Lancaster Daily Intelligencer

FIRE LAST NIGHT.

A Driver of a Hose Cart Narrowly Escapes Being Killed,

Last night about a quarter after 11 o'clock a fire broke out in a tobacco shed owned by Philip Betz and situated on Strawberry street, opposite the Woodward Hill cemetery. An alarm was struck from box 62 at Christian and Green streets, but as the building was entirely of frame the fire made great headway and it was soon consumed. Engine No 2 had a stream on the flames but it was of little consequence.

The contents of the building consisted of straw, hay and some farming implements. The loss on the building will be over $500 and it is insured for $450 in the Sun company of London of which J. R. Breneman is the agent. The contents were insured for $275 in the same company and that will cover the loss. The building was set on fire.

On the way to the fire the cart belonging to No. 3 met with a terrible accident at the junction of Lime, Vine and Church streets. A new sewer is being constructed at this point, and there is an open ditch about four feet in width, twenty in length and four or five in depth, with high piles of dirt surrounding it. Persons driving down Church street can get around the obstruction, but there is but room for one vehicle, the roadway being narrow. A lamp is hung at the place at night.

After the alarm last night Adam Smith driver of the hose cart, hitched up his horse and started down Church street. He had seen the open sewer early in the evening, as he said after the accident, and tried to avoid it, but just as he neared it the horse frightened and jumped aside. He fell headlong into the sewer trench and carried the cart, and driver in also. Persons who saw the accident hastened to the assistance of Mr. Smith, and he and the horse were quickly taken out. He was found to be badly bruised and cut. To day his one arm and shoulder is terribly swollen and is quite painful. He was very lucky in escaping with his life. The horse was bruised and cut but his injuries are not at all serious. The only damage to the cart, which might have been dashed to pieces, was the breaking of one spoke of a hind wheel and a piece of cast iron on the side. The cart will be out of service until six o'clock this evening.