1863 February 6 Chapel Hill, N.C.

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

Friday 6th  It has been raining all night - turned warm
er & the snow has disappeared entirely off the house
tops - Katy liked to have burnt up in the night - a spark
of fire must have fallen on her covering - For when
she awoke, she found a comfortable of Mrs Mallets all
on fire - The room full of smoke - & it was with great difficulty
she succeeded in outing the fire - The fuss she kept awakened me
& I was very much alarmed - had to open all the doors to let the
smoke escape, & it was some time before I fell asleep again
Not one of the family knew any thing of it -Until I told
them this morning - It is still raining & so sloppy
that there will be no getting out the house for several
days yet - I sent off this week a long letter to Mrs Mason and
another to Joe - Sarah came around & sat with me.

MSS 6960