The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-06 00:00:00

GREAT EIRE IN LAMBETH.

A fire broke out at 12 o'clock lent night in the
extensive range of warehouses occupied by Messrs. Phillips
and Sons, wholesale rag merchants, ill Duke-street, Stam-
ford-street, Blackfriars-road. According to custom Mr.
Phillips, jun., who resides next door to the warehouse,
upon retiring [to bed went round the premises with the night
watchman soon after 11, at which time everything appeared
perfectly safe, there not being even a smell of fire. Mr. Phil-
lips and family bad not been in bed more than a few minutes
when they were alarmed by the reflection of a strong light
through the windows of their bedrooms, and on looking
out to ascertain the cause, discovered the centre warehouse
to be in flames. The alarm was at once given, but before
any assistance could he obtained, the whole range of ware-
homes, containing 700 tons of rags, were in one mass of
flames. The warehouses being surrounded by •
number of small dwellings, the greatest excite-
ment and alarm prevailed, and in a abort time
Duke-street, Thomas-street, Princes-street, and Broad-
wall, were filled with the furniture brought oat of the
surrounding houses. By this time several engines had ar-
rived, but owing to the scanty supply of water but one of
them could be brought into play, and was totally useless to
stem the progress of the flames. In half-an-hoar from the
fire breaking out, the whole of the warehouses and their
contents were entirely destroyed, together with the stabling
in the rear, in which were three valuable horses, which
were burnt, the rapidity of the flames preventing any possi.
bility of saving them. The fire had by this time attacked
the dwelling-house of Mr. Phillips in Dukeetreet, which
was speedily gutted. The houses on the south aide of
Thomas-meet, Nos. 1 to 10, next caught, the back I
portion of which were destroyed before the engines
were provided with a sufficient supply of water.
Several small house' in Maiden-mews, Broadwall, next fell
• sacrifice. About 1 o'clock the whole of the engines were
got
ilto play, and • great body of water then poured oo the
is all directions prevented any further destruction,
which, however, bad already been very great, considering
the short time that bad elapsed. The cause of the fire is
supposed to be spontaneous combustion. The whole of the
books and papers belonging to the firm were destroyed.
Mr. Phillips estimated his loss at about 7,0001. He is in-
sured in the Sun Office, but not to that extent. The
inhabiting the houses burnt in Thomas-street and l
mews, all working people, were generally uninsured, sad
the loss to them will be very severe, as hardly anything
could be saved, owing to the rapidity with which the flaw
spread.

THE CONDEMNED CRIMINALS AT KIRKHAM—
Wm. Robert Taylor, the Manchester murderer, will be
banged next Saturday, at lifirkdale. near Liverpool The
execution will take place at 12 o'clock at noon, and with
Taylor will also be hanged—unless a respite is granted
them, aid that is improbable—the men Burke and Ward,
who murdered a policeman named Jump at Ashton-under-
Lyne, on the 28th of June last. Since his con-
demnation Taylor has not paid very much atten-
tion to the chaplain of the Ilirkdale gaol, who has
been most earnest in his endeavours to bring the criminal
to view aright the awful position in which he is placed. For
the first few days after his committal, Taylor busied himself
in drawing up a petition for presentation to the authorities
in London, and has endeavoured on several occasions to pt
it forwarded to the metropolis, though each attempt has
been unsuccessful. As the time for his execution draws
near his sullen and morose manner seems softened,
and he is more attentive to the claims of re-
ligion ; yet still there is no remorse—at least to
all appearances; and no humiliation exhibited by
him, while he manifests no pity for those whom be has so
deeply wronged. His fiendish spirit of revenge seems to
animate him to the last, and we doubt not that what he
said was true, namely, that he would commit the same act
spin under similar circumstances. Mr. Wright, the prawn
philanthropist, has visited Taylor ; but his ministrations to
such a man are almost labour in vain. He has sot yet eon-
famed bow the children wars murdered, and intimates that
be does not intend to do so.—With regard to Harks
and Ward, their conduct is far more bsoomimg their
position. They are extremely penitent, sod are making
the moat of the time allotted to them in this life to make
their peace with heaven. Burke is a Roman catholic, and
has been consequently attended by the Rev. Mr. Gibers, •
priest of this religion. A petition is being set on fool to
have the lives of Burke and Ward spired ; and at the
Antis field psttv 011 Thureday,Mr.Rehertn,
of Manchester, -made an applicaties to the magistrates to
sign the widths', but the =giants' refused is do an.
The wives of Burnt and Ward have visited their haeliands
during the week. The interviews with their wives sewed
greatly to console the prisoner&