Alexandra Times at KellyGang 6/11/1875
GOBUR
(From Our Own Correspondent)
Shortly alter 2 o'clock on Saturday last our little township was thrown into an unusual state of excitement, when it became known that the residence of Mr S. Town, schoolmaster, was on fire. Dense volumes of smoke were seen to issue from the front part of the building, which in a few moments afterwards was followed by a sheet of fire. Constable Orr, Messrs Bunney, and Cummings, and several other gentlemen were immediately on the scene, but found it impossible to save anything. Mr and Mrs Town went to Alexandra that morning, leaving a very trustworthy young person of some 16 summers in charge during their absence, with instructions not to light any fire in the house until their return, who affirms that no fire was kindled about the place, but that she took the ashes out of the fireplace and throw them outside at the back of the house as usual, and threw water over them. I am informed that nothing was stored in the house that could have caused spontaneous ignition. The day was very windy, and the inference is that some of the embers thrown out were blown under the house amongst some chips, and thus set the place on fire. Mr Town was uninsured, and loses a very valuable property, including furniture, library, wardrobe, and other valuables, estimated to be worth between £300 and £400. The deepest sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Town by every inhabitant of Gobur.
A man whose name I could not ascertain was brought in to Gobur on Wednesday last from Merton by Constable Orr, and placed in the lock-up. The unfortunate follow, it appears had acted as a land dummy for some selector, who had rewarded his services by giving him £100, with which he proceeded to Melbourne to enjoy the good, things to be there seen and had. He got on the spree for five or six weeks and at the end of that time left town in a semi-delirious condition and arrived at Merton in a state of delirium tremens. It would further appear that he made a survey of some trees until he found one that would answer his purpose upon which there was a bent limb about eight feet from the ground standing close to a fence. Upon this fence he stood, and made a piece of line fast to the bough, placing the other end round his neck. He then jumped off the fence, and was suspended for some seconds. Fortunately for the man, his struggles caused the bough to break, and saved him from a miserable ? he is now kindly attended to by constable Orr, who administers ? doses of “P.B." and shin soup and to ? he will take a more congenial view of ? on his recovery, and enudeavor to make than atone for the past.
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