The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-15 00:00:00

THE FIRE AND LOSS OF _ LIES IN THE

HAMPSTEAD-ROAD.

Yesterday afternoon Dr. Lankeater resumed the
investigation as to the deaths of the three children of Mr.
Lazarus, clothier, of 44, Hampstead-road, which resulted
from the effects of a fire which broke out on the premises
mentioned on the night of Monday week last. In
consequence of the painful excitement which the occur-
rence has created it was felt that the board-room at
University College Hospital would be inadequateto acooui-
modate the public. Upon the application of the coroner
the use of the St. Pancras Vestry Hall was granted for the
continuation of the inquiry, and a large number of persons
assembled. The jury, in accordance with arrangement
prior to the adjournment, assembled at half-past one in
the Hampstead-road, to view the premises where the fire
took place, and the room on the first floor where the three
children were suffocated, and the inquest was resumed at
two o'clock.
Mr. Solomon, solicitor, again attended to watch the pro-
ceedings on the part of the parents of the deceased chil-
dren ; Mr. Sampson Low, secretary of the Royal Recaps
Society ; Mr. Campbell, representing the Queen, and Mr.
White, of the County Fire-offices, were also present. The
police were represented by Superintendents Loxton and
Webb of the S and T divisions,
Augustus Evererd was first called and sworn. He said
—I was in the employ of Mr. Lazarus as porter. I was
there on the night of Monday, the sth November. Ido
not know who put out the gas. I was not in the habit of
putting it out myself. I abut up the shop. The gas in
the window was put out while I was shuttingup the shop. I
went into the shop that night after I had shut up. There
were two burners left alight as usual at the bottom of the
shop. That was about 10 minutes past 9. I screwed up
the shutters oni the inside, and then put out the two
burners at the end of the shop. I locked the shop deer
and gave Mr. Lazarus the keys, and then went home to
Charles-street. It was about 20 minutes to 10 when I
heard of the fire, and I ran back to the house and saw the
shop all in flames. I asked if the children were out, and
was told they were, and that three had gone to the hos-
pital. I did not turn the gas off at the main. It was the
general rule to do so. I turned the shop main off, and
am quite sure I did not forget to turn the burners off.
1 Witness here explained that be did not turn the gas off at
the main ; Mr. Lazarus usually did that.
By the Jury—There was a burner iminediately under the
shop inside the kitchen, which used to flare very much in-
deed when the main was turned off. Iliad orders to turn
off the gas at the main every night. I left the house with
Mr. Lazarus and forgot the gas that night. When the
burner flared in the kitchen it would burn the ceiling
if left.
Ann Wardell, servant to Mr. Lazarus, recalled—There
was only one gas burner in the kitchen. It used to flare,
but never to hurt. Ido not remember seeing it flare that
evening. I was in the kitchen all the time, and must
have seen it had it done so. It could not have set the
ceiling on fire.
Charles Radford—l am a sub-engineer in charge of
Wells-street Brigade-station, and was called to the fire at
a quarter to 19, and arrived there at 5 minutes to 10. The
fire was confined to the shop. I was about three minutes
before I could get the water on it. The fire was put out in
a quarter of an hour, or 20 minutes. I think the fire began
in one of the windows. I cannot tell whether the gas
caused it, but the gas not being turned off helped it to
spread. I saw nothing to enable me to say how the fire
was caused. There were three escape-men there. When
I had been there five minutes I opened the street door
leading into the passage. No one was standing outside
it at that time ;it was too hot. The police were keeping
the mob back.
By Mr. Solomon—/ was working upstairs before the
children were brought out. I did not know they were
there. If I had been toll when I arrived that the
children were there I could have got them out easily. It
was twenty minutes after I first went upstairs that the
children were brought out. (Sensation.)
John Hutchins-1 MU fire-escape conductor, stationed at
Trinity Church. I got to the Hampstead-road fire about
10 minutes to 10. I was told there were two children on
the second floor. I put my escape up where I was told
they were, and went up and got in and searched two rooms,
but found no one. I was told they bad been seen at the
next window on the same floor, and on going up I found I
was in the same place. I went up a third time to the
third floor, and found the beds empty. My lamp went
out, and I searched the lust room on that floor on my
hands and knees. I was then toll there was a woman on
the roof, with a candle in her hand. I went up, but there
was no one there but a man from the next house. He as-
sured me that he heard the children cry through the trap.
I then went in again, and searched the whole of the rooms,
and found the eldest child, a boy, in a cupboard or closet
on the third floor. The boy was, 1 think, alive. I sprinkled
his face with water. and brought him down and gave him
to his father. I beard when I came down that two more
children had been found on the first floor. There were a
good many people when I arrived, and the fire must
have been burning some time. I did not search the first
floor, because the people insisted that the children were
on the second floor. Towards the end a woman came to
the side of my escape, as I was throwing an extra ladder
up, and said there were two children on the third floor.
Ann Wardell recalled—lt is not as stated. I took the
fireman by the elbow and screamed to him, "The first
floor ; only the passage divides them." It was after you
(addressing Hutchins) had broken the window on the
second floor that I told you the children were in the
first door.
Hutchins—l did not see this young woman, but there
was great confusion, and the people were shouting out,
"The second floor; the second door," and then "The
next, the next," and of course I went to the third floor.
Wm.d Puckett sworn—l am foreman of the London
Salvage Corps. I arrived at this fire about five minutes
past 10. A man said there were five children at the top of
the house. I went up stairs and saw the poor boy taken out
of the closet. I went afterwards into the first floor and
found the other two deceased children in a bed. I had
that room before. It was 20 minutes at least after
l'afisr;twent into the house that the children were found.
I took them to the hospital. There was a policeman stand-
ing at the house door when I went in. I never heard there
were any children on the Snit floor.
Police-Constable Thos. Comber, 54 S—l was at the
fire in the Hampstead-road on Monday night, the
sth November. There were from 100 to 150 people
assembled when I got there. I was told there were three
children at the top of the house. I went in and up to the
first floor, and found the smoke so intense I could not go
any further. I came down, and met about half a dozen
people in the passage. I told them they could not get up
stairs. They said they would have a try, and went on,
but returned directly, saying it was impossible to go up.
I went out, and the, e were two constables at the door. I
lan for the fire-escape, and met it in the Euston-road. I
said to the conductor, " For God's sake make haste, there
are three little children at the top of the house, and there
is no other means of getting at them." When we got to
the house the people said the children were on the second
floor, then in the room on the right, and then that a woman
was on the loot. I did not see anything of the two servants,
nor of the child that was brought out safe at first. I can-
not swear that I was the first policeman there. The door
was open when I arrived. I did not see anything of the
man Reading who brought the children out.
Reeding, recalled—l saw no constable at the door when
I first went in, but police were at the door when I came
out with the second- child. I had to keep my handker-
chief to my mouth as I went up, but I could have gone up
aflain-
A police inspector said there was a witness who would
swear that he saved the two children, and not Reading.
Oscar Webb, 50 S—l was at the fire, and saw 54 S run
across the road from the shutters. As I got to the corner
of Mr. Lazarus's shop I saw a constable at the side door.
I rood at the shutters till the flames burst through. I
Ermasui Paw tutos.—" On the death of the went to where 216 S stood, and he told me no one was to
Taicoon of Japan," says a letter from that country in the go into the house. Several " rough cove* " wanted to go
Indi nee, ten high dignitaries demands(' the un- in. I did not see Reading or the girls. I beard nothing
ble favour of being allowed to rip themselves up in of any children being on the first floor till the fire-escape
honour of the deceased ruler. Five only were deemed came. When I arrived the door was open, and 216 8 was
worthy, the others not being safficieatly noble to re- standing there by himself. I saw men come out of the
tt. rive " hoes% Than were aLA at people who wanted to pis.

NOVEMBER: *l5, 18E16. '

Baba

Utmj

AowaRALTr, Nov. 14. —ArPoirnuali.
tenants -A. T. NL laNS_ the Bladc Non. L . oh,
borne, to the Satellite ; Yeat, to the St. rged,
Sub-Lieutenant—a T. Smith, to the BallarephsTC
Master's Assistant—W. rotleh gainastantar,
the Masa.
Assistant Paymaster—B. axis, aLlidasal, ie. lb

0. graympernummary,teth=diddAL
Midshipmen—C. B. Neat" C. J. N
Loess to the
&ma cader-Mlford and W. IL addad,
N&y= eCno m inste d)—R. A. Warm.

TERRIFIC GALE AT LIVERPOOL.-HOl4
SHIPPING DISARMS.

LIVERPOOL, Wringguz
The gales which have passed over Liregoi
since Saturday were exceeded lest evening led teat
one more furious than any that preceded it. Wit tre
gales of the previous days, which generally Wart, ka...
squalls, that of last night was continuous from en jig
and was aesesuanied by blinding showers of ean mita
n_the 'atter Wing of an unprecedented Wee. la le
• hbourhood of Bootle, Besforth, and %Wee, nha' es made sad havoc amoinet the windows led tin
houses of many of the more exposed and &being at.
deuces. In the river fortunately the
number of steamtisp prevented many eirele"._.
_vista hik-
-diegeng their anchors ; but one ship, inorsumeromels las
the rest, has come to grief. The British Lion, cal,
a splendid North American built ship, which karet.
reached the If on Tuesday from Quebec, Bo 183
seeherme the In the height of Bo glie a_
ship dragged her anchors, and before any essisiana
be rendered I the 'term and the heavy sea maid he
to the Devil's Bank, near Grikaiendli* at the se* em
of the town. The schooner Mineral, from Gunk* a
Runcorn, is reported &total wreck in the Vienne melt
Nothing has been heard of the crew. The Alberti,
for Genoa, has been comps/Lod to rue Wm Unit
for shelter, having suffered in the storm /in ag,
known Glasgow trader Gipsy tele il Impuid
on shore near Garlock Bead. banns ome
Spray, hence to Galveston, has hem aimed
to put beck to the Mersey in • clungaf.
The Christian, from Shoreham for Bunn.
some uhore, and remains in • very critical poen ker
Ler
ousily. The ship Ellen Stuart, which sailed silt
since for Melbourne, after attempting to bear up
head, has succeeded in reaching this port retie let,. A
foreign barque, name unknown, laden with fish, be N.
reported a wreck in the neighbourhood of Belfast.
The British Lion, mentioned as having gee a
Devil's Bank, still remained there up to the delete
this parcel, end fears are entertained that she sog hack
up if the stormy weather continues.
A steamer is reported to be last, with many het
Blackwater Bank.

on

No. 61
• :
, to AusTR.I
th• Doo
;61°6A1
)(AIL 1111
131 skiverb
001PanP al
26
114
fir
W.
_111.1L1112:11
TB
r I X
▪ CITY t
1111.rl
Prafal_
907
011 if 3
▪ sum.
▪ NOLC
tour Ca and, V;
A TI,
1184"saTeltift4
Word
I hi Amor of 0
N.t Letterm
ery add
pings r
All ltesual
14 a cedar.
London : 1
I 11440
"Zug
Trade t
Dock,
—Fur
or in I
Iceeped
2
1 ANDARC
PLANTA
.1
I R.
at b
I RROW,
3 • Wine
stands
and
• yacluths,
• •r bulbs
al Is r I I
▪ 2t,
This ash
• i MB
talk ~ ••on: 14
kid • ma. Di
• LOA
tom Fltt
• °wand,
livery. Ce
MI lAMBI%
lOWA
OSBC
la:
U
This
ABY,I
Ai I • 1111
beretr,t bot
• Bold wi
Mews.
kips". BONS, Le
Ws ----
(nißOt, CURI
try, KIM
,e• cloths, o
"'' ' at very r
MI at WY.
T' Ro
nits, n
211.61; To la
I 1316/11
COVI.
ow. sm.
fik H
, A
Bs7 ltd
Week •
tv
Lafe(C
Itsiablt
sei 0 nn
,rl4 BO 1:
SS '
111
Is 4
try IA Bad b
1•
.0
1.345 $ll
Soll LA
,cal
I,so
sa tM
L:810 tir
970 - • Pate
opio
4731 SO
nels
1,41 Mau
1° sad
474 Pins
on St Bond
OA IP VoTo