The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-27 00:00:00

LTWOPENCE.

DZSTRUCTION OP BT. MARTIN'S-MALL BY

FIRE.

St. Martin's-hall, the magnificent building erected
by Mr. Mullah for his singing classes, we. totally destroyed
by a fire which broke out at 4 o'clock yssterd►y morning is
as adjoining coach factory.
The hall, as is well known, occupied a large plot of
ground, extending southwards from a frontage in Long-acre
(nearly opposite Bow-street) to Wilaonstreet on the north,
and to Charles-street on the east. On the west Messrs.
Kerterton's coach factory cumpleted the block of buildmp,
having a double frontage in Long-acre and in Hanover-
street. It was in the upper floor of this factory that the
fire broke out, and, as is generally believed, in the painters'
shop. It was first observed by polioe-cosetable Rooke, of
the Ir division, who, with a brother officer, while ea duty
in the neighbourhood, fancied be observed the rellsotion
of flames behind the upper range of windows. A very few
moments established the correctness of the officer's sus-
picion ; and an immediate alarm having been given in the
neighbourhood, cabs were despatched to the various sta•
tines of the fire brigade for assistance. Mr. Superin-
tendent Durkin was very sun on the spot, and under
his management a large body of pollee officers was speedily
organised, who blocked up the thoroughfares sled effected
all that could be accomplished towards saving the pro-
perty. The rapidity with which the fire extended itself
woe se great that before the arrival of the earliest engines
the flames had burst through the roof of Messrs. Kesterkee
premises, and, aided bye strong westerly wind, were driven
in dangerous proximity to the adjoining hall. Mr. Togo,
an experienced officer of the fire brigade, who has the
charge of this division of the metropolis, and who brought
the first engine to the fire, at onos saw the perilous position,
of SO Martin's-Ilan, sad, by causing hose to be carried up
to the summit of the building, did all in his power to pre,-
vent the conflagration spreading. But the fire was too
powerful to be acted upon by the comparatively small body
of water that could be thrown upon it in this direction,
and on Mr. Braldwood's arrival from Watling-street, in has
than half an hour after the outbreak, be expressed his
strong opinion that all attempts; to save the ball woe* be
unsucceshil. This apprehension acted rather as an incen-
tive to the exertions of the fire brigade, who worked moat
manfully ; but the great height of Messrs. Kerterton's pre-
mises offered a serious obstacle to their labours; and before
the roof fell in the flames had extended themselves to the
fanlight over the staircase of St. Martin's-hall, whence they
made rapid progress to the upper portioe of the building,
until preseatly the ball itself became a part of the general
wreck.

Mr. Braidwood, on seeing the magnitude of the fire, sent
for the new steam fire-engine, which arrived about half.
peat five o'clock, and was soon got to work. This machine,
as well as a dozen ordinary engines, continued to throw im-
mense volumes of water upon the fire for several !lours, but
all that could be done was to save the adjoining bonsai and
shops in Long-acre. Mews. Kesterton's premises were
entirely gutted before six o'clock, floor after floor having
fallen in, and nothing but the walls being left standing ;
and in an hour later only the bare brickwork outline re-
mained to show where St. Martin's-hall had formerly stood.

The engines continued to play upon the fire until ten
o'clock yesterday morning, when beyond the smouldering
debris in the basement floor of Messrs. Kesterton's pre-
mise', from which dense volumes of suffocating smoke
arose, nothing remained to be consumed.

The scene of the fire was visited by many thousands of
persons during yesterday, and great sympathy was ex-
pressed for the lose Mr. Hulleh has sustained. Only the
minor hall and the lecture-room in the basement story re-
main—the rest of the building is entirely destroyed. Mr.
Mullah bad left town for Bevis on Saturday, his classes
having closed for the season. Mrs. Mullah received early
information of the disaster at her residence in Winipele-
'treat, and immediately telegraphed to her husband. The
valuable collection of music belonging to Mr. Mullah bad
been deposited in the vaults under the ball a few days pre-
viously, and by that means has been preserved.
The only selvage effected upon Messrs. %mission's pre-
miles; wee about 60 or 70 carriages, which were drawn out
aLthe building by the police, and run for safety under the
portico of the Royal Italian Opera House, It is a singular
coincidence that this same coach factory (then occupied by
Yam. Home) was in great part destroyed by a five which
broke out in the upper part of the building about four
o'clock on Sunday morning exactly nine years ago.

The first stone of St. Martin's-ball was laid by Viscount
Morpeth (now Earl of Otrlisle) on the 21st of June, 1847. It
was built by Alderman Cubitt, from the design of Mr. R.
Westmaoott, on a site which it is understood was presented
to Mr. Mullah by one of the great civic companies, either
the Goldsmiths or the Mercers. The style of architem
ttue was Elizabethan, with iron arched and panelledroof of
immease span, and the hell would comfortably aceommo-
&de 3,000 persons. It was first opened on the 11th of
February, 1850.
. .

- -
The following is Mr. Braidwood's official report of the
damage :
Sunday, August 26, 1860.—Called to a fire in the pre-
mises belonging to Mr. E. Kesterton, coach and carriage
builder to the Queen, situate at Nos. 93 and 94, Long-acre,
but extending round Hanover-street. The premises and
contents, exeept the goods on the groniul floor warehouses,
destroyed. Insured inthefoyal Exchange and Sun Fire -offices.
St. Martin's Hall.—The staircases and dwelling severely
damaged by fire, and moet of roof off ; the upper floors of
hall consumed, and the lower floors partially destroyed by
fire or damaged by water. Building and contents' insured
in the Sun Fire-office.

No. 91.—Mr. J. Dingle, licensed victualler, and pro-
prietor of the George and Dragon tavern, has the back
front of his premium damaged by lire and the roof burned.
and the other part of the establishment severely injured by
water. This loss will fall upon the Sun Fire.offloe.
No. 90, Hanover-street.—Mrs. J. Jennings, tobacconist.
Part of roof burnt off, and content., damaged by fire, water,
and removaL The content were insured in the Phoinix
Fire -office.

No. IN, in the same street, Mr. A. Hall, hosier—Similar
damage to building aodoontenM. Insured in the Sun Fire.
office. _ .

No. 88, ditto, Messrs. Steers and Co., pianoforte makers;
insured in the County Fire-office. The premises and the
contents 'evenly damaged by fire.
No 87, in the same street, Mr. James Stenoing, confer.
timer, back front of the private dwelling-house severely
damaged by fire and water ; insured in the Royal Exchange
Fire•office. _ . .

No. IM, ditto, Mr. Wm. Alldia, eating•houae keeper, back
warehouse soda:putouts damaged by fire, water, and hasty
removal. _ _

Mr. Hall, No. 80, Mr. Boleno, the clown, and Mr. D. Dale
have abet had their property severely damaged by the
action of the fire. Messrs. Hall and Co., alms carriage
builders, have also "untamed great Wary by fire and water.
The Enterprise Hotel has also bean greatly damaged by
fire and water. Insurance not known at present.

THE Ping Dorn.—The following protest hail
been served by Mr. Alderman Towle, of Oxford, on the
authorities at the blend Revenue Office, and • similar
notice will be served by Mr.Towle OD the collector of inland
revenue when he demands payment of the tax :—" To the
Commiesioners of Inland Revenue, their collectors, and other
agents and °Moen, and to whomsoever else it may concern.
Take notice that I, the undersigned John Towle, of Rincirsey
and Wein Mills, in thecounty of Oxford, paper manufacturer,
do protest against the levying and collection of the excise duty
on any parer made by me on or after the 16th day of
August, 1860, the gift and grant of the said excise duty for
the eervioe of her Majesty the Queen having been, with
the assent of her Majesty, revoked and repealed by the Cora-
MOSS la parliament assembled ; and further take notice,
that say payments which I may make for or in respect of
the said excise duty on any paper manufactured by me on
or after the said 15th day ofAugast, will be made under and
subject to this protest, and for the purpose of preventing
any attempts on the part of you, or any of you, to enforce
payment of the said duty, and that legal procnedings
will
be commenced against such parties as I may be advised for
the purpose of recovering all or oily sums of money to be
paid by me in manner aforesaid. (signed) "JOHN TOWEL'
AFOTHROARIRS' HALL—The following gentlemen
reeled their examination in the science and practice of
medicine, and received certificates to mane, on Thurs.
day, Anemia 23 :—John Alderso% 61rwintaw ; and Jose&
Velegbenlamellee Westmacett, CUM= nkla Workhouse.
Xsashasier.
CAIORIDOE AND BEDFORD RAILWAY.—The works
en abhor are to be commenced without delay. The cow
tract his been let to Messrs. Firbanks, and is expected to be
' executed before the close of next year.