The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-22 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE IPIRES.

Yesterday morning, shortly before two o'clock, a
fire of • moat alarming and destructive character broke out
in the premises belonging to Messrs. Rose and Scrivener,
milieu and wuprietors of the Steam Flour Mills, skeet* in
the New-road, Woolwich. The property occupied a large
space of ground, and the mill was stories high, ex-
clusive of the underground or basement Soon. In some of
these floors were deposited property of pest value, includ-
in a steam-engine which drove the ponderous grinding-
wheels and other apparatus, This mill stood near other
buildings, one of which was occupied by Mr. Roes, a mem-
ber of the firm, communicating with the ill-fated mill,
whilst sundry other houses in Rumell-pkoe were within
the reach of the same. A telegraphic message wee sent to
London for the Lido( the brigade firemen, and duringthe tiros
thus lest two military engines belonging to her Majarty's
dockyard and two from the Royal Arsenal attended. This
force would no doubt have been sufficient to have coped
with the fire then existing, but it is to be regretted that
sot a drop of water could be then obtained from the mains
of the Kent Company that run through the district, and the
fire being thereby unrestrained continued its ravages, and by
the time the London engines came down the whole of the mill
punted a sheet of dame. After the lapse of three quarters
of an hour the water began to flow from the fire mains in
the streets, and DO time WILIIO4 in setting the engines into
full operation, but the flames had previously obtained the
full posuaion of the mills, and were attacking with full
vigour the ppree~mmiresses of Mr. Rose, and those of Mews. Phil-
lips gad Galloway, No. 1, Russell-piece, those of Mr. 0.
lUms (private), No. 3, in the same plan, and those
lof Mr. W. Scrivener, No. 15. The flames would not
yield to the water thrown upon them for • lengthened
period, they having, from the lack of water, obtained such •
hold of the building.. The soldiers, police, and firemen,
however, kept to then work in as admirable manner, but in
spite of their exertion' the work of destroction continued;
and before3he conflagration could be extiagnished the damage
done wu very serious, which is thus officially returned by
Mr. Superintendent Braid wood:
" The steam flour mills, New-road, Woolwich, belogging
to Mears. Ruse and &tinnier, millers ; the mills brick-
Wilt, three stories high. and the contents all but destroyed.
The mese of fire is unknown. The contents of the mill
were insured in the Sun and Liverpool and London twe-
ak's. The fire wu extinguished by the military, Arsenal
when, and London firemen, with water front the Kent
C?ry (three hour late).
011. 4, Russell-place, E. Rose (private) ; hack o
first and second floors, burnt out ; part of roof off ; rooms,
building and contents seriously damaged by fire and water—
COMMLICIICIthar with the mill.
" No. 1, Russell-piece, Marrs. Phalli and Gallo-
way (private) ; contests seriously damagd • uninsured.
No 3, ditto--Mr. 0. Harris, coatenta ;kluged. In-
surgclin the Lancashire of toe.

No. 15, ditto—Hr 7 ii.gcrivener (private), b►ck front
facectied, mid contents damaged by removal. Insured in
W Union fire Aim"

Ths police and military rendered great amistamos to the
firemen by keeping a space clear for the working oil the
engines.
Another fire, and which was attended with a serious Ines
of property, happenel in the premises belonging to Mr. H.
Love, a builder, carying on business at No. 1, Robert-
street, Sidney•street, ltepoe7. The sown= of the
and emend of the London brigade were soon in att
ard fortunately a good supply of the Fast London Com-
pany's water was obtained, but the fire continued to pro-
and it could not be extinguished until the factory of
llr. Lase was burnt down, the contents consumed, in-
cluding the men's working tools. The sufferer was insured
in the Hand and Hand tire-office. The premises of Yr. C.
Adarnsoo have also the back windows burned out end the
isontente seriously damaged by firs and water. This sufferer
was uninsured.

in il7e mane street, belonging to Mr. T. Hoppe, are
also partially destroyed, especially at the back. Uninsured.
No. 4, belonging toMr. lt. Phillips, have sustained similar
injury.
Mr. J. Thompson, the chairenaker, has the whole of his
stabling destroyed, but fortunately the hones were ell saved.
No. 17, Hawkinsedrest, the property of Mr. Rumford,
are also severely dameged.
No. Is, belonging to Mr. R. Schofield, have the back
windows burnt out and the contests seriously damaged by
fire. water, Mic. Not insured.

No. 19, Mr. G. Wyatt, tailor and draper, ham his stock-in-
trade severely damaged by Ere and water, and the back front
ot building greatly damaged. Insured in the Sun Era
oaks.

Last evening a fire of a most alarming and destructive
character broke out in some newly-erected mansions, the
property of 11r. J. Kirby, situate in }lot Bank, Forest-hill,
am. The buildings contained each 13 rooms, and the
Mimes spread rapidly, so that in a very brief period two of
the extensive buildings became enveloped in abet of lame.
The eaginm of the parish Wiry soon in attendance, when it
was focal that although • good supply of water was flowing
from the incise of the Lembeth Company, it took Do less
than B) lengths of hose, of 42 feet long, to reach the fire.
The intelligence was promptly forwarded to London by a
mounted police-oflicer, and the engines from Waterloo-road
and Southwark-bridge-road were instantly despatched to
the scene maim the direction of Acting-foreman Itedcalf and
engineer thitehouae. Upon arriving at the spot all bands
west to work, hut they were unable to piths flames eatio-
lptished until nearly 11 o'clock at night, and not before the
two buildings were nearly destroyed. The loss is consider-
able, and unfortunately the sufferer was not insured. The
origin of the fire is unknown.

A more acceptable announcement could scarcely
he puede than that which our columns contain to-day, of
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roost remarkable cireimaistauce that Lord Dundonald was spa d
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