The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1884-08-29 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.  Milebank, Whitehurch, the residence of Mr. Horton, was on Saturday night the scene of the most destructive fire that has been witnessed in this locality since the time of the great fires in 1831-2, and for which two men were hung. Nine large corn and hay stacks were almost totally des. troyed, a few tons of hay and oats that were saved being valueless except as litter. A new Scotch cart was burnt to a cinder, and another partially burnt, also a portion of the buildings nearest to the stack yard. The Whitctiurch Volunteer and perish engines worked incesaantly from 7 p.m. on Saturday until after ten on Sunday morning, when the fire could be seen many miles round. Mr. Hortou's loss amounts to many hundreds of pounds. The property was only partially insured. The fire was caused by Mr. Horion'a two children, aged six and seven, playing with matches and the whole stockyard was ablaze in less than ten minutes.—At an early hour on Saturday morning a fire broke out in a house in Arundel Street, Sheffield, occupied by a woman named Bottler. Two girls, named Lowe and Schofield, who were in the attic, finding theirretreat cut off, jumped from the window and sustained fearful injuries. The occupants of the other rooms, five women and two men effected their escape.—A later telegram states ;hat Lowe died on Saturday night in the itifirmary.—On Saturday afternoon a fire broke out on the farm premises belonging to Mr. Wm. Burton, landlord of the Fox and Dogs, Little Sutton, near Sutton Coldtield. The fire, which was discovered about half-pest four o'clock, bloke out in a barn containing a quantity of wheat straw, and in a short space of time the whole was one mass of flame, the building being completely destroyed, nothing now remaining but the dilapidated walls. Two large ricks of hay adjoining the building also caught fire and were totally consumed. The other out-houses and the dwelling. house itself were at one time in great j • yardy, and were only saved by the strenuous shorts of a large number of willing hands, who promptly assembled on the alarm being given. The fire engine and brigade from Sutton rendered useful aid, but the efforts of the workers were crippled .for the want of water, which had to be conveyed from the pumps and adjoining wells. The damage will not be far short of £3OO, but the whole is covered by insuranoe.—The works of the Western Counties Manure Company, it Torpoint, near Devonport, were on Saturday the scene of a most destructive fire. About 8 p.m. a dense volume of smoke, accompanied by lurid flame, was observed issuing from the engine-house. An alarm was immediately signalled to the ships of war lying in the river Tamar, ato Torpoint has no fire brigade or proper water supply. About 200 seamen were quickly landed with several manual engines and the Government fire float. It was not until ten o'clock on Sunday morning, however, that the seamen eould be withdrawn, the fire having raged for fourteen hours, entirely demolishing the whole of the valuable machinery and a large portion of the works. The damage done will exceed the £5,000 for which sum the company are insured. A petty officer of the Cambridge, who was engaged in pulling down the roof, received from a grapnel] hook a severe blow, destroying the left eye.  The reported attempt to assassinate General Gourko, Governor of Warsaw, is contradicted..  Jame's Fitzsimons, a tramp, was remanded at Bray, on Saturday, on a charge of murdering his infant child by throwing it into a river. Mr. John Ponder, M.P., was on Saturday presented ith the freedom of the burgh of Wick, in recognition of the services he had rendered in connection with the extension and improvement of Lb. new harbour working.