GRAHAM TOWN.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1084, 4 February 1879, Page 7

GRAHAM TOWN.

Grahamstown, February 2.

A fire occurred at an ea»ly hour this morning on Karaka, outside Giahnmsio* n, which destroyed four houses and shops. It broke out in the grocery store of a Mrs Campbell, a widow whose husband died only some twelve months ago, lea\iug her unprovid d, with one child. A gen« rous public enabled her to start the store, and she was doing we.il when the fire again throws her on the public syinpa hy. She was fortunately insured only a week ag<» for £250 in the Norwich Union Office, The fire broke out in the shop about an hour after the iuraate3 had retired, and had a firm hold before it was detected The woman and the child had only just got out when the roof caught, and the whole building was enveloped. Au alarm was given and the Brigade turned out, but. the distance from the sheds in Shortland and Grahamstown. was so great that the adjacent buiiding occupied as a dwell-injj-house by a man named O'Neill, and another by Fisher, a blacksmith, and a dwelling occupied by a miner named Glassou, were all destroyed, and only through the hard exertions of some willing hands was the fire stopped from communicating with the butcher's shop of Mr George, and des'roying it and other buildingsT The caught three times, but the flames were extinguished thron«h the exertions of those engaged on the roof The building occupied by O'Neill was owneJ hy Mr Duble. The houses of Fisher and Glasson weae uninsured. The latter saved a few things, but they are much damaged. Mrs Campbell lost £25, the takings of the pi'evious evening, and several valuables beside. The origia of the fire is not known.