PANIC-STRICKENILLAGE,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5634, 6 December 1879, Page 7

PANIC-STRICKENILLAGE,

The pretty little village of Auvers, in the canton of Pontoise, situated only a abort distance from Paris, and containing some 1500 inhabitants, is just now, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, possessed by a veritable panic. Every day a new fire breaks out, kindled by some mysterious hand, and upwards of forty houses have already fallen a prey to th* flames. No sooner is one extinguished than the bells peal aaain, and the services of the ftomplers are required in another quarter. Do what they will, the authorities are ucable to quell this scourge or to detect the culprit. An invisible hand has traced on the wall of a house the terrible words, " N"ot a roof will remain standing in Auvers," and certainly the writer bids fair to keep his promise. Suspicion has, however, fallen upon an individual, a native of the count r y, win ten years ago was condemned for incendiarism, and afterwards sent to Marseilles, which he has lately quitted without permission. This man was Been in the neighbourhood a few days before the first fire broke out. Diligent search has been made after him, but he cannot be found. The most extraordinary part of the affair is that, although Auvers is crammed with gendarmes, the fires continue as before, and yesterday one began just as a patrol was passing down the very street in which the house was situated. A girl, however, named Clemence. was seen running out oE the garden door and stopped. She is 16 year 3of age, and very pretty. Clemence was unable to explain to the Juge d'lnstruction why she was there, so she was immediately transported to Pontoise Prison. It is thought that she is in a position to make important revelations. Curious to relate, the father of Clemence, seized with a sudden fury, male a dash at the Juge d'lnatruction with a kuife, audhad the latter not skilfully parried the blow he would have been killed. The mother, in a fit of distraction. Ml fainting to the ground, and was only revived aficr an hour hid passe 1. It ia feared that ehe will go mad. The agitation in the country continue?, and there are families which have left their houses, taking with them their furniture and other belongings. Let us that the arrest of Mdlle. Clemence i:ny be the last phase of tlin "strange s-.ory," which has completely clou led the liv.-s of the good peasauts of picturesque Auv.rs.