The Cairo Bulletin

Fire.
Shortly after ten o'clock Sunday morning, the alarm of fire was sounded, and a few minutes afterwards a perfect stream of humanity commenced moving in the direction of Twenty-eighth street. A black volume of smoke, intermixed with flame, arising from the upper portion of Mr. Thomas Halliday's dwelling house designated the spot, and in less than fifteen minutes after the alarm the engines were on the ground with scores of citizens who at once went to work to extinguish the fire. Mr. William Morris was the first to discover the fire, and ran to the house and tried to put it out, but seeing that he needed assistance, ran out and gave the alarm, which was answered by the fire companies promptly. The household effects were all saved, but the building is badly damaged, the plastering being all soaked with the water which was thrown upon the flames, and the roof being burned, and torn up by the fire men while trying to get into the main building. The fire is said to have originated from a defect in a flue in the rear part of the building. The firemen of the city deserve great credit for the noble manner in which they worked. The Rough and Ready boys, having the farthest to go, did not arrive at the fire until after the other engines had got there, but when they did go to work, did their share in the most creditable way. The Deltas had the satisfaction of being the first company on the ground, but their engine being frozen up, they were obliged to work with it for some time before they could get her to work, but they also rendered much assistance, notwithstanding their misfortune. The entire fire department did their whole duty, and Capt. W. H. Halliday, after the flames were extinguished, and the excitement was sufficiently abated so that he might be heard, stepped forward and informed the captain of each company that they could draw on him for the sum of twenty-five dollars, to be expended in the interest of their companies. This evidence of gratitude was received with many good wishes to the donor; and will no doubt be long remembered by the firemen of the city. Which company threw the first water upon the building while in flames, we have not definitely learned.