The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

FIRE IN PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD.

Yesterday (Monday) a fire of an alarming character
warred in one of the establishments in the dockyard at
Portsmouth. From the locality in which it broke out it
must have been attended with most serious consequences

bad it not been promptly extinguished. Of the many ex
tensive stores in the above dockyard, one is for tarring the
yarn used in the yard and for storing it afterwards. This
building consists of the taring-house, the white yarn
house, and the tarred yarn house, and it was in the first
named that the fire originated. In this department, as its
name implies, the operation of tarring the yarn is effected,
and it appears that at about 8 o'clock in the morning, the
men being engaged in their work, one of two boilers near
the capstan of the steam engine employed in the operation
burst in the bottom, when the boiling tar it con-
tained, between four and five buckets full, falling
in the fire underneath broke out into a strong blue. The
tlimes spread themselves in a moment to the yarn in the
apartment, and on which the men were at work, and there
being some 14 or 15 cwt. of this in the place at the time, a
most alarming conflagration was the result, setting fire to
the whole of the wood work in the apartment, and threaten-
ing to communicate itself to the white and tarred yarn in
the other parts of the building. At the time the boiler
burst there were at work in this room four ropemakers, a
boy, and a stoker in charge of the steam-engine, and one of
these at once gave the alarm to the authorities, and went
after the dockyard fire-engines. Themwere quickly on the
spot, those belonging to the rope-making department being
there in a remarkably short space of time, as they were
stationed close at hand. One of these was actually playing
on the Games, within, we are informed, three minutes of
their bursting forth, a gratifying proof of the state
of readiness in which they are kept. Large numbers
of dockyard officers, mechanics, police, and seamen were
else quickly on the spot, and rendered the most valuable
assistance, and the fortunate result was, that after burning
with great fury for an hour and a quarter, the flames were
got under and extinguished.
On • rough calculation it is thought the loss will bo from
1,500/. to 2,0001., but it is impossible to conceive what
would have been the consequences had the accident oc-
curred whilst the men were at dinner or otherwise absent,
Although the other two departments of the stores were se-
parated from the tarring house by brick walls of some
thickness, yet perfect lines of communication existed be-
tween them all, from the white or natured yarn entering
at one place, and the tarred yarn being drawn out at
another. The store set apart for the latter contained
fourteen or fifteen tons of this highly combustible article,
and had the fire penetrated to this, it is utterly im-
passible to calculate where the mischief would have
ended, closely surrounded as this building is with
the offices of the Admiral Superintendent, the master ship.
wright, the rope factory, die., with the Queen and other
large vessels, whose rigging a few sparks would have set on
fire, in its immediate neighbourhood. Large quantities of
the white and tarred yarn, nearest to the flames, were got
out of the building as fast u possible; but such is the im-
mense quantity in store, that it would have been impossible
to save a tithe of it bad the fire not been so promptly got
•
under.

Alter the flames had been extinguished, a court of in-
quiry wee held at the Master Shipwright's office, into the
tires/mimeos@ attending the accident, composed of the fol-
lowing slisials :—Mr. Underwood, muter attendant (presi-
dent); Mr Murrab.ehief engineer ; Captain Mould, dire-
r. of seeks; Mr. Ria and Mr. Credal, assistant master
r&ight. he people who were at work in the store at the time
were examined, and the result, we believe, was that no blame
was attachable to any person whatever. The boiler, it is
considered, must have ben defective, it is a much newer
one than the other neer it, having, we are informed, been
constructed about 16 mentlis ago.
It appean that having the tarring-house under the Name
roof with the tarred and white yarn stores, Lady the case
at Portsseuth ; at ell her Mersty's other dockyards the
tarring-here has been placed by Itself, in order to avoid
danger. Admiral Dye Parker, one of the present Lords
of tha Admiralty, some years ago, being then Superintend-
ent of Parkmerib-yard, etederaned the continuance of the
thieg the.., ea etemest of the Maud, and steps were ac-
lakes a few menthe ahem to build a new tarring.
home la on iodated punka, plans being drawn up, and a
site agreed urn, but the alteration has not been made
soca womb to merest at necessity being proved.
The Admiral-Saperiabut has promptly shown his
=tion of the afore et the people of the yard, and the
and seamen ot.L.Nt rimin the bur and dock, by
leasing the isnewies
WWOW. DOCZYMID, MAT 17.—The a%miraltn-
prialeadwat be resolved, with the greatest satisfaction,
reperb MOM sepsis and excellent conduct of .11 clears,
both of ollsers, saboMiaate officers, police, artificers, and
labaren. hernesc te the dockyard, on the occasion of the
fire this mandai. Moir exertions were happily crowned
with rem* sues.., end the Are, which at first threatened
meet serious ee egwem, was extinguished without doing
material %kn The atbsdralmtperintendent will not fail
to make kilbliWU to the Leeds Commissioners of the
Adairetty his muse of the praiseworthy behaviour of these
nailer his command.-11. Pamoorr, Admiral-Superia-
towdent.

Miss BunnErr Coma, on Friday, quite un- '
expectedly, vieitcd the Dockyard Orphan Asylum, at Devon-
port. She came in the forenoon without any notice, but
appeared to have been well pleased with the condition of
the house, and the appearance of the children. She has
ordered a treat for the children on Tuesday. Kim Coups
he been a liberal supporter of this institution, which
originated with a few working men, to prevent children of
their deceased workfellowe coming on the parish for
support.