The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-19 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION.-SEVERAL

WATERSIDE WAREHOUSES DESTROYED.

For several hours last night a fire raged on the
banks of the Thames, at Dockhead, Bermondsey, canting
very great destruction of property among the waterside
premises, besides the loss of three vessels.
It commenced in Mill-street, a narrow, confined
thorbunhfare, which partly encircles "Jacob's Island,"' a
abort distance from the Roman catholic convent, Bermond-
, sey, and within a few feet of the spot when a large fire
occurred but a week or ten days age.
• Its discovery was made shortly atter ten o'clock last eve-
ning. Some shipwrighta who were gaming along Mill-
street observed a glare of light in the landside premises
or warehouse*, belonging to Messrs. Owst and CO.,
hoop-benders and they had scarcely time to acquaint the
polies of the fact, before the place burst into flames, sad
ere fifteen minutes had elapsed the flames had attacked the
waterside and opposite premises, which, being composed
chiefly of wood, and very extensive, created an
Immense glare in the atmosphere. This alarmed
nearly the whole of the metropolis. Thousands
upon thousands were attracted to the spot, and the
entire neighbourhood was filled with an enormous mob.
Ouch a scone had not been witnessed for many years. Most
of the engines connected with the Brigade reached the fire
in the course of a quarter of an hour after the alarm had
been given, but the firemen were unable to put them into
operation in consequence of scarcity of water. None was to
be had from the Mill-dam, on account of the tide being
out, and, unfortunately, the only plug that could be dis-
covered in the neighbourhood was some 400 or 600 feet
from the tire. One of the large fleeing engines of the Bri-
gade wu, as moon as possible, brought from its station off Ito-
therhithe, which proved very efficient, though wedged
under disadvantage, on account of the great length of hose
that had to be laid on along the shore. In the mean-
while, tho fire swept everything within its range.
Of Messrs. Owst premix,' very little were stand-
ing. Both the landside and waterside ware-
houses were almost in ruins. Next to these stood the
warehouses of Mr. Brindley, sail-maker, as also that of
Messrs. W. and J. Heywood, boat-builders; these subse-
quently shared a similar fate. The fire spread to some
half-dozen other premien that adjoined, and among thorn
the extensive granary of Mr. Burton, which narrowly
escaped the former tire. Additional aid having arrived, the
engines were supplied with water pumped in by others
plated at the plugs in the adjoining localities. '%ith this
supply the firemen, after considerable exertion, prevented
the fire making further progress on the land-side.
It was not so, however, on the water-side ; three
flee schooners, lying alongside of the burning wharfs
hail ignited, and being aground it was impossible to extri•
cute them. All the slopping lying in the river near the fire
sent their crews to assist the firemen in their efforts to pre-
servo the vessels, and no efforts were spared to accomplish
that object. With the deficiency of water at command very
little could be done to oppose the fire. The flames bounded
up the rigging, and eventually the whole three vessels
were enveloped in there. It was 12 o'clock before the fire
was finally checked. The engines were kept working till
nearly 6 o'clock this morning, at which hour a considerable
body of fire remained beneath the ruins, which occupy a
large space. How the fire was occasioned it is at present
impossible to say.
The annexed statements are from the official report made
by Mr. Brahlwood, the superintendent of the Fire Brigade,
this morning to the various metropolitan iusurance offices:
lIVILDINUN DRSTILOTED.—Mill•itreet (landaide) ; Pre-
mises and stores belonging to Messrs. Owst and Co., hoop-
benders, burnt down, and contents destroyed ; insured
in the Imperial and other fire offices.—Waterside: The
wharf and other premises of Messrs. Oust and Co., nearly
destroyed; insured. Wharf and workshops belonging to
Mr. J. Brindley, sail-maker, burned down.—Land-
side: l'remises of Mr. J. Brindley, nearly destroyed;
contents insured.— Waterside : Wharf and premise, of
Messrs. W. and J. Heywood, boat-builders, destroyed ;
landslide premises severely damaged; the firm insured in
thnyhanix and Alliance tire-offices.

V 111611.8 RUMMY DUSTALOYLD.—The Providence, ►aden
with hoops, Mr. Ram, muter; the Violet, of Montrose,
Mr. Richard Piddie, master, laden with hoops; and the
&leo and Esther, of Barmouth, Mr. Lewis Vaugham,
master, laden with hoops.
The report contains many other less important loaves
amongst the wharfs and other premises that adjoined
those above enumerated. The amount of property de-

lartlyed BIWA be very large.