Ben Murphy, who lives on the Murphy fork of Grassy creek, this county
had the misfortune of Thursday morning last to lose his house and his
household effects by fire. Mr. Murphy was away from home at the time,
and his wife was out in the yard when the flames were first discovered,
and there was no one near by to extinguish the fire. When the fire
broke out in the building was the little 10 month's old child. Mr.
Murphy returned home just in the neck of time to save his baby from the
fury of the flames and succeeded in getting out one bed and a few other
minor articles. There was no insurance upon either the house or its
contents which are of course a total loss, and the amount is estimated
at $500 in round numbers. Mr. Murphy is comparatively a poor man and
his loss is quite a serious one. But we understand that his neighbors
have voluntarily contributed to a fund to put him on his feet again, and
that he will at once rebuild upon the site of the recent conflagration.
Some of his neighbors will give bed clotheing, some one thing and some
another of household utility, and yet others will contribute a little
cash, so that upon the whole he will soon be about as well off as he was
before the fire. He is at present making his home with his father, who
lives only about 200 yards distant, where he will continue until his new
residence is completed.