The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-27 00:00:00

DREADFUL FIRE, AND SCARCITY OF WATER.

Oa Christmas Eve, about eight o'clock in the evening, this
workmen employed in the t vtresive manufactory of Mr. Bradford,
leather and silk japanner, situated in Ann-street. Spafields, left oft
work, ant were regaled at a neighbouring public-house with toast
and ale by their toaster, Mr. Bradford having first satisfied himself,
as war his wonted custom, that all was safe in the premises.
After paying the coned he went home to his private residence. No.
4, Tyree-street, about I:di yards from the factory, and in a few
minutes after the news came to hint that the entire of the premises
were in flames, and that it was the general fear of the inhabitants
that the whole neighbourhood would be included in the conflagra-
tion, owing to the vast quantity of varnish, turpentine, anti other
inflammable materials that were known to be in the building. Ales-
sengers were instantly despatched for the engines, and in a very
short space of lime those of the Sun. Beacon, Royal Exchange,
and other offices. arrived on the spot. At this time the Hanna hail
not bunt through the roof, which was constructed or cot iron, and
enclosed with a composition called zinc, instead of tiles it slates;
but the interior Of the building. which is upwatds of 21e) feet in
length, extending from Ann-street into %rilliatii-street, resembled
a spacious furnace.
The most indescribable confusion and ahem) prevailed in conse-
quence of the insufficient supply of water, although the premises
almost joined the New River Head; it was full half an hour
before any water could be obtained from the plural in IVA.
liani-street, and then • very scanty supply was furnished. In
Ann-street the want of aster was more severely felt than in Wil-
liam-street ; and it was the general opinion, that had the engines
been actively plied with that necessary article, that wing of the
budding would have been rescued from the devouring element.
At about nine o'clock, notwithstanding the impregnable nature of
the fossil or sine, the dames burst through the roof with terrific
fury, and threatened total devastation to all around.
The house, No. 11. in 'William-street, occupied by Mr. Nicoll.
was discovered to have caught tire in the rear, and the family were
necessitated to take refuge in a ceiFhbour's house. The houses
in tit. Helena-Owe, the hacks of which ran on a parallel with the
premise's, ware considered in the utniest danger ; their destruction
seemed inevitable. The scene here was beyond description—the
occupiers of the houses, who were all of the middle class, were seer.
running in every direction with their little property, and the field
in front of the houses was covered • ith every description of fund-
tare. Such was the impetuosity of the themes, that all attempts to
rescue any of the stock contained in the premises from the destruc-
tive element were funnel to be ineffectual, and the whole fell • prey
to its ravages.
We are informed by Mr. Bradford, that this period of the season
being his busiest time, the premises contained considerable pro.
petty. consisting of leather, silks, and cloths, which had been sent
him to be pubahett ; that he was insured in the linperial, but was
confident he should be a considerable sull.rer by the calamity,
owing to his business being considered treble hazardous. therefore
the pre of insurance was very heavy. By twelve o'clock the
flames were entirely subdued, leaving these extensive premises a
heap of ruins.
The origin of the fire cannot be ascertained, but there tieing se.
veal stoves on the premises, in which tires are kept tlay and night,
it is piesunual that it must have originated from their being t,,,er_
heated, or that the stoking.hole door had been left open, from
which a spark escaped, and communicated to some of the Itillam.
inside articles kept in die fActery. The skeleton oh the iron roof still
remains, and has a very singular appearance; about four years
since it cost SOUL

Fi a Es.—On IVednes4lay evening, about half-past five
o'clock, a fire broke out in premises in Long Millgste, oc-
cupied by a pawnbroker named Thorneley, which in a very
short time were entirely destroyed, with the whole, or
nearly the whole of the property they contained, including
the account books ; but the fire was prevented from spread-
ing to the adjoining houses, for the safety of which consi-
derable apprehensions were at one time entertained. Va-
rious opinions arc suggested, and some to which we cannot
at present allude, as to the origin of the fire. The property
was insured in the Norwich Union Office, to the amount
of 1,300/. in .June last. On Thursday evening about the
same hour, a tire broke out in the premises of 31r. IValins-
ley, wadding-manufacturer, in Deal-street, Salford ; but
was got under in a very abort time, and with very trifling
loss.—Mancht stcr Grornhan.

Lr►.nt, lire. 24.—The late incessant rains have pro-
duced one of the greatest floods of the river Aire, which has
occurred for the last thirty years. The water began to rise
rapidly in the forenoon of Wednesday, and continued to
increase until nine o'clock in the evening, when it reached
its highest elevation. At that time the whole of the streets
on the south side of the bridge were under water, in some
parts of Water-lane it was upwards of two feet, and in
Ilimslet-lane, which is more elevated, it was fourteen
inches in depth. All the cellars and most of the shops and
houses on the gtountl floor were tilled with water. The
strength atul impetuosity of the cut tent in the channel of
the river was so great as to wash away the embankment
wall for the length of fifty )arts in Water-lane, by which
means the •road has fallen in nearly seven feet in breadth
The toll-bar and wooden house at Waterloo Ford were
swept awry, as was shin a bridge erected over the Aire,
near KUkstall, called Red-eoat Bridge. A sand boat be-
longing to Mr. Teal was driven from its moorings, and a
great numb:r of trees were floated down the river. But
we are glad to state, that this alarming inundation has not
been fatal to life, so far as we have been able to learn, in a
siogle installer.
The following etrcumstance, so honourable to the parties
conettned, and so well deserving of imitation, we mention
with great pleasure :—light years ago, a gentleman of the,
name of Nash, residing in Noble-start, Loudon. who had
rather extensive mercantile transactions in the West Hiding
of this county, became insolvent from adverse circum-
stances, and made a composition with his creditors of ten
shillings in the pound, for which they gave hint it release
from en 7 futtber eiann. Since that • • fortune has smiled
upon Its undertakings, and on Monday last he i:ave his
I'lll'6Ni invitation to dinner at the Rose and
Cfonn, in I lud,l,Ts!:eld, when be amuntriced his intention
to pay all his tL hot in full, and presorted those present
with checks upon his banker to the amount of several
thonsuol pounds. It is scarcely necessary to add, that the
cute* •a:nnlent which fellowed was enjoyed by all parties:
and the creditors, to mark their settee of his honourable
conduct, have resolved to present Mr. Nash with a splen-
did piece of plate of the value of one hundred
hh.stinfz an appropriate inscription. in which a iust romp-
mem will be paid to his honour and probity.—Leeds
Mercury. _ _

The fever prevails, to a s,:rious extent, iu Man-