Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

THRILLING NARRATIVE.—On Thursday night last the house of Mr. Christian Hawbecker, situated in the Clearspring district, was entirely consumed by fire. The circumstances attending this calamity are of a painful character. The wife of Mr. H. has, for some year past, been a maniac, from which circumstance it became necessary to keep her chained, to prevent injury to herself and those around her. When discovered, the fire had completely enveloped her apartment. The husband, notwithstanding the imminent perils of his own life, determined upon her rescue, and rushed into the flames. By the aid of an axe her chain was severed, but by this time escape by the doorway had been rendered impossible by the rapid progress of the flames. He accordingly attempted to extricate her through the window, and had nearly succeeded when she broke from him and fell backward into the burning building. To again attempt her rescue seemed sure destruction. "Yet the faithful husband faltered not. Despite the entreaties and efforts of the only neighbor who had arrived to witness his calamities, and yet too late to aid, he determined upon one more effort. Again, springing through the window, now enveloped in flames, he succeeded in reaching the object of his perilous undertaking. A short and desperate struggle ensued—it was a struggle of life and death—but the superior strength of the husband triumphed, and he again appeared through the window, this time bearing successfully the object of his devotion and peril.

Strange as it may seem, the wife was but slightly injured. Mr. H., however, suffered severely. His head, hands, and body were badly burnt, though we hope not to such an extent as to render his recovery doubtful.—Hagerstown (Md.) News of 19th.