The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-16 00:00:00

ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

LFrom the Derby Mercbry of Wednewlay.)
Yesterday morning, about three o'clock, the inhabitants of this
town were thrown into great terror and alarm by the discovery that
the Shot 'rower of Messrs. Cox and Pointer was on fire.
The alarm, which was first given by the watchmen, soon became
general, by the reiterated cries of "fire," the springing of rattles,
and the broken peals of the bells of the different churches, and the
scene of the destructive element shortly became awfully conspicu-
ous from the flames which burst from the summit of the tower.
The inhabitants and the firemen, with their respective engines, hur-
ried to the spot with great alacrity. All Saints engine was the
I first to arrive, which, being in perfect order, and directed by Mr.
Chatterton with his accustomed energy and ability. assisted by the
engines from St. Peter's and St. Alkmand's, did great eset.u. lion I
whilst the mike from St. Werburgh's was most efficaciously coo-
-1 ducted by Mr. Hood to an opposite dircction.
I he Tower was ltrfl feet in height, divided into seven stories by
finance stages, with a eireu!ar opening in the centre from top to
bottom foe the manufactutte of the shot, a spiral stone staircase lead.
ing to the top, where tits lead is melted and the shot cast. The
workmen haebeen engaged in the manufactory the preceding even-
ing, and the lire is supposed to have been occasioned by the caster'
having incautiously left some wood too near the furnace, in conse-
quence of which it communicated to the floor. The burning frag-
ments falling down conveyed the mischief to the stories below, ar d
it descended with so much rapidity, that, notwithstanding the ac-
tive and unremitting exet dons used to stop its progress, five of the
floors were consumed before it could be overpowered. The weighty
apparatus and machinery used in the manufacture of the shot and
the winding up of the lead, descended at intervals with great vio-
lence, breaking in their coure the massy and partly-consumed
beams of the building, and forcing many of the stone steps from
the wall, and, in consequence, the two lower floors were ccmpletely
broken down and destroyed. The principal aim of the firemen was
to prevent the devastation fmm extending beyond the tower, and,
by their unwearied and active exertions for the space of about three
hours, the whole of the adjacent works and buildings bare, under
Providence, bastipeeserved from destruction.
The appearance of this catastrophe was particularly grand and
awful when the flames first issued front its summit, arising la a,
considerable volume, accompanied with innumerable fragments of
ignited matter, which formed in their descent showers of fire, and,
its red and murky appearance presented a striking contrast to tile
pure light of the moon, which shone at the time in an opposite dl.
rection with unclouded brightness. As the fire descended, the
flames were confined to the interior of the building, and the effect
became lees suiting. The utmost terror and confusion prevailed
among the inhabitants in the immediate vicinity, many of them
flying precipitately with their nullifies from the apprehended dan-
ger, but we are happy to learn that no accident of any serious nature
occurred on the occasion.

Notwithstanding the frequent and violent concussions occasioned
by
.the falling of the beams, and the tweaking down of the stone
staircase, not a brick of this immense tower hits been displaced. It
was built by our townsman, Mr..lnNeph Caseoyne, during his ap-
prenticeship with the late Mr. John Welch.
Theextent of the loss cannot at present be ascertained, but it
consists chiefly in the injury sustained by the building. It is
thought that it will be necessary to take down and rebuild the upper
part of the tower, but its present state is so dangerous from the pre.
eanuus situation of the impending fragments shich remain within,
as te nailer any examination of it impracticable.