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Washington:
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1855
Clerk's Office Burned
The Clerk's office at Murfreesboro, Pike county, was destroyed by fire on
the night of Tuesday, the 13th inst. All records of the county, together
with the law library of A.B. Williams, Esq., which had, but a few days
previous, been moved into it, were destroyed. The fire is supposed to have
been the work of an incendiary, as there was no fire in the offices on the
evening previous the destruction.
The loss of the records is irreparable, and should admonish us of the
absolute necessity of having a fire-proof building for the protection of the
archives of this county. It has been but a short time since the clerk's
office, and all the records of Prairie county, were destroyed in the same
manner. Indeed, fire-proof buildings for the protection of the records are
essential in every county, and we would respectfully urge the importance of
the erection of a building of this character in this (Hempstead) county, to
the earnest consideration of our County Court. The sooner it is done the
better.
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Washington Telegraph, Volume XV, Washington, Arkansas, February 21, 1855,
No. 8, page 2, column 1.
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David Kelley 1997