Destructive Fire

Destructive Fire In Owen County, Kentucky.

We regret to state that one of the most destructive conflagrations it has ever fallen to our lot to record occurred in New Liberty, Owen county, on Sunday. The alarm was given about noon, and letters received from there state that in less than three hours the entire business portion of the town was in ashes. New Liberty was very compactly built on Main street, which comprises all the business houses, principal residences and public houses — all brick structures but two. Eighteen families have been rendered homeless and penniless. In almost every instance all their worldly possessions were embraced in their houses and contents, and very few saved anything beyond the clothes on their persons. They have all been kindly received in the homes of the farmers in the immediate vicinity for the present, until more substantial relief can be extended to them by a generous public. The estimated loss is not less than $150,000. The Female Academy, a superb structure, was entirely destroyed. But for the timely and indefatigable exertions of the men of Captain Kelly's command, Company I, of the Fortieth Regiment of Kentucky Mounted Infantry, who were camped near the town, the loss would have been much greater. The following is a list of the sufferers : C. C. Chowning, Dr. Layton, C. J. Bradford, Sarah Furnish, J. C. Walden, W. Crawford, Mrs. E. J. Reville, Mrs. Hunt, James Bradney, H. Barker, Dr. Payton, J. Vanpelt, Isaac Foster, Ellis & Orr, J. P. Orr, Sr.; Mrs. Catlett, Henry Blanton, Blanton & Tune. — Louisville Journal, March 31st.

Sacramento Daily Union, May 3, 1864, reprinting an item from the Louisville Journal.