PETERSFIELD.
A DOUBLE COTTAGE BURNT DOWN.—On Sunday last a very distressing fire look place upon the Nursted Estate, the property of Samuel Rowe, Esq., in the parish of Buriton, occupied by father and son, viz., John Bridle and his wife, aged respectively, from 72 to 80 years—42 of which he had been (and still is) the gardener at the mansion; and John Bridle the younger, also a trusty general servant, and his wife. Both the father and son had attended the morning service at their parish church, as usual, and were upon their return to their homes when, having reached to within a short distance from the same, they observed thick smoke, with sparks, issuing from the chimney, upon which they hastened on with fear. Upon reaching the spot, to their sad dismay, they discovered that the thatch had ignited, and which, from its dry state and the strong east wind at the time blowing over the exposed situation, the flames instantaneously spread through the whole of the roof, covering two commodious and well built stone cottages, and raged with terrific fierceness, so that in less than half an hour the roof, bed room floors, beams, &c., had fallen, and were blazing away on the ground floor beneath. The chief part of the furniture, belonging to the father, was, fortunately, saved; but we regret to add that the greatest portion of the son’s household goods were consumed, together with a large box of valuable old linen, and a fine flitch of bacon—occasioned by the loss of time in his laudable endeavours to save his live pig, which he luckily effected, after much difficulty and risk, from the sty in the garden, removed some distance from the cottages, and which had taken fire and was then in flames. We are glad to find the premises were insured.