The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-22 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN GLASGOW.

Last (Tuesday) night, shortly before twelve o'clock,
a firq broke out in Mr. Stewart's cooperage, Dunlop-street,
which has been attended with avery serious loss of property.
The premises, which base been all but entirely consumed
were very extensive, forming a complete square, in the
centre of which a valuable and extensive stock of green
wood was piled up. The drying stove was placed at the
north side of the square, and it was in this portion of the
cooperage that the fire had its origin. The line of com-
munication between the whole extent of the works was
complete, save that the south side of the square, where
the most extensive part of the operations were carried
on, was separated from the rest of the cooperage
by a gable wall to the east and west. The cooperage,
was surrounded on the cast, west, and north side by valu-
able property, some of it of a very inflammable nature.
The fire appears to have been smouldering for a consider-
able time before any alarm was given, as almost immediately
after it was discovered in the cooperage, the flames burst
forth from the roof with great force. Notwithstanding the
, exertions and promptitude with which the tire brigade
turned out, the progress the flames had made precluded all
I hope of saving any portion of the north and west sides
of the cooperage—the range of buildings from end to
end being one mass of flame, which spouted in terrific
volume from every window, and beat fiercely against
the south gable of a fine range of occupied tenements
immediately adjacent, which was very nearly involved
in the conflagration. Had it not been, indeed, for the
thickness of the gable wall, where, fortunately, there
was no window for the fire to find entrance, nothing could
have saved this building from destruction. The fury of the
flames, however, at length exhausted themselves in that
part of the cooperage, and relieved all anxiety for the safety
of the tenement in question. The flames, which were blown
eastward by the wind, soon caught hold of a portion of the
wood in the centre of the square, but it was confideutly
anticipated that the protecting gable wall at the south-end
of the square would prevent the spread of the fire
to that valuable part of the works. The efforts of the
firemen were principally directed, therefore, to the ex-
tinguishing, if possible, of the flames which had seized on
the wood, and threatened the destruction of the whole
stock. In this attempt it appeared for a time that their
efforts were about to be crowned with success, as no doubt
they would have been, had not the fire at length penetrated
the western gable of the south side of the square, owing to
the tremendous heating of the bricks. In a few minutes
dense volumes of smoke, followed almost immediately by
mares of flame, almost paralysed the firemen ; but they only
paused to renew their efforts with still greater vigour for the
preservation of the adjoining property. The gable wall on
the cast end of the now ignited building was chosen as the
point to cut off the further spread of the flames, and at
this spot Mr. Turner brought the greater part of his
strength to bear, in ceder to cheek their advance, a neces-
sity all the more imperative, as the cooperage at that place
is connected with the oil and candle store of Mr. Smith,
and with the plumber work of Mr. Ferguson, both of which
have their entrances off Itopework-lane. Had the fire
effected a lodgment in the east wing of the square, it is
impossible to say. where it would have stopped, or how
much property might have been destroyed. Fortunately,
however, the exertions made at this point were successful,
and the ravages cf the flames were entirely confined to the
other three wings of the cooperage. It was not till close on
five o'clock on this (Wednesday) morning that complete
mastery was obtained over the tire, and all danger of its ex-
tending still further averted. In addition to the wing of the
square, which remains untouched, a large stuck of wood
piled up on the outside of the south side of the cooperage
also escaped, and by pouring in immense quantities of water
a considerable portion of the stock that stood exposed in
the centre of the yard was saved, though with extreme
difficulty. The probable amount of the loss, including the
buildings, which do not belong to Mr. Stewart, will not fall
short of 5,0001. Mr. Stewart is insured with the Globe-
office for 3,0001., which may possibly cover the greater
part of his loss. This is now the fifth time, we understand,
within the Wt dozen years or so, that this cooperage has
been on tire, though on no previous occasion was the de-
struction so complete. Complaints were heard on many
sides as to the limited supply of water.—Forth British

MANAGEMENT OF THE ROYAL WOODS AND
Follll9l3.—Yesterday, the government biU to make better
provision for the management of the woods, forests, and
land revenues of the crown, and for the direction of public
works and buildings, was printed. It contains 36 clauses.
The object of the bill so to separate the duties of the Com-
missioners of Public Works and Commissioners of Woods
and Forests. The First Commissioner of Woods, on

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the passing of the act, is to be the First Commissioner of
Works and Buildings. Alteratiose ere to be made in the
two departments. The royal woods and forests are to be
placed under the management of a surveyor-general and
deputy surveyor-general. The Commissioners of Woods
and Forests are not to sit in the House of Commons. The