The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-29 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN BLOOMSBURY.

The most awful fire that has occurred in the
metropolis for many years past took place yesterday morning,
and we regret to state was attended with the merinos of no
lens that fifteen liras.'

The some of this fearful calamity was Gilbert-street,
Bloomsbury, a narrow thoroughfare running out of Museum-
street into Bury-street, whilst the houses in Great Rouell-
- opposite the British Museum, flanked the ill-fated
house on the northern extremity, and so close that at one
time it was feared that the fire would have destroyed many
buildings at the rear.
In the middle of Gilbert-street, on the north-east side,
stood a home containing not more than eight upper rooms,
whilst the ground floor was occupied by • carpenter and
builder named Taylor, there being no basement floor to the
place. The second floor was occupied by • man and his wife
named Eastwood and three children, the beck part of the
same floor being in the tenure of a Mr. Smith, his wife, end
seven children ; and the premises of Mr. Sawbrey, a mineral
collector, in Great Russell-street, had • passage which
touched upon the burning property, the only separation be-
tween the two buildings being a wooden partition.
The discovery was made by police constable Sullivan, 34 R,
seeing smoke issuing from the back part of the ground floor
of one of the bonzes. So intense was the smoke that at first
he was unable to toll whether it came from the building in
question or from the adjoining houses ; that on the s•ategn
aide being used as the Bloomsbury Dispensary, end that on
the western side belonging to Masers. Eastoph, pianoforte
manufacturers, whilst the extensive factory of Mr. Harding,
fringe and bell-rope makers, stood immediately opposite, and
narrowly escaped being destroyed. After the lapse of a few
minutes the constable found out the exact seem of the con-
flagration, and without a moment's delay sounded an alarm.
By knocking violently at the street door, and afterwards
springing his rattle, he succeeded in making some of the in-
mates aware of their impending danger, but not until the
fire had gained poeseseion of the whole of the lower part of the
house, and melting up the staircase had cut off all means
of egress by the regular way. The affrighted occu-
pants--or, more correctly speaking, as many as were
awakened—made an attempt to descend by the stairs, ,
but the moment they reached the landing they were met by
such volumes of sparks and hot smoke that they were obliged
to return to their respective rooms. Eastwood, with his wife
and three children, shortly afterwards made their appearance
at the second floor window, screaming piteously for help.
Sullivan (the policeman) and another officer, at the risk of
their lives, did all that was possible to rescue this family, and
fortunately they were enooessful, but in an adjoining room
on the same floor were a Mr. Smith, his wife, and seven
children, and to get to there persons was found an impossi-
bility. A man named Hedgers and his son also lived in some
portion of the building, and they have likewise perished.
Almost facing the burning property was a newly-erected
house, and there being a ladder against the scaffolding it was
carried to the spot and every endeavour was made to get the
inmates out pending the arrival of the Royal Society's fire-
escape, which was stationed not further away than Blooms-
bury Church. Unfortunately, the polies and others were
unable to make the rest of the occupants aware as to how
they could reach the ladder, and a young man, eon of Mr.
Smith, finding the fire spreading so fearfully,
jumped out of window, and falling upon • police-
man, alighted with his head upon the stones, and
was so frightfully injured that he was obliged to be
removed to the hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.
His father and mother, and seven children, being over-
come by the heated smoke, were unable to get to the window,
and they fell beneath the action of the flames and perished.
Conductor Christian soon arrived with the fire-escape ; but
unfortunately, when be got to the end of the street, he was
unable for some minutes to t►ke his machine to the place,
owing to some barriers that crossed the road to shore up the
houses on either side. By lowering his machine he was at
length enabled to bring It to the house ; and having placed it
against the Bloomsbury Dispensary, next door, be got upon
the roof, thinking that there were windows at the beck of
the burning house, from which he might be able to rescue
those who were known to be in the place. The flames at
that period were rushing out of the flint and second floor
front windows. Unfortunately, it proved that there was no
window at the back of the house, consequently the con-
ductor was unable to enter from that part; and the flames
rushing out furiously, from the front windows also pre-
vented him from rendering any &Mamce in that quarter.
Information of the outbreak having been sent to the
engine-stations with as little delay as possible numerous en-
gines of the London brigade attended under the direction of
Mr. Cole the foreman of the B district, and engineers Wil-
kinson, Flemming, Glraud, and other officers, as well as the
West of England firemen and engines. An abundant supply
of the New River Company's water was procured, from
which the engines were immediately set to work, but before
the men had time to throw a drop of water upon the fire it
had extended across the road, and was attacking the front of
the manufactory belonging to the Mesas. Hardings, the
fringe makers, and strong apprehensions existed for the
safety of the Bloomsbury Dispensary, and the houses in
Great Russell-street. The moment the hose of the different
engines could be charged with water, the firemen, under the
direction of their superior officers, exerted themselves Ina
most intrepid manner, and by conveying the leathern piping
round the adjoining houses, and into the one on tire, they
were enabled to cut off the further extension of the fire in the
directions of the Dispensary, the pianoforte factory, and the
fringe warehouse*, but it bad already gained upon the beak
part of the premises belonging to Mr. Sawbrey, the mineral
dealer, in Great Russell-street. The firemen then tried to says
this last named property, but at first there seemed not the least
chance of their doing so, for the flames were rushing out of
every window in the house in which they oommenced, and
were rising so high into the air as to light up the whole of
the west end of London, and the parish church of Blooms-
bury and the gilded work in front of the British Museum
were brought out in striking relief, and the inhabitants on
either side of the blazing property were removing their
goods. By great perseverance the firemen managed to gee
the fire extinguished in Mr. Sawbrey's premises, bat not
until the owner had sustained serious damage, not only to
his house, bat the valuable contents. The firemen next
directed all the force of water at their command upon the
premises in which the fire commenced. Whilst they were so
employed the roof suddenly fell in, carrying with it not only
the two floors down, but also the front wall ; and it seems a
perfect miracle that some of the men who were standing in
front with the branches of the engines in hand were not
crashed to death ; but we are happy to say that
not one of them sustained the slightest injury, although the
walls fell completely across the carriage-rod. By keeping
to their posts, the firemen eventually succeeded in getting
the fire entirely subdued, and as soon as the ruins were suffi-
ciently cooled for any one to enter with safety, they com-
menced removing the debris, to search fur the unfortunate
persons missing. This task devolved upon Wilkinson and
Flemming, of the Brigade, and Wing and Hemmings, of the
West of England office. After digging for some time, they
found the body of a man, terribly burned, the bodies of two
females, and after that the bodies of two male children. These
were at once placed in shells, and removed as privately as
possible to St. Oleo's workhouse. Mr. Nene, one of the
medical officers of the union, being present, and pronouncing
each came past medical attendance. Upon resuming the
search, the firemen found • female child and three men.
These were also burned to death, and were likewise taken to
St. Oiler's workhouse. Two lade were next dug out of
the ruins, also dead, and from the position they were
found in are supposed to have fallen from the upper
floor, when the roof fell in. The remains were likewise
taken to the workhouse. Upon further search, • woman
and two children were found, they having to all appearance
been suffocated before the fire seized their bodies. The total
number, therefore, found burned in the ruins Is 14, and the
man who jumped out of window and has vino, perlahsd
swells the number to 15 persons who have lost their lives in
this dreadful manner.

Ont of the 20 persons who lodged in the bows, only flee
escaped, namely, Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood end their three
children.
" '

As to the origin of the calamity, not the least reliable infor-
mation can be obtained. It seems, however, from the how-
tint since made of the ruins, that there was • dust
bin at the hither end of the shop, and It is not Improbable
that some heated aladere may have been placed therein,
aid afar osoaldistiag for soma boars bars beak= oat into •

flame. nething b gette weds, that the fire commenced,
if not fa prides epl, lily um%
The yew Imerk as Bun Fire-office, but none
of the otonpais of ess Men destroyed were insured for •
single yew. Mr. Se whrey, in Greet Russell-street, has
also sustained peat damage by are and water, but he was
insured in the Sun-office. The factory of Messrs. Mailings,
opposite, was much scorched by the action of the dames.
Stich a painful sensation has the melancholy affair created
in the neighbourhood, that thousands of persons repaired to
the spot during the day, and it required a body of the E and
A divisions of police, under Superintendent O'Brien and In-
spector Feathers, to keep them out of danger.
Mrs. Eastwood, one of the survivor., makes the following
statement of facts :-1 wee aroused this morning, but I can-
not state at what time, by the springing of rattles by the
police and loud cries of are. I immediately awoke my hus-
band and children, and we mashed to the window, against
which I perceived that a ladder ,had been placed.
A policeman was amending. I gave him • child
and get out myself. lie tech us both down
into the street. Another constable brought out my other
children and my husband, I believe. At all events, we were
all rescued. Mr. Badger's family lived above us, and in •
hook room the Smiths. Although they were so high up,
there wee no chance of escape from the top, for there was
no trap door. I did not see or hear anything of them during
the progress of the Are, for I warn so confused. All in the
hove went to bed early. I have no idea how the lire ori-
ginated, but I suppose it must have broken out in Mr. Tar
issoe oarpenter's shop. Ths rem et On top-at tin home- •
was uninhabited. I had let one of the top rooms to • man
who had a wife and four children, and who is at present re-
siding in Browalow-strset, Lowy-lane. Be was to have
come in lest night ;(Saturday), bat on account of the stove
being broken he bad providentially deferred taking posses
don until Monday evening.

Another account says, in reference to the falling of the
first floor—lt Is almost Impossible to describe the thrill of
horror which ran through the crowd at this moment. For
a time all exertions seemed to be paralysed, and it was only
after the tepee of some minutes that the engines were again
brought into play to extinguish the flames, left unsmotherecf
by the fall of the brickwork. As soon as this object was ac-
complished, the police, firemen, and spectators set to work
to extricate any living beings or human bodies that might lie
beneath, and about four o'clock the first body was taken out.
Within threw hours after thirteen other bodies were found,
thus making fifteen deaths in all—the dwellers in the house
being then all accounted for.

The scene was a sickening one. As the bodies were
found they were placed in shells and conveyed to St. Giles's
Workhouse, where they now lie ; and those who wish to see
a genuine chamber of horrors can do no better than pay a
visit, if permitted, to the dead-house there. In one coffin lie
two poor little fellows (Smiths), about five years old, said to
be twins, not much scorched, but with bleeding wounds
upon their foreheads, as if they had been killed by the fall ;
In another coffin lies a boy, apparently 12 or 14 years old,
whose wriate appear to be a good deal scorched, but who
also seems to have been alive when the house fell in. This
poor little fellow has his trousers just drawn upon his lege,
as if awakened and preparing for escape when death over-
took him. In another coffin lies Mrs. Hedger, shrivelled and
mummy-like, dead apparently from scorching and suffocation ;
and in other coffins lie members of both families, who appear
to have received more injury from the fall than from the fire.
In all eight bodies lie in shells; but the parish seems to have
been quite unprepared for such a demand upon them. The
workhouse does not possess a sufficient number of shells, and
laid upon some sew-dust are six other bodies, among which
that of Mrs. Smith seems to h►vc suffered most from fire,
while the others seem to have guttered from other injuries as
well. In the whole the scene is one which few would care
to see twice in a lifetime.

The surveyor to Mr. Taylor, 90, Great Russell-street,
who ls the landlord of the property in question, communicates
the following particulars
" The property consumed is held on lease from the Duke
of Bedford, and wee erected in 18.50. There is no basement,
and the ground-floor was need as a carpenter's-shop.
The first and second floors were in resident occupation,
and comprised four rooms on each floor. On the first floor,
eest side, livedpfr. Eastwood, engaged at Kent's machinery
department, Holborn, w►o, with his wife end three
children, escaped; Mrs. Eastwood wee saved through the
instrumentality of T. Curio, Bury-street. On the second
floor, east side, lived Mr. HedgerZwife, end two children,
both boys, one aged 14 and the other 19, destroyed. On the
west side resided Mr. Smith, wife, and nine children, all lost,
having occupied two rooms. Mr. Smith's eldest eon jumped
from the two-pair floor. and was so injure] that he was taken
to University Hospital, and of him the house surgeon re-
porta that three ribs are broken, legs and arms burnt, toge-
ther with concussion of the brain. Little hopes are enter-
tained of his recovery. The entire premises were undorlet to
T. Stubbs, carpenter. The origin of the fire is enveloped in
mystery, no one having been in the carpenter's shop since
half-past 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, nor has there been
any fire lighted to heat glue for upwards of one week. Mr.
Taylor was on the premises shortly after the outbreak, nor
did be leave until he saw the fourteen bodies taken out from
the ruins. The bodies were placed in shells, and were taken
to St. Giles's Workhouse."

FIRE AT DEPTFORD.—ShortIy before the cala-
mitous fire took pleas in Bloomsbury another happened in
Bing-street, Deptford . It commenced in the premises be-
longing to Mr. W. Ward, known u the Alma coffee and chop
Keane, situate at No. 5 in the before-mentioned street. In
this use the inmates managed to effect a safe retreat, but not
without considerable difficulty. The engines of her Majerty't
dockyard, and two of the London, with that of the Wert of
England ethos, arrived with ell possible expedition ; but the
flames during the interval made fearful progress, and seized
upon the premises of Mr. J. Webb, a pork butcher (No. 4),
and also on No. 6, an oil and Italian warehouse. The
firemen, under Mr. Henderson, the chief officer of the
district, went to work; but they were unable to get
the tire extinguished until Mr. Ward's premises were de-
stroyed, and those on either side seriously damaged. Tho lose
will fall on the Norwich Union and Bun lire offices. The
origin of this fire is also unknown.

AXTRNSIVI FIRE AT THE SALISBURY STA-
TION OF TSB SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.

SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY.
The South Western Railway station at Salisbury
was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday night. The 9.40
p.m. train had just left, and but one or two offieials remained
on the premises, when Limes were observed issuing from the
ticket-office, which, together with the waiting rooms and
superintendent.' offices, in a few minutes presented an un-
broken sheet of flame. An alarm was immediately given,
and hundreds of persons hunted to the spot, but the building
being chiefly composed of wood, it was at once per-
ceived that any attempt to arrest the program
of the flames would be wholly unavailing. From the
ticket office and waiting rooms the fire almost instan-
taneously extended to the parcel and telegraph °Mose
and to the passenger abed adjoining, and in less than en boor
the whole range of building—about 350 feet—was burnt to
the ground, two or three poste and chimney stacks only re-
maining. The light was so strong at one time as to throw
the tell spire of the distant osthedral into bold relief, and
shortly atter the flames attained their height, and only the
framework, as livers, of the building remained, the scene could
only be compared to a huge pyrotechnic display. flo destruotible
were the materials that no quantity of water that could have
been applied would have sufficed to extinguish the burn-
ing mass. Attention wee therefore directed to the preserva-
tion of the goods station, on the opposite side of the yard,
which at one time, owing to the intense heat, was placed in
great jeopardy. Fortunately the wind was low, and water
having been thrown upon some fencing which bad ignited close
by, no further damage was sustained. There was no great
amount of property in the building which was destroyed, bat
owing to thewMeneess of the outbreak, and the rapidity,
with which the flames travelled, it was found impossible to
save the books. Mr. Hayward, the station-master, left by
special train shortly steer 11 o'clock, for the purpose of con-
Ming, by telegraph from another station, information of the
catestrophe to the -authotities in London. The origin of the
Ste is as yet unknown, but it is supposed to have cetginated
hem acme daunt in the gas pipes. Trains will continue to
tea ma usuaL

Mr. Rivers Wilson (of the Treasury) continues to
fall the duties of Private fleonisry to the present. si he did
to the late, Financial Secretary of the Treasury. Yr. B.
Stephenson (of the noway) is appointed Amasses Private
Secretary to Sir W. Jollifle.-oMwrewr.
CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISZASZS OP
TER CRIS; VICTORIA-PA-11.—Tbm number of patients re-
lieved at this institution darter the last week was I,cea, of
which 184 wore new our.

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