The Express.
London, England, 1849-04-03 00:00:00

SERIOUS FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN

SOUTHWARK.

Last evening, about 6 o'clock, a fire broke out in
the oil and colour warehouse belonging to Mr. Tithud, No.
28, Great Suffolkstreet, nearly adjoining the Grapes Mus:c-
hall, Southwark. The building, although of limited front.
age, extended backwards a great distance, and wire stored
with oils, turpentine, sulphur, and other ariiclas equally com-
bustible, independentof which there was a large quantity of
gunpowder in the shop and upper part of a warehouse.
The fire originated in the cellar, but front what cause could
not be ascertained. Whilst Mr. Tatted and his eon, a
young man, were standing in the shop they were astonished
at finding the flooring move u if shaken by a smart exple-
sion. They instantly went below to ascertain 'the cause,
when they found the collar in one complete sheet of fire.
They retreated as they could, but the flames followed so
rapidly that they wets nearly eecircled with them. Having
gained the shop the fire broke through the floor in various
places, and ignited everything with which it came
on contact. At that time • there was a daughter
o( Mr. Tflliard's on the premises, together with a
bay about eight or nine years of age with his eister
about five years old, and the shop-boy. With greet difficulty
they succeeded In getting into the yard with their clothes on
fire. By the exertions of the neighbours and Mr. Tilliard
they were dragged out of the place, and were assistei over
the back wall into Revel's-row, and the flames about their
bodies were extinguished. The had hardly been accom-
plished when a loud ezploeion took place in the chop, by
Which the lad in Mr. Tilliard's employ "as thrown down and
hie head severely aut. He was immediately removed to
Guy's Hospital, where he at present remains.
Engines quickly mired, but no water could be procured
from the mains in the district. The fire having reached
the upper five prior to the 'reined of the firemen, it shortly
afterwards penetrated the casks filled with gunpowder, when
a loud explosion took place, the noise of which could be dis-
tinctly beard in the city and in most ports of the metropo!ia.
At the lame time the roof was lifted high into the air end
scattered to pieces. The front wall anti the various fl eon
were simultaneously hurled la vlow,and numerous parties pass-
ing along or standing near the premises were thrown down,
and Kenai must have been severely injured by the
filling of the bricks atod timber. The noise occasioned by
the explosion, had barely subsided, when the house from the
base to the top presented one body of flame. After the lapse
of 20 minutes or half en hour water was obtained, and the
whole of the firemen having set to work, they nucceeded by
nine o'clock in getting the flames entirely extinguished,
when upon an examination being made the damage done
was found to be most extensive.
Independeet or the total destruction of Mr. Tillind's pre-
mises and their contents, nearly a dozen other buildings are
damaged. Amongst the number are the premises be-
longing to Mr. Preece, and called the Surrey liar-
mimic Hall, in which the valuable chandeliers
and plate glue in the picture gallery are broken
by the force of the explosion. The premises o( Mr. Demme,
ruural salesman, No. 27 in the same street, are erverely in.
red by the exploaion ; as are those of Mr. Miller, baker,
In
o. 29. the same thoroughfare. The King's Arms tavern,
belonging to Mr. Chedjoy (opposite), his the front damaged
by the fire, and the windows broken by the explosion. Mrs.
J. Sanders, confectioner, has part of her premises injured,
the glass vases and cases in the shop are demolished, and the
windows destroyed. The Windsor Castle tavern, and scro-
tal houses in Bevel's-row, at the rear of Mr. Tilliard's pre-
mises, are likewise damaged.
Mr. Tillierd, who was partially insured in the Sun Fire-
, office, will lose upwards of 1,0001. beyond the sum he wu
insured for.
Flan Ire LAYBETIL—About one hour previous to the above
are taking place another occurred at the hat factory of Mean.
Ashlin and San 455, Cornwall-road, Lambeth. It began
in the proof-makers' shop, in consequence of the boiling
over of a copper of composition used in rendering the
hats waterproof. The material being of a very inflammable
character the whole compartment soon became one sheet of
fire. At that period five persons were on the premises, and
they were quickly surrounded with flame ; and before they
could effect their escape, they were all more or lees injured,
two of the warehousemen being so badly Merced as to be
obliged to be taken to Guy's-hospital. The engines were
unable toget the mastery over the fire until the prop/makers'
shop was nearly burned out, and the bodymakers' shop and
contents damaged by heat, itc. The firm, it is understood,
was insured.

TEE MURDERS IN LIVERPOOL.
THB INQUEST.
Yesterday en inquest on the bodies of the sufferers
by the late murders in Liverpool was held before Mr. P. F.
Curry, the borough coroner, and a jury. The iury proceeded
in the first Instance to view the body of Mrs. llenrichson, at
the Southern Hospital, and the inquest commenced at the
police court, about Itelf.past eleven o'clock.
Daniel Roebuck, a boy was the first witness called. He
said that on Wednesday he took some chilli to the houie of
Mrs. Henrichson. I rang at the bell, but got no answer. I
then looked through the keyhole, Ind saw the legs or feet of
some female lying in the lobby. Mold not Fee her head.
When first he locked he heard mynal steep groans. Con-
cluding that she must. have faineed, he called a boy and
told him to look through the key-hole. Then went to the
cellar door and shouted. Got upoothe window sill, and saw
the servant and child lying in the front patlonr. He then
fetched a policeman. .
John Hughes, the young man who:broke the window and
Bret entered the house, reposted•the evidence he had given
before Mr. Rushton. When it was finished the prisoner
said " I've get no questions to put to that chap."
Mr. Martin, surgeon, first adled to the house, repeated
the evidence already published.
Jas. Wilson, police-constable, 623, produced the knife
with which the youngest child's throat had been cut. Its
production caused a shudder of horror in court, and the
prisoner was apparently the only one unmoved.
Police-constable Hough produced the bent poker found
near Mrs. Henriekson's head. It was the head of the
poker, it appeared, with which the blows bad been in-
flicted'. He also produced the shattered bonnet and veil
that Mrs. Henrieheon bad worn.
Henry rover, another officer, exhibited the broken tongs
and bloody shovel. The newspaper, it appeared, which the
murderer hM been reading just before the tragedy was the
Eastern Comas, Herold. The witness went up stairs on
the diseeney et the murder, and found a box of jewellery
that had been broken open. A chest of drawers had also
part been opened, and of Ithe clothes scattered upon the
floor. (The box of
)jewellery was produced ; it was in a very
shattered condition. undisturbed. ained also several era-
' Iles of plate, appanntly lt hid a clasp lock
in front.
The prisoner at this stage of the proceedings intimated to
the turnkey a desire that witnesses should be called to prove
an alibi.
The Coroner said, very well, it would be desirable to do
se. He meant to sit till twelve o'clock at night, if necessary,
to complete the inquest, and he would rather finish it in one
day. He asked where were the prisoner's witnesses ?
The Prisoner.—l gave timely notice that I wanted them.
The Coroner ordered them to be sent for.
The inquiry was proceeding when our parcel was de-

.F 15.116•••••• •
Our reporter adds:—Mn. Henrichson's death was commu-
nicated to the prisoner Wilson on Sunday, but the intelli-
gence bad not the slightest effect on him. He bu been
rather sullen of late; but on Sunday this gloominess gave
way. to a fit of passion, during which he vowed vengeance
asainst Mr. Commissioner Clough, and made an attempt to
force a stick out of the hands of the turnkey who attends
him, designing, ibubtlewly, to commit some mischief; but
fortunately he was foiled. He afterwards b me-
ditative, and ejaculated something to kjeSsoft.,
diloin*
after some preliminary remarks, deoleavytthisn j
would, when at the gal.ovre, come out Irttlisonselevala
that would astonish everybody Aftnirds. Inr.ffilif.
quiet. °.
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