Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-05-05
BILL DO0LEYS LETTER.

Last Saturday night instead of be-
ing at home with Mrs. D. ! was de-
tanned on business trip to Jasper so
late that | concluded to stay with
friend until Sunday morning and
take new start. Meantime there
was another visitor stayed at the
same place.
After we had retired for the night
and | was just doing off | was
aroused by an unusual racket and
on arousing myself from my stupor
discovered a great flame of fire in one
corner of the house, | sprang to my
feet and made for the fire intending
to put it out with a new broom that |
got hold of, but when | got to the
place | saw the bedstead in flame
from one side to the other, and the
blaze reaching to the ceiling over.
head. ! then began to realize that
my broom was not equal to the Oc-
casion. However, 1t was the best |
could do. | struck with great force
and instead of subduing the flame it
made it ten times worse, for when |
struck the broom caught and also
the wall of the house, and the wall
being papered over the ceiling
made bad matters still worse. The
bed and wall was not over foot
apart and when the wall caught and
the two fires became concentrated it
looked like the house would sure
burn. But the lady of the house was
still In the possession Of good Judge
ment, ana pulled the bed further
from the woll and administered few
dippers of water to the wall. Things
began to look more favorable and af-
ter we found out that water would
quench fire we commenced throwing
water and saved the building The
bed referred to was where the other
visitor was sleeping and nothing was
said about the origin of the fire that
night, We all felt so glad the house
was saved we didn't think of much
else that night. Next morning our
friend did not eat any breakfast for
he was not there. He had skipped
out during the night and it is
thought, by most people, that he used
Dooley's liniment as a quick starter
However he left 4 note which ht
wrote before starting, and explained
the origin of the fire as follows:
"You will kindly excuse my hasty
departure after hearing the cause
After | went to bed and was abou
to dose off to sleep | heard voice,
which seemed to say Gross lift, we've
got him started then feft myseI
moved slightly and on looking arounc
found that l was attacked by an arm,
of bugs ranging in size from pun
kin seed up to as large as they eve
get, and of dark brown color with
seal brown smell. | then began t,
prepare for action and self defense
After striking a match and lighting
miners lamp | found the coal oil cal
and saturated the bedstead using
about pint of oil on the corner
and headboard. | then saturatet
the wall with half pint. This be
ing done | began to look at effect
would have and seeing one old gen
tleman making off at full speed | ap
piled the lamp to him thinking if h
was all the one left I'd burn hin
and settle the whole business, an
when the fire from the lamp came i
contact with the coal oil on the be
it flashed like powder and fired tn
whole machine"
John Crutchfeld and John Lus
of Paramount, Hamilton county
dropped into Dixon Cove a few day
ago and stayed all night with you
Uncle William, and next mOrnin
when they talked of starting back
told them it was too late, that the
could not make it to the depot i
time for the train. They said the
were going ts walk since the condu,
,or was so contrary he would n,
take passengers without the cas-
they had concluded not to patronii
.pv such low down concern.