FROM THE PETERBOROUGH AND HUNTS STANDARD - 19TH OCTOBER 1912
"LADIES PLUCKY EFFORTS SAVE PROPERTY - MICE THAT GAVE THE ALARM"
Tottering gables and half demolished walls enclosing a heap of ruins are all that remain on the scene of the disastrous fire which demolished three cottages at Castor early on Friday morning. They were occupied by Mr & Mrs Parker, Mr & Mrs Bell and family of 5 and Mr & Mrs Tomlin. The former two families are now being accommodated at The Manor Farm and Mr & Mrs Tomlin have gone to reside with their son Mr F Tomlin of Ailesworth. It was indeed a fortunate circumstance that the cottage adjoining the site of the fire, occupied by Mrs Culpin who is 84 years of age, her grand-daughter and her late husband's brother, Mr S Culpin who is 73 years of age, did not share the same fate. It was due in a very great extent to the plucky efforts of several ladies of Castor who manned the fire engine before the arrival of other villagers in any large numbers, the consequence being that the brigade were enabled to obtain the assistance they required to drive back the flames and so save the house.
The first intimation that anything was amiss was given in a remarkable manner. Mr J Parker was awakened between twelve and half past by mice running about the bedroom and squeaking. He then noticed that sparks were dropping upon the bed from the ceiling. Mr Parker and his wife managed to get downstairs, and an alarm was at once raised, but so rapidly had the outbreak spread along the thatched roofs from one house to another, that it was only possible for the inmates to escape partially dressed. Mr W Bell, one of the Brigade, just managed to secure a box of clothes and rouse his relatives, but with the exception of a few odd articles, the whole of the furniture in the three houses was involved. Captain Cooke, with the manual, was on the scene within a few minutes of the alarm being given, together with several of the Brigade, and it was at once apparent that the only direction in which to work was to save the house of Mrs Culpin which was already threatened. Up to this point, very few villagers had been roused, but amongst the few who were early on the scheme were several ladies who volunteered their services to work the engine. A supply of water was obtained from the well of the Captain, and no less than 700 feet of hose connected. The ladies worked enthusiastically and very soon a jet was playing on the burning mess. In spite of tired arms and exhaustion, the ladies persisted in their efforts, until relieved by other residents, but to them must be given the credit for rendering such effective aid at a critical juncture, resulting as it did in the fire being driven back from the cottage which was saved. Their names are as follows:- Mrs W T Cooke, Miss Nellie Smith, The Misses C & S Longfoot, Mrs C W Darby and Miss Mayes.
It was at first thought that the outbreak occurred through a beam in a chimney becoming ignited, but further investigation shows that it originated in a shed at the end of the house nearest the church and rented by Mr Tomlin, but the cause is still a mystery as he does not use the building after dark. Some old and valuable china belonging to Mr & Mrs Tomlin was destroyed. Several friends in the village very kindly supplied the unfortunate occupants of the houses with clothing and took them in temporarily. Mrs Hulbert was among the first to offer the shelter of the Rectory, but naturally those who had been deprived of their homes desired to be near at hand to see the last of them. When the roofs of the houses fell in and the contents had been consumed the fire gradually died down and when day dawned there was nothing for the public to gaze upon except the smouldering ruins. The Fire Brigade worked splendidly throughout and during Friday demolished the chimneys which threatened to collapse. It is stated that the houses were about 300 years old. It is of course impossible to estimate the damage, and unfortunately, none of the residents were insured. Mr Alfred Tebbutt of Stamford, the owner of the houses visited the scene on Friday morning. The members of the Brigade present were :- Capt. Cooke, Fireman A Cooke, C W Darby, W Bell, J Mossendew, L Longfoot, R Longfoot, W T Smith, W Gibson, R Taylor, W Fox, and H Sharpe, with ex- Captain Harris. With commendable promptitude ex-Fireman Wootton has inaugurated a fund of behalf of the sufferers. The response by the villagers and others in the district has been spontaneous, and by Wednesday over £30 had been subscribed. It was hoped that this would be considerably increased during the latter end of the week. A somewhat remarkable fact in connection with the fire is that Mr & Mrs Parker and Mr & Mrs Tomlin are old age pensioners. This gives an additional touch of pathos to the sad occurrence and should be the means of enlisting the practical sympathy of all.
