The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-22 00:00:00

THE LATE FIRE AND LOSS OF THREE LIVES

IN CUMBERLAND-STREET.

CORONER'S INQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning Dr. Lan kester proceeded with the
inquiry (which be formally opened on Saturday) into the
circumstances leading to the deaths of Mr. Samuel U
Barrett and his daughter; Julia Victoria and Helen;
Blanche, whose bodies were taken from the ruins of Mi.
Barrett's house, 9, Great Cumberland-street, Hyde-pail,
after its destruction by fire on the morning of the 15th inst.
The Rev. Brownlow Maitland, the first witness; examined,
said the age of Mr. Barrett was 46, that of the eldest
daughter 10 years, and that of the youngest :' years sad
9 months. The rev. gentleman took the opportueity of
contradicting • statement which had, he said, been mule in
• newspaper—that the Fire Brigade were inefficient, sioce
they had only put down the fire when the house was ch.,-
roughly burnt out, the fact being that the firemen exerted
themselves most energetically, and that the greater part
of the rooms in the house were only injured by water.
Captain Shaw, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, said
be was not himself at the fire, but he was sure the efforts of
the brigade were alike euergetic and successful. awl hr re.
quested the coroner to allow the jury to accompany Min to
the house for the purpose of being convinced of that fact.
The Coroner, however, said the jury had alreely in-
'peeled the premien, and that it was quite unnecessary to
repeat the visit.
John Sommers, of Charles-street, Portman-square, said
be was a volunteer fireman, and accompanied the engine
from the Bakeretreet station to the fire on the night of
Thursday week, and that when the foreman of the engine
broke in the lower panel of the hall door, he (witness)
crept through into the hall, and found two bodies lying
there. The heat was very great in the hall ; and
then was a good deal of fire at the lower
end, but there was very little smoke, although part of the
stairs had fakes. Witness unbolted two bolts, and tarred
the key in the lock once, but the door did not open. [The
lock was here produced, and was found to require a double
turn of the key to draw back the bolt.] Witness
was compelled to get out of the hall into the street
again, owing to the heat, leaving the bodies there,
but he had no doubt they were dead at the time, as they
neither stirred nor groaned. They were lying with their
feet to the door not more than two feet or two feet six
inches away from it, and looked as if they had fallen back.
wards while at the door. After witness got out the door
was forced open from the outside.
William Browne, 14, London Fire Brigade, said that when
be reached the house with the last witness he found the fire
coming out of the basement. They first went down the
area, where they worked for about ten minutes, and then
went up into the street, to the hall door. which it required
seven or eight minutes to break open. The bodies of Mr.
Barrett and one daughter wars then got out, but witness
knew nothing about the third body. Had no doubt, from
the examination of the house, that the fire originated in the
pantry, on the basement. As to the cause of the fire wit-
ness could give no opinion.
J. Bridge, parish engine-keeper, corroborated the previous
evidence, and said he got in through the broken panel, and
drew back the body of Mr. Barrett, so as to enable the door
to be opened from the outside. Saw no sign of life in
either of the bodies. The heat was very great then, and
must have been much greater before the staircase fell and
the door was opened.
A. Moore, 59 11, metropolitan police, said he was on duty
in Cumberland-street, and discovered the fire about a quer
tee past 12 by • light in the kitchen. Immediately sprung
his rattle, Called "fire," and rang the bell, there being no
knocker on the door. A gentleman came to the door
is • very excited state. Witness said, " Your house
is on fire, sir," upon which he exclaimed, "nth,
my family !" and immediately shut the door. Wit-
ness could only see a part of his body, but he had a
par of drawers on. Witness heard him lock the door, and
rushed at it to see if it was fast. Finding it so, thought
the gentleman was gone upstairs to look after his
and not off for the engine, having previously sent for the
fire-escape. It was about four minutes after witness rang
the bell before Mr. Barrett came to the door, the fire.
escape arri • about two minutes later.
Mr. Joseph 52, Upper Seymour-street, Portman-
square, said that while going to bed he was alarmed by the
screaming of a female in the street. Looked out of the
window, and was told by a policeman that there was • fire.
Ran round to Cumberland-street, where be saw fire coming
out of the kitchen window of No. 9, and saw a female
standing on the doorstep screaming. The woman was fully
dressed, and did not apparently belong to the house.
As witness was rushing to the door it was opened. by • tag
gentleman in • demising-gown ; and witness said, Close the
door—alarm the inmates ; your house is on fire ;" upon
which the gentleman exclaimed, " The house is on fire .
and shut the door immediately. Saw no policeman at the
door at the time. Witnen left the door to assist at the fire
amps.
Moore, 59 D, was recalled, and said he did not the this
witness at the doer, upon which
The Coroner remarked that Mr. Barrett appeared to bare
come twice to the door, the first time to the policeman, and
afterwards to Mr. Roberts. •
Mr. Carlisle, an insurance agent, said be was first at the
door, having met three women who said there was • fire.
Saw the fire ooming out of the basement window,
and at once began to ring the bell, and kirk
at the door; continued doing so till a geetleman came down,
up= which witness told him to shut the door, as his bonne
was on firm The pclioeman came up soon after. Heard no
screaming in the purge • but about four minutes after the
gentleman had come to the door, heard a noise inside as if
some one were trying to =bolt the door.
G. Elden, fire-escape conductor, rid he was called to the
fire about a quarter past 12 ; put op his bidder to the second
floor, and brought down the servant, and the young child.
Went up again, but could find no one else in that room.
Searched the third door without finding anyone, but helped
the governess out at the back. No one told him there was
anithert Rone else ian the
thboue,Pl6lllsr said he went to bed at half.
peat ten, leaving all safe below.
Sarah Vaughan, cook, gave similar evidence, but added
that there had been • strong smell of fire about the house
on the Wednesday mining 'before the tire, but that Mrs
Barrett on searching could find no trace of fire, arid it was
concluded that the smell had travelled from • fire there was
in the Banwater.road.
Annie Bolivia, nursemaid, was sleeping in the snood floor
front room when she was awoke by a sense of suffocation.
Julia Victoria Barrett and Sestina Barrett slept with her.
She ran to the window to see when the fire was, reused
the children, and opened the door to COWS up the other
servants ; but the heat was so. gnat the had to
close it again. She and the children then went to the
window and leaned out to avoid the smoke, and while there
Mr. Barrett came into the room and put his hand on to
Mica re and said, " Who is this r and she told him.
Whilst he was there the fire escape was put up to the
window, and she gave Miss Evelio& to the fireman and got
into the escape herself, being almost suffocated. Left Mr.
Barrett and Miss Barrett in the room. Never saw them
again. Told the fireman they were there.
Elizabeth Mills, heed nurse, slept oa the third floor
tack with the two children, Helena and Albert Raised a
cry of " Fire," then snatching up one of the children ran
out on the leads, where she found some of the other
servants. Tried to get hack to the other child, but the
heat was too great.
Elisabeth Menzies, upyer Isomeanaid, gave similar evi-
dence, adding that she perceived the smell of fire oe the
Wednesday evening, and that it seemed to come from be-
tweets the kitchen and the pantry. —John Parsons, coach-
man to Mr. Milner Gibson, said he lived at 3, Cumberland-
mews ; saw the fire, put up a ladder to the first door back
room, and took out Mr; Barrett, the nurse, and the
youngest child.
Kent, 191 C, assisted in breaking open the door, where he
received the body of Victoria Barrett from the fireman's
arms. He so far contradicted previous evidence se to say
that the child was alive when in his arms, and eves after
she was laid on the table at No. 5, Cumberland-street, the
house to which she was taken: but that she lied about debt
or ten minutes afterward*. The ladies of the house gave her
every attention. A doctor was sent for, but she died before
he arrived. In reply to a question from the coroner, this
witness said he carried her in his area down the steps of
the door, and that then she walked tout of the way to' o.
5 between him and another constable. She walked about
six or seven yards, when she ground her teeth and drew up
her arms, after which she was carried.
At the conclusion of the endow;

The °wooer summed up.
The fury returned a verdict "That the deceased died
from &e and suffocation, but that how the tire originated
there w DO erideme to show."

TRANSFER OF LAND ACT.—Mr. Spencer Follett
and Mr. It. H. Holt, who have recently been appointed by
the Lord Chancellor to the high sad responsible punts of
registrar and assistant registrar of landed estates under the
Transfer of Land Act, have returned from Dublin, Navin;
completed, as far as the gewerd suspension consequent upon
the long vacation of the business of the Leaded Estates
Court. Ireland, would permit, their examination into the
system and practice of that court. They have also been
engaged in acquainting themselves with the system of
registration in operation in the Registry of Deeds () re.
Dublin. The office of land registry is to be opened for despatch
of business on the Ist of October sad, at NA Lieeoln'ernir
fields, a house formerly part of the Insolvent Debtors Court.
and which has been thoroughly altered and fitted up foe
the purposes of the sew adios&
DRPARTURZ OF THI TUSCAROZA.—The Twice-
rota left the Belfast Lough on Wednesday ; her destination
onkoows. It new appears that she has been dodging the
Ajax for the pwpree of getting coals on board, is dAsove
of the orders lamed by the Admiralty. The Tuscarora
coaled within three months at a British port, and did not
as she was bound to do, oa her voyage to the
tr:ca
United States. She remained hovering about the coast on
the look out forCoadederate vessels. She put into llittif63,o
Harbour with the view of getting coals. Unable to accomplish
this there, partly in consequence of the return of the Apts.
the weighed &flaw and steamed with all speed to Belfast
Laugh, where, according to previous arrangement. she re
mired a supply of coal amounting to 100 tool. havie4
anchored on the jurisdiction of the harbour commis-
sioners The collector of customs, Mr. Shelley, at once
took the matter up and served notice on the Federal
captain to depart in twisty-four hours. A revenue est-
teir wee placed alongside the Tuscarora to prevent
further violation of the neutrality laws, and at the
same time the matter was reported to the Admiralty.

LAW INTELLIGENCE
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before 3k. Cosingsrioner Fans.)
tmt.B HEATHER KEIDALL.—A CASUAL CLERK LE TSB

saved them up for years • little at a time. sod the greater
portion of them were the sweepings of the shop. Ob.
ee that there were a number of new nails amongst
themre said that that story would not do for him ;
and took him to the station-bouse. After locking him up,
be proceeded to the prisoner's lodgings, cud found ltilb. more
copper nails of the same description as those he had offered
for sale at the marine store shop. Re subsequently went to
the house of his employer, and on comparing the nails with
those he was in the habit of using drily, he found them to
correspond in every particular. The prisoner was in con-
sort employment at six shillings • day, and though his
master believed the nails to be his property, he could not
take it on himself to swear to them.

The prisoner repeated his statement that the nails had
been the collection of yawl, but Mr. Norton observing that
there could be no moral doubt that the nada were the pro-
perty of his muter, committed him for two mouths' bard
labour for the unlawful posseision of the property.

LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY.

(THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly meeting was held this afternoon,
at the Easton station ; Mr. ISICNA 11) MOON in the chair...

The report, • summary of which has appeared in the
Express, was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report. He
could not may that the board were satisfied with the
dividend they were proposing to make ' • but
he must remind the meeting that last half-year
they took 15,8001. from the reserved fund, whereas
this half-year they bad only taken 11,5001. The
falling off in the traffic between the East and West Coast,
owing to the American trouble, bad been no less than nee-
third, and that between Manchester, Liverpool, and Stock-
port was less by 2:1,0001. On the other hand, their pas-
senger traffic had beee improved, in consequence of the
Great Exhibition. He hoped that sitar this half-year
(which mut also be considered an exceptional one) they
would have turned the corner, and that their prospects
would then begin to improve. He had great pleasure in
informing the meeting that, thanks to the great exertions
of their officers, they had succeeded in greatly reducing the
coetof working the line. At theism* time the works is every
department were in • more than usually effective condition.
No company in England was doing what this was, namely,
keeping up their permanent way entirely out of revenue.
The merchandise traffic expense appeared to have
increased, but it arise from a transfer at ac-
counts. In reality there had been a saving of 12,0001.
The compensation for accidents question remained, he was
sorry to say, exactly where it was. The injustice of the
present law was confessed, and be hoped that the members
of parliament who might be present would bear in mind
that the proprietors looked to them for redress. (Hear, hear.)
Coming now to the bite noire of railway companies, par
liamentary expellees, be was thankful to say that they had
escaped with a light session. They had still to complain that the
committees laid down no general principles for the guidance of
those interested in railway construction. The only prin-
ciple on which parliament seemed to act was that of en-
couraging people to make railways, and then when they bad
th •and had succeeded in
spent
ea money developing a
traffic, encouraging other peewee to coins in and knock
it all down again. (Hear, hear.) However, • committee had
been sitting on the whole subject ; and they might perhaps
hope for better things in future. (Hear, hear.) The policy
of the company had this year been entirely pacific, the only
exception having been forced upon them by the alliance of
the West Midland and the Great Western. He was glad
to say that the insurance fund which had been formed out
of revenue amounted at the present moment to no less than
30,0001. In conclusion, if there were any other points on
which the shareholders desired information, he should be
most happy to give it them. (Hear, bear.)
Mr, happy
seconded the motion.

Mr. liiiiccsiTtiougiiiil;tbTii7;TOiparison of the "t-
-wige and of the previous declanitions of the chairman, he
should be enabled to establish the following proposition
"That the present long-continued depression of the
company's property was attributable, not to exceptional
causes or to an insufficiency of business, but to the want
of • due relation between gross and net e, and to s
persistence in the promotion of extensions, ainalgaraationa,
and leases." (Cheers.) Last year at this time the chairman
having declared the worst dividend the company had ever
made, said it was owing to the distressed state of the
agriculturists. Now, it was in consequence of a falling off
in traffic caused by the American war. No doubt that lied
caused a loaf of some thousands of pounds ; but be should
say that the company bad been fairly recouped
by the increased receipts, for which they were
indebted to the Great Erbibition. (Hear, bear.)
They might be told to look at the Great Western and be
comforted ; but be was alarmed because he saw that the
policy which had brought the Great Western into its
present strait was in equal favour at Eustonaquare.
(Hear, hear.) Even the small dividend this half-year, which
was exactly that of the " exceptionally " unfavourable one
of Midsummer, 1861, was not to be paid out of revenue. It
was admitted nit they would have to abstract 11,00 W.
from the reserved fund • and the only thing the
chairman could say on that point wee that they were
not going to rob the till to the same extent as last
year by 4,0001. At the present moment the average
receipts for the whole kingdom were 611. per
mile; whereas those of the London and North
Western railway were 981. The South Western, with •
mileage of 65/., yielded • dividend of 4 per cent. ; whereas
the North Western, with a galling. of 98/., only paid 3i.
(Hear, bear.) He maintained that with the largest re-
ceipts of any metropolitan company except one, they
ought to have a dividend of 6 per cent. (Hear, hear.)
They had nothing to do but to 000 duct the mineral traffic
on • sounder principle, to abstain from the leasing and pur-
chase of other lino, 8;1 to distribute in the shape of dividend
what they were now spending in parliamentary contests. He
should, after the report hail been adopted, ask the meeting
to agree to his resolution ; and he trusted that if that were
done it would have a beneficial effect upon the action of the
board. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Gou seconded the motion.

After some further discussion, the report (with the divi-
dend it recommended-3i per cent. per annum) was adopted.

COMMERCIAL DOCK COMPANY.-(THIS DAY.)

An extraordinary meeting of proprietors was
held this day at the company's offices, 106, Fenchurch-
street, Mr. A. Sim in the chair.

Resolutions were affirmed authorising the conversion into
capital of the borrowed monies due by the company, and
the raising of the necessary funds for that purpose by the
creation of new shares of the company and empowering the
directors to raise the funds authorised at the general court
of proprietors held in June lest for new works and
the further sums necessary for the unfinished improvements
authorised by the company's act of 1860. It was proposed
to raise 140,0001. (of which 70,0001. was required to pay off
the mortgages), by the issue of ordinary stock, to
be offered to the present proprietors at par,
in the proportion of 51. ordinary stock for every entire sum
of 21W. held by them in ongival and preference stock.
The proceedings terminated with • vote of thanks to the
chairman.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

/BID" AUGUIT 24 I A.M.