Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-10 00:00:00

A STORNI AT SPA•

For some time past the weather here has been extremely
hot. Yesterday (Aug. 4) the air was more than usually
sultry, thermometer 9) deg. Fahrenheit in the shade.
About ten o'clock a.m. a cloud of smoke was seen rising
in a southerly direction, and it was immadiately presumed
that a house was on fire in the hamlet of Creppe, situate
on a rising ground about a mile from the town. The town
fire-engine was instantly despatched, but upon its arrival
it was found to be perfectly useless, as, in consequence of
the long drought, the place was almost absolutely deprived
of water. By one o'clock 26 farm-houses and cottages,
with hay ricks, Bvc., had fallen a prey to the flames. The
church was entirely destroyed. About seven in the
evening I drove out with a few friends to the heights, near
the old race-course, on the road to Start, to get a little of
the fresh air of the bills. Halting for a few minutes, we
were admiring the distant scenery through a most tran-
sparent atmosphere, and a few thin columns of smoke still
emerging from the ruins of the devoted hamlet, when,
. looking westwards, we observed coming over from the
direction of La Reid a dense black cloud, which came on
spreading over Designy, Winanplanche, Marteau, Crippe,
Spa. and the place where, we had pulled up; it was a
whirlwind of impalpable dust and noxious exhalation ;
'this passed over in the direction of Sart, having lasted in
i s course about a quarter of an hour. The atmosphere
again became bright, but the air remained still sultry.
This morning the intense heat continued, the sun shining
brightly until about four o'clock, when suddenly the same
black-looking cloud came over Spa from the same direc-
tion, and in a few minutes there fell, amid a roar of
thunder like the booming of artillery, accompanied by
uninterrupted sharp platoon firing, such a shower of
hailstones as no one present in this place remembers ever
to have seen. The shower lasted about ten minutes; the
first hailstones that fell were of the size of grapeshot,
then like marbles, mixed with myriads of others of all
shapes and sizes, many of them of the weight of several
ounces, the greater number being spherical, nodulated, of
a quartz-like aspect, and measuring uniformly an inch
and a half in diameter. The windows were riddled, as
from a discharge of grapeshot ; slated and tiled roofs
were perforated as if traversed by shells. Fortunately,
the crowds of visitors who are usually in the after-
noon riding, driving, or sauntering about the neighbour-
hood, were just quietly seated at their table d'hote. At
the Hotel de l'Orange the hail bcrst through the windows
and broke a considerable qaantity of glass upon the table,
indenting by their violence the silverdish covers ; at the
Hotel tie Fiandre, a friend of mine standing in his bed-
room, upon a travelling trunk, to reach out of the window
and close the persiennes, was struck by a large hailstone
on the head,and knocked over. Our lovely walks, such
as the Promenade de Sept Hewes, the Place Royale, and
the Avenue du Marteau are ankle deep in twigs and
branches. At the English Club, the skylights over the
billiard-room were brokeu in, and the cloth of the billiard
table cut up completely. It would be impossible in a letter
' of this sort to describe all the ravages committed by this
truly memorable storm. We are, many of us, busy in
getting up subscriptions for the victims of the disaster at
Crippe, most of whom. are uninsured.

THE GREAT FIRE

IN EDINBURGH.

Oh' Wednesday, about half past one o'clock, an alarm
of flee was given as having broken out in the large high
block c of buildings called St. James's Court, at the top of
the Es,rthen Mound, between the buildings known as the
Free Church New College, and High Church, and the
west aide- of North Bank-street. Seeing policemen flying
up the High-street in that direction, we proceeded to the
spot, and found the fire most alarming, and threatening,
unless got speedily under by erenuous exertions, to
commit fearful ravages on the densely-built, and on the
other side extensively populated locality i:nonslia.tely
behind, reaching up to the north side of the L iwamarket.
The flames, it seams, were first observed in the fifth flit
of the stair in which the publishing office of the Edinburgh.
Gazette is situated, but how the fire originated was not for
some time ascertained. This block also cintains the prin-
cipal office of the National Security Savings' Bank, but
by great efforts on the part of the officials of that useful
establishment, and of other parties, the books, documents,
and securities were early looked after, and quickly
removed to a place of safety. The fire, commencing in
the third flat above that of the Gazette office, rapidly con-
centrated itself, and extended its devouring ravages to
the adjacent erections. These "lands" being all very old
and dry, the flames got much stuff to feed on, and fears
were rife that a vast amount of property would be likely
to fall a prey to the devastating element. The town con-
stabulary force were homed ately called off their beats
into active requisition for the occasion ; and the fire
engines from the head police ()Mee and from the other
subordinate stations, together with two from the Castle
garrison and those from L:ith Fort and Piershitl, were
very soon on the spot, and aided by human strength and
skill, readily supplied by all and sundry collected in the
general crowd—an immense and excitedly active mass of
people of all grades, sexes and ages, drawn to the
scene of destruction, did excellent service. A want
or water only at first prevented more execution
being done, in order—to a considerable extent,
at least—to-arrest tne onward progress of the Stoles.
One or two children were at this time also in some little
jeopardy, but we are happy to say that they were
ultimately rescued, and no human life was placed in any
danger, which the forethought, skill, and brave energy
and determination of the busy throng of spectators could
relieve any person from, whether young, old, or middle-
aged. The heat, before this time excessive, was now
speedily becoming overpowering, and it was difficulty,
without sustaining discomfort, if not injury, to keen
always very near the burning and livid mass of rich and
ready plunder on which the fire fast fed. It being the
corn market day, doubt:ess caused a greater number to be
present than otherwise might have found their way; bar,
irrespective of the great number of strangers, farmers,
and country people, it was' apparent that every person,
young or old, who could plunge (during the dinner hour)
to be present, was there. We observed the Lord
Provost actively exertii g himself in giving directions, a
few minutes previously, at the head of Bank-street, in the
company of the Lord Dean of Guild Weneyss ; and now
v e saw the sheriff, Mr. Gordon, with some of his friends,
at the other side assuming the high hand of authority, as
he was well entitled to do, considering the emergency and
serious aspect of affairs. The fire, it is said, originated

—though various rumours are afloat; and the cause has
not even yet been exactly ascertained—from two children
having been locked up in a room and left there by their
mother, when away on some household errand at market.
The children, it seems, got hold of some lucifers, which.

they set on fire, and thus occasioned the sad calamity
which it is our lot to chronicle. Messrs. H. and J.
Pillans, printers, especially (with many others), are
included in the catastrophe, but they are well insured.
Others, to a large number, are also involved; and,
altogether, a more terrific conli igration resulting in such
destruction of capital has not, perhaps, occurred in Ed!'-
burgh for many years; at all events, so far • as we
remember, since the great fire at Messrs. RAM:lves drug
and drysaltery establishment in Leith-walk four or fi,.e
years ago. The pecuniary loss must be large, but we
cannot state it with any approach to accuracy. Water
was at first the reverse of plentiful; but ultimately more
command over it was obtained. and all went on well in
keeping the flames under, so far as man's exertion 3 could
accomplish it. Women, too (while the stronger sex ire
hundreds and thousands were only looking on), were
actively busy in saving furniture, bedding, and the usual
domestic articles in every household, however poor. Mr.
Mitchell, the superintendent of the Fire Brigade, was
absent on leave in the country, but his deputy, Mr.
Spalding, and his, subordinates all exerted themselves
nobly, and entit!ed thethselves to great credit and honour-
able mention for their useful and energetic services. The-
Riflemen were promptly on the spot, and others of the
• military, and to them too much praise cannot be awarded.
for the interest they evinced in the subduing of the
unfortunate calamity. The other military men also
rendered important service in keeping order, and other-
wise rendering active assistants. At length, after much
anxiety as to the safety of contiguous buildings, by the
most unparalleled exertiens, about five o'clock the atten-
dant crowds of people came to consider that the fire was
pretty well nigh extinguished, and began to disperse on
their several routes. Shortly afterwards a gable fell in,
and inflicted injuries on some policemen and firemen, wha
were carried away on stretchers to the Royal Infirmary.

On Friday morning, about a quarter-past ten o'clock,
the smouerieg ruins of the great fire at James's C Aid
again brote into a blaze. This result, which was quite
unexpected after the fire appeared to be extinguished, was
evidently owing to the accumulation of materials from the
upper storeys above the flats occupied by the Savings'
Bank. The bank, which last winter had been improved
by the taking away of an intermediate storey, consisted
of what used to be the second and third storeys in this
corner of the building, and immediately that the fire had.
penetrated into this open double-storey saloon, it broke
forth suddenly and simultaneously from almost every
window. Mr. Mitchell, the firemaster, happened fortu-
nately to be on the spot at the time, and he lost no time
in again summoning his brigade. Engines and men were
speedily forthcoming, but again, we are sorry to say, their
efforts were frustrated for some time by want of water,
and nearly half an hour had elapsed till a good supply was
obtained. When sufficient pressure was obtained, streams
of water were poured into the bank and into the adjoining
portion of the building which stands between the walls
on either side like a tall skeleton, and exhibiting. in a
striking manner, the awful ravages of the fire While
thus employed, the firemen were evidently subjected to
most imminent risk, and we saw several very narrow
escapes.from the falling debris, which the force of the
water upon projecting sashes of windows or loosened
stones brought every minute or two about their heads..
They undauntedly, however, performed their perilous
work, and, with great and well-directed energy, played
into the burning interior, and against the cal ined
The re-outbreak of the Are immediately attracted to the
spot Mr. Sheriff Gordon and several of the magistrates.
Again the Rifll Brigade promptly turned out, and, under
the directions of the Sheriff, completely cleared the whole
area in front of the building again intercepting all trade
by the Mound. At twelve o'clock the fire was in ra great
degree subdued, but the hisslog of the water upon its
smoking and smouldering ruins showed Um', it ra;got take
some time till it could be altogether extin;uished. The
principal result of the fresh outbreak is, th it the. Savings
Bank, which escaped the first and great conflagration, has.
now been completely destroyed.

The following is a list of the occupants of some of the
houses consumed :—TOck. flat—Mr. Muir- and sou; J.
Kellett, wife, daughter,. and two children,;, Mr. Robertson,
wife, and two children; Mr. Sheppard, wife, and one
child; Mr. Ronald M•Donald, wife, and one child; IVrs.
and one child; Miss Thomson and brother ; Mr.
, wife, andlono child ; Betty MrDenald, daughter,
sister, and her husband; Mr. Ball, wife, and two children.
Second Sat—john Williamson, wife. and five children;
Mr. Davidson, wife, and three children; Mr. Cameron,
wife, and one child ; Mr. Harper, wi'e, and five children ;
Mr. MiPherson, wife, three sons, and one daughter ; Mr_
Gardner, wife,'and three children; Mr. wile, and
two children. Third flat—Ykr. Mason, wife, and two
children; Mr. Russell and. wife; Mrs. Anderson arid
daughter; Mr. —, wife, two daughters and sons
married, and three children ;. Mr. —7-, wife, and two
daughters ; Mr. —, daughter, and child. Fourth fl tit—
Mr. and wife ; Mr. Stewart, wife, and three children;
Mr. Grant, wile, and five children; Mr. Cameron, son,
and sister; Mr. Anderson, wife, and four children. First
flat—Mr. Alexander Gann, bookseller, Sonth-bridv, wife,
and children—three boys and a girl.
11
warehouseman to. Messrs. Blackwood vie tierer nt et swh,
o
children. A public meeting has been held, And subscrip-
tions for the relief of the sufferers are being collected.
Her Majesty baying already intimated her, intention of
, placing a aura at the disposal of the committee, and the
Duchess of Kent has subscribed £25..

IILsT TO EMPLOSERS AND NVOREMEN.-011 Thursday,
Mr. Gibia, of the firm of Murray and Gibb, printers,
called together the married men in his establishrneat, and
addressed thora•on the duty of working mcu to provide
against accidents to their households by fire, instancing
the utter ruin one of their own number had experienced
in the Sr. James's court °enmity. The result of the
worthy genileman's remarks was, that twenty-eight m -
diately adpibite•l their names to fire insurance schedules.
We sincerely wish that such an example was followed in
every workshop in the city, and then working men would
feel themselves, in this respect at least, to be independent
of the assistance from friends and of the charity of the
public. What is the paltry yearly sum of 3s 61 or 55
compared to the luxury one feels when he knows that he
can for that =Mint, and as far as £5O or £lOO will go,
replaeo his household goods should fire destroy them.