The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-04 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.

One of the most disastrous fires which have
recurred in Liverpool for some years broke out this moraing
about one o'clock in Covent-garden. The scene of the, firs
is an extensive pile of warehouses, six or seven storeys high,
situated on the north side of Water-street and west side of
Covent. garden. The ground, first, and second floors in
Wateretreet are occupied as offices, and the remainder of
the btulding is used for the storage of cotton. The property
is called Covent-buildings, and is owned by the Rev. Mr.
Ando/eon, of Loodos, end when the fire commenced con-
tained between three and four thousand bales of cotton, be-
longing to Marrs. Duckworth and Rathbooe, merchant& An
offiewoo duty in Wateretreetthis morning waelinformed about
1 o'clock that there mu a fire in Coven&buildinge, zed
the alarm was immediately passed to the chief fire police
station, Hatton-garden, which is in the immediate vicinity.
When the firemen arrived they found the office of Messrs.
Chapple and Dalton in flames, but beyond this nothing
serious was apprehended, and they entertained hope* of
speedily getting the flames under. The fire, however,
spread with amazing rapidity, and had soon communicated
with the upper storey. of the building, in which the cotton
was stored. The firemen then realised the extent of the
calamity, rod placed ladders against the warehouse win-
dows, with the view of opening them ; but as the
abutters were fireproof ones, and constructed in
• peculiar manner, a considerable time elapsed
before an opeoiog could be effected, and even when this
via accomplished the demos and dense smoke drove back
the firemen. Notwithstanding every obstacle, however,
they returned again and again to their pest. Confined in
• narrow space, with towering and tottering walls threaten-
iag almost instant destruction, they worked away with a
coolness and courage which was truly wonderful. Boon after
5 the roof of the warehouse fell io with a terrific creel], and
for several minutes everything in Covent-garde° was in con-
!mien. When the smoke and fire had partially cleared
away it was discovered that none of the firemen had boas
killed, though several of them had had very narrow escapee,
and that a pile of buildings opposite, the Borough-buildings,
were almost ruined on the west side by the falling debris.
After the roof and several party walls had fallen
•large quantity of masonry fell into Water-street,
and about a dozen firemen narrowly escaped b:l3
mashed to death; whilst is the afternoon, a
shout sixty or seventy feet high, tumbled down, and form
'terrier several feet in height across Covent-gardeo, and
damaged the surrounding property. The firemen then had
►better chance of roping with the flames, and with thirteen
streams of water they managed to get the fire comparatively
order control is the afternoon. The cotton stored in the
warehouse was of the dearest description, being Sea Wand
and Egyptian, and the lose is estimated at 60,0001. In-
surances are effected in the various insurance companies,
thus : Liverpool and London, 22,000 L • General, 90,000 L ;
Royal, 10,0001. I Exchange, 7,0001. • Atlas, 5,0001. ;
wd West of ; 6,0001. A numbs; el surrounds
**rehouses stored with rosin and petroleum are
ty the fire, which is still continuing, despite the afforta of
the fire brigade.

The Quzeir or Pansma..—Tbe Queen of Prussia,
Wended by the Coaster Schuler:hour& the Countess
bikweria Count de Boos Waldeck, sod Dr. Brand* took
have of her Majesty the Queen, at Windsor Castle, yids:,
day afternoon, and proceeded to Londoo. The
Lighted at half-past 4 o'clock at the residence one
Prussian embassy, where her Majesty was received by his
Excellency the Prussian Ambeesador and the Cousteau
bernstorff. Ilia Royal Highness the Prince of Wales paid
visit to the Queen of Prussia at 5 o'clock. Is the evesiog
the Queen of Prussia, accompanied by the Priam of Wales,
oad attended by the members of her suite, honoured the
Perfermanoce of the Royal Italian Opera with her
The Queen of Prussia will visit the Crystal primes.
bldeaham to-day.
LITERARY AND SCIENTITIC MEETINGS 701 TEI
Oulu Mum.—Monday : Asiatic, 3 ; Enkmlo3Bo4 7
Royal inititutioe, 2 ; Geeeral Monthly Meeting, dose-
Hadorticultond, promenade. Saturday : ffortioultand,
Promene.