on the part of all good citi. zans throughout the town, and there has been, and is, general demand that the proper officers of the law bring these men to justice. It is understood tha, Newtown's efficient deputy sheriff bal the matter in hand, and will push the
 matter to speedy issue. From all ac
 counts that have come to THE BEE these
 men deserve punishment. Nor can it bt pleaded as an excuse that they were fired by liquor, and Irresponsible. Soms one also was evidently light fingered, al certain valuable silverware brought ou
 of the house by members of MT Morris
 family was stolen before it could be re moved to place of safety, along with
 pocketbook containing quite wad o
 money. Let us hope in the nam
 of common decency and good order tha = the guilty may be swiftly punished an,
 that such disgrsceful sctions may neve
 again have to be chronicled az ainst citi
 zens cf this town.
 The sympathy of the townspeople ha
 gone out to Mir Morris and family in thei , loss, and score and more of our citizen
 would sta nd ready to help if there wa 3 an opportunity and if it were needed. M ' Morris is one of Newtown's most popula = citizens. As citizen, churchman,
 public official he has proved loyal an
 true, and all will hope that he may no <. lose heavily by the burning of his house n MT Morris and family are temporaril 8 qusrtered at the home of their friend an Q ueighbor, that public.spirited and whole
 hearted man, Dr Smith. MT Morris ha
 as yet made no plans as to rebuilding
 being busy with the agent and adjuster
 in figuring up his loss.
 This fire, as already intimated, show