The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-14 00:00:00

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UOlOll Jack which had floatert from the dome waa

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burnt through, and the flag itself, coming down by
the run, soon disappeared in the burning ruins. The
draperies of the Royal box csught fire as the falling roof
came in contact with them, and served to spread the fiames
to other parte of the building. By three o'clock the work of
destruction was complete. The organ—one of the grandest
of its kind, end which stood on the north side of the centre
transept—has perlahed, with it. two attendant engines
and all the rest of the interior fittings of the building. It
was built by Wlllls, ander the superintendence of Sir
Michael Costa, and had 101 stops, 80 of which were
sounding stop., and was worked by two steam-engines,
one eight-horse and another 13-horse power. The fine
orchestra in front of the organ, whicii was BaIICISLItIy
large to accommodate 1,000 performers, and the front of
which was adorned with busts of Beethoven, Handel, R0•11111i,
Verdi, Mendelsaohn, and Auber, haa likewise disappeared.
and so has the theatre, with its pretty drop Nene, and all
the rest of its belongings. The whole interior, in fact, is an
unsightly ruin from beginning to °ad, completely open to
the sky, and filled with iron material, twisted into all kinds
of fantastic ahapes, and other rubbish. Such of the
outer walls and towers as remain are in an exceedingly
dangerous state, and the firemen yesterday plied their voca-
tion with more than the accustomed periL Still, all the main
outer walls and 'anent points of the structure remain,
though, as we have said, in a precarious state and, viewed
from a little distance in the twilight of last evening, it had
much the appearance of an old ruin, wanting only the ivy.
Ali this wreck waa the work of two hours. It remains to be
stated that most of the pictures, water-coloured drawings,
tapestry, and music are saved, but the precious loan collec-
tion of china is said to have been deetroyed, with the excep-
tion of two vases contributed by the Queen.
All the authorities on the subject agree that the fire was
caused by the careleunese of the plumbers who were repair-
ing the outside of the dome, and who left their "
oth• raise fire brazier, burning while they sent to dinner.
This was, it will be remembered, exactly the manner in
which the late fire at Cauterbun Cathedral and the two fires
at St. Mary Maedelene's, Paddington, originated.

Concerning the pretsutions agalmt the pouibility of dm,
says a correspondent, they seem to have been either nil or
very Insufficient. With • large reservoir and the New River
at the foot of the hill, there does not seem to have been any
arrangements for pumping It up In quantities. It Is hardly
too much to say that II a couple of steamers with • good
supply of water had been on the spot when the fire nu first
discovered the mischief done would have been very trifling.
The tent containing Mr. Waterer's show of rhododendrons Is
still Intact, and uninjured

During the Ore Thomas Lerner, foreman of the smiths at
the Palace, fell and wu crushed in the ruhn. On being
extricated It was found that he had both legs broken, and
was severely burnt it is stated that he died while being con.
veyed to the hospital. Another man, a kreman. named John
Meek, Is, it Is feared, eo severely Injured that hie life is
despaired of. In addition to these several people, two of
them young girls, were missing up to last evening,
and fears are eatertahled that some may still be among the
ruins.