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Irish Roots of the Australian Clampett Family


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The Great Burrowa Fire

On 7 August 1875, the Burrowa News hailed Joseph as something of a hero for raising the alarm over a potentially dangerous fire.  The report reads thus:

THE GREAT BURROWA FIRE
About 3 o’clock on Monday morning last Mr J. H. Clampett was aroused by a strong glare of light in his bed-room, and on getting up to discover the cause found that Mr Pett’s and Mr D. J. O’Neill’s premises were in flames.

As soon as possible he proceeded to the scene of conflagration arousing the neighbours and the sleeping members of Mr O’Neill’s family by his cries of “fire”.  The fire was found to be principally in and around a large wood-heap, whilst from the nature of the adjoining premises, two or three primitive structures of no great value were quickly burnt.
Fortunately the night was very calm, and the most energetic efforts were successfully made by the inhabitants to confine the fire within the smallest possible limits.  An old laundry, which was attached to Mr O’Neill’s kitchen, was pulled down, and the burning materials rapidly carried away to a safe distance, thus completely preventing an advance of the flames towards Mr O’Neill’s public house and Mr Pett’s store.  On the other side of the fire was a large stone stable of Mr O’Neill’s; and this building, which at one time was in great jeopardy, was saved by stripping the shingles from the end nearest the flames, and giving the fire no unnecessary fuel in that direction.

A wooden back store of Mr Pett’s, which contained a considerable quantity of inflammable goods, such as kerosene and linseed oils, drums of tar, &c., burned with great fury.  In about three hours the fire was thoroughly got under; and the damage sustained is comparatively light.  Mr Pett estimates his loss at about seventy pounds and Mr D. J. O’Neill has escaped with still less loss.
 
At one time it was doubtful whether Mr Pett’s store, Mr O’Neill’s Commercial Hotel or even the Bank of New South Wales, could be saved.[20]

In the January 2nd and 16th editions of the newspaper, D. J. O’Neill and Wm. B. Pett expressed their thanks to all who had helped with controlling the fire and minimising the damage.  O’Neill’s entry reads:

THE RECENT FIRE.
I hereby tender my most grateful thanks
to the people and Police of Burrowa,
who, on the morning of the 4th instant, so
successfully exerted themselves to extinguish
the alarming fire which was then raging on my premises.
My especial thanks are due to Mr. J. H. Clampett,
who raised the alarm, by which
the safety of my family was secured, and the
neighbours were so quickly gathered together
from all parts of the township.

D. J. O’Neill  Burrowa,
January 6th, 1875 [21]
References to Joseph and his family continue in the Burrowa News, either through advertisements for his store or through articles connected with St Patrick’s Church, from 1874 to 1880.  

Then, in the Friday April 23 1880 edition of the paper, the following notice occurs: 
Birth, Clampett - On the 21st inst., at Burrowa the wife of J. H. Clampett, of a daughter. 
This baby was born on her mother’s 35th birthday, and named after her, Ellen Mary.

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