The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-23 00:00:00

GREAT EIRE AT SUNDERLAND.

On Saturday forenoon, about half-past ten o'clock, a
fire which has proved of the most disastrous nature,
broke out at Hay's patent ropery, near the Mt nk wear-
mouth Railway station, and created the greatest alarm
for the safety of several cottages which irntne&at?ly ad-
join the manufactory, and which are mostly occupied by
labourers employed there or at the railway.
The ropery was a very extensive place. At the south
end was the main building of two storeys, containing the
mac iinery, and extending from this, for about 21 yards,
was a long low building used as a rope walk, and as a
store for tar, rope, &c. A. large quantity of hemp was
placed in lofts above, the value of which was estimated
at about 4,0001.-3,0001. worth of which had been there
but a few daye. I
The fire broke out at the south end in the main build-
ing, in the second storey, in what is known as the
" Jenny," or spinning room, in which several women
and children were at work. They were alarmed by ob-
serving smoke issuing from the hemp, about 40 tons,
which was placed in this room, and immediately ran out,
raising an alarm of fire. The engineman at once pro-
ceeded to shut off the steam and allowed it to escape,
and by the time this was done the spinning-room was
enveloped in a blaze—fire bursting forth with the utmost
fury from every window and aperture.
Several parties of masons, builders, &c., who were in
the immediate neighbourhood, were instantly on the
spot, and the lower part of the front of the building,
which was filled with manufactured rope, was speedily
cleared. Within a quarter of an hour the whole of
the south end was a mass of fire. At the first alarm
word had been conveyed to the 1 Alonkwearinouth
police station, and constables were instantly sent to
the spot with the hose and stand-pipe, which is
kept on a light hand-barrow ready for immediate use.
On arriving at the fire a plug was soon obtained, the
hose affixed, and water poured on. A short time after,
a new fire-engine, the property of Mr. Alderman Hartley,
arrived, and it too was set to work, but all their efforts
were thrown away, the fire was then raging with ex•
trerne violence, and in less than half an hour the roof
fell in, and a tew minutes after the floor dividing the
upper from the lower storey followed, bringing down
with it large masses of unconsum.td hemp and all the
valuable machinery. The wind was now blowing a
strong gale from the south-west, and the fire was rapidly
carried along the buildings, extending northwards 550
feet. By this time hundreds of people were attracted to
the spot, and every assistat co was rendered to the police.
Large quantities of tar and man atactured rope in the
building were got out, but the smoke and fire which
were blown about by the wind rendered it impossible to
get out any of the hemp in the lofts. The inflammable
nature of the materials of the buildings—everything
being saturated with tar—rendered it useless to attempt
to save any part of these buildings ; but Alderman
Hartley, who was present, and rendered himself very
conspicuous from the active part he took, advised the
building composing the ropewalk to be cut in two, and
by this means the fire was prevented from extending in
that direction. _ _

On the east side of the burning buildings, and between
them and the ground occupied by the railway company,
fs the long row of cottages above referred to, only sepa-
rated from the burning building by a few yards. Great
fears were several times entertained that these would
take fire, and from the immense volumes of blinding and
suffocating smoke it was impressible to take any steps to
save them. Fortunately these escaped, but their inmates
were in the utmost trepidation. The wife of a working
man, residing in one of these cottages, was during the
fire confined with a male child.
The safety of this part being now insured attention
was again directed to the south end, which was still
burning furiously. All the water which had been
thrown upon it was of no effect ; in fact, there was but
one engine present, and one hose and stand-pipe, and
these were in a wretched state, fully two-thirds of the
water being wasted before it reached the fire. At last
the engines of the garrison arrived, about twelve o'clock,
with nearly the whole of the militia. These rendered
good service in keeping some sort of order, but the engine
was of little value.
At an early part of the fire Mr. James Lindsay en-
tered the office, at which a clerk was seated unconscious
of the fire raging round bim, and succeeded in saving
the whole of Mr. liay's valuable hooks and papers,
which be conveyed in a cab to Mr. Hay's residence,
Cresswell-house.
At the time of the occurrence of the fire the machi-
nery of the ropery was in full work, and the sudden
shutting off the steam by the engine-man rendered the
position of those parties near extremely dangerous, as it
was apprehended that the boiler would explode. At
last the steam was let off through the valves, and the
plug of the boiler drawn, allowing the water to escape,
and removing all danger on that score.
About two o'clock all danger of the fire doing any
further damage was at an end. The only part which it
was deemed necessary to watch over was the ruins at
the south end, in which a good deal of hemp and half-
consumed beams, flooring, &c., were laid.
The whole of the buildings are a mass of ruins, and

completely gutted foom the top to the bottom. How
the fire originated cannot be accounted for ; the most
probable cause was some of the machinery becoming

heated through friction, and communicating with thj
hemp.
The buildings and machinery were insured to the
full amount-3,0001. in the Norwich Union, and 3,0001.
in the General. The full amount of damage done is esti-
mated at about 10,0001.

The Wear floating engine was, towed up to Hall's
dock, and after considerable delay was brought into ac-
tion, when it was found that serious disarrangements
existed, and it was found impossible to force the water
up to the fire.
The necessity foi a fire brigade was at this, as at all
other fires which have taken place in Sunderland for the
last few years, painfully apparent.

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A MARRIED
WOMAN.

Last evening, M half-past eight o'clock, Mr. Payne;
the City coroner, held an inquest at the Dun Cow
Tavern, Old Kent-road, on the body of Mary Chapman,
a married woman, aged 47 years, who died under the
following melancholy circumstances :
Mrs. Higgins, of Albany-road, Camberwell, deposed
that deceased was at her residence on Tuesday afternoon
last, at about seven o'clock, when she (deceased) left the
first floor room for the purpose of going down stairs,
when witness heard a scream, and, on going out to as-
certain the cause, she found that the unfortunate womao
had fallen down the stairs and received severe injuries to
the head. Witness was about removing, and deceased
was with her to assist, and was carryin, a can of water
and a small basin when she fell. Deceased was removed
hothe to Mina Cottage, Old Kent-road, having previously
received medical assistance.

Mrs. Jan,. George, a neighbour, proved attending to
deceased and she said she fell from thi) top of
the stair w
stairs to I'4t i
thebottom.

After some further evidence,
Mr. Palmer, surgeon, of Claremont-place, Old Kent-
road, stated that he attended deceased, who had received
a serious injury to the spine. She died on Friday morn-
ing from effusion into the spinal marrow. There wore two
cuts on the head and several bruises on the face.
Verdict—" Accidental death."

A HANDFUL OF GERMAN SILVER.

(Prom, Punch.)

1. Germany is rich cake, cut up into a number of small
pieces.
2. The lights of German philosophy are little better than
pipe-lights.
3. The Prussian constitution is a great pudding, first
mixed in 1815, and which has beon boiling ever since, so
that it has all boiled away, and now there's nothing but
the dirty cloth left.
4. Kluge sow promises, and the people reap moonshine.
5. Donkeys prefer thistles to theories.
G. When the German goose is cooked, there will be no
lack of sausages.
7. Liberty will never light a torch from a German pipo.
8. Your German is all smoke, and no fire.
9. German pride simply amounts to this:—Sourkrout will
not mix with cabbage.
10. Political schools in Deutschland have been broken
up long ago; the last mastor starved for want of pupils.
11. No fear of an explosion in Germany—at best it will
be but a smouldering valcano of German tinder. A little
smoke, and it will soon blow over.
12. The King, Lords, and Commons of the German Diet
are represented by :—Sourkrout, Small Beer, and Small
Germans.
13 The first step a Prussian takes in public life is the
goose-step.
14. If Prussia is an eagle that has shown the Russian
white feather, Austria is only a paper kite—a kite that is
only enabled to keep up by the enormous length of bills
it has tied to its tail.
15. Ono grain of English sense is worth a whole bushel of
German philosophy.

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Sporting Intelligence.

NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING.
MONDAY.

Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, for 3-yr-olds, 7st 71b ;
four, 8A 31b ; five and upwards, Bit Sib. Tue winner
to be sold for 350 sovs, if demanded, &c. Criterion
Course. 5 fur. 182 yds. (4 subs.)
Duke of Bedford's Nathan, by Paragone, 5 years
(S. Rogers) 1
Mr. Davison's Baroda, 3 yrs (Ashman) 2
Mr. Morris's Corin, 4 yrs (Barham) 3
Mr. B. Way's Dr. Cooke, 3 yrs (Wells) 4
Betting-11 to 8 on Nathan, 3 to 1 agst any other.
Won by a neck, the second beating the third three
lengths ; bad fourth.

Handicap Plate of 501. for 3-yr-olds and upwards. Cam-
bridgeshire Course. 1 mile '240 yds.
Mr. H. Brown's Speed the Plough, by Cotherstone,
5 yrs, 7,t slb (Bray) 1
Lord Exeter's Besika, 3 yrs, Est .... ...(G. Ford haul) 2
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Surgeon-General, 4 yrs, Est 4lb
(Tyrol]) 3
Mr. T. Parr's Robgill, 4 yrs, Bst 21b. (Wells) 4
The following also ran :—Hospodar, Billinghatn, Ra-
dulpbus, Hobbyhorse, William Rufus, Gamekeeper,
Vingt'un, Roebuck, Duke of Lancaster, Incubus, Mary,
Biron, c by Paragone—Sneer, Berezina, and Professor

Airey.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Robgill, 4to 1 agst Gamekeeper,
6 to 1 agst Mary, 10 to 1 each agst Besika, Hobbyhorse,
and Radulphus. Won easily by half a length, the second
beating the third six lengths; a neck between third and
fourth. The others were widely scattered, Berezina being
fifth, Gamekeeper sixth, and Mary seventh. Roebuck
and Billingham were the next two. Vingt'un was in
the extreme rear.

The Criterion Stakes of 30 soya each, 20 ft, for 2-yr-olds;
colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 51b. Extra weight for cer-
tain winners. From the turn of the Lauds in, 5 fur.
182 yds. (25 subs.)
Mr. Morris's Artillery, by Touchstone, Bst 131 b (in-
cluding 61b extra) (Bashain) 1
Mr. Howard's Queen's Head, by Bay Middleton, Bst
81b (including 31b extra) (Wells) 2
Mr. Jennings' bc by Gabbier, Jam (foaled in 1845)
by Heron—Ardelia: B►t 71b (J. Mann)
The following also ran :—lntimidation, The Courtier,
Hebe, Ramadan.

Betting-6 to 5 agst Artillery, 2to 1 agst Queen's
Head. Ramadan cut out the work, followed by Courtier,
Gabbier colt, and Hebe, Artillery, who lost some ground
at starting, taking up a position on the upper side, whilst
Queen's head chose the lower side, Intimidation bring-
ing up the rear. At the Duke's Stand Ramadan de-
clined, and the running was taken up by Gabbler colt.
At this point Artillery began to draw forward ; when
half-way in the cords Gabbier colt dropped off, leaving
the contest to be settled by the two favourites. Queen's
Head appeared to be winning cleverly, but in the last
two strides Artillery by a most resolute effort " got up,"
and beat ber when close at home by half a length, a
length and a half between the second and third, the
fourth well up with the latter.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs each ; for 3.yr-c4ds
and upwards. D.M., 7 fur. 201 yds. (5 subs., lof
whom pays 10 sovs ft.)
Mr. Robinson's Siding, 3 yrs, Est 51b (Quinton) 1
Mr. Howard's Little Harry, 6 yrs, Bst 81b (A. Day) 2
Mr. Combe's Cranbourne, 4 yrs, 7st 121b...(J. Mann) 3
Captain Lane's Alas, 4 yrs, 7st 61b (T. Cliff) 4
Betting—Even on Alas, 5 to 2 agst Little Harry, 6
to 1 agst Siding. A very fine race in was won by a
head, the second beating the third by a neck ; good
fourth.

Produce Match, Bst 71b each. 300 h ft. T.Y.C. (5
furlongs 140 yards.)
Lord Glasgow's Clarissa (Flatman) 1
Duke of Bedford's Bezonian by Bay Middleton—
Rosalia (S. Rogers) 2
The betting opened at 6 to 4 on Bezonian, but closed
at sto 4 apt him. Bezonian made play to the cords,
where his rival deprived him of the lead, and he was at
last beaten easily by a length.

Sweepstakes of 10 sews each, for 2-yr olds ; colts, Bst
7lb ; fillies, Bst 51b. The winner to be sold for 250
sovs, if demanded, &c. First half of Ab. M., 13
furlongs 215 yards. (7 subs.)
Mr. Howard's Overreach by Birdcatchbr (Wells) t 1
Mr. Stsvens's Unexpected... (Yates) t 2
Mr. Burgess's Gamester (Chillman) t 3
Mr. Morris's Lady Go-Lightly (Basilan)) t 4
Mr. C. Winteringharn's King of the Gipsies
(J. Manion) 5
Betting-6 to 4on Overreach, sto 1 agst any other.
A most interesting and exciting race. Up to the cords
they came side by side, and every inch of ground was so
closely contested tby Gamester, Lady-Go-Lightly, Unex-
pected, and Overreach, that on reaching the chair the
judge's decision was a dead heat with the four. King
of the Gipsies finished half a !eugth behind them. De-
ciding heat-6 to 4 agst Overreach, 3 te 1 each agst
Go-Lightly and Gamester. A capital race was won by a
head ; half a length between the second and third and
between third and fourth.
Selling Handicap of 10 soya each, for 2-yr-olds. The
winner to be sold for 150 sovs, if demanded, &c. D.M.
(7 fur. 201 yds.) (8 subs.)
_ _

Barnes'Mr. Anemone, 7st 21b (J. Steggles) 1
Mr. Boyce's Adamant, Bst 416 (Wells) 2
Capt. Lane's Middleton, 7st 4lb (T. Cliff) 3
The following also ran :—King Chat, Greville, Mark
Foulis.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Adamant, 3 to 1 agst Greville,'9
to 2 agat King Chat, sto 1 agst Anemone. Won easily
by a length ; half a length between the second and
third. The winner was claimed by Captain Lane.
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, for 3-yr-olds, 7st 61b ;
four, Bst 41b ; five, 8.31 81b ; six and aged, Bst 1016.
The winner to be sold for 60 soya if demanded, &c•
D.M. (7 fur. 201 yds.) (6 subs.)
Mr. R. Cooper's Mary Ann, 3 yra (Hughes) * 1
Lord Orford's Firelight, 3 yrs J. Steggles) * 2
Mr. Greville's cby Alarm, Ginevra, 3 yrs (Ash mall; 3
The following also ran :—St. Julian, Goldfinch, and
Inder.

Betting-5 to 2 aget St. Julian, 3to 1 agst Inder, 5
to 1 apt Firelight, 5 to 1 agst Mary Ann. A good race
in ended in a dead heat with Firelight and Mary Ann ;
the third was beaten two lengths.
Deciding Heat.—Betting-11 to 10 on Mary Ann. A
fine race ; won by half a length.
Sweepstakes of 10 sous each, for 3 yr-olds' 7st 91b
four, Sat 71b ; five, 83t 121 b ; six and aged, 9st. The
winner to be sold for 250 soya if demanded, &c.
Ab.M. (7 fur. 212 yds. (7 subs.)
Mr. J. G. Henderson's ABeayer, by Melbourne, 4 yrs
( Add croft) 1
Duke of Bedford's Weathercock, 4 yrs (S. Rogers) 2
Lcrd Wm. Poulett's Exchange, 3 yrs (E. Sharp) 3
Mr. Montague's Bianca, 3 yrs .(Wells) 4
Lord Exeter's Nicotine, 5 yrs (Norman) 5
Betting-6 to 4 agst The Assayer, 3to 1 agst Bianca,
4 to 1 aget Weathercock, 5 to 1 aght Nicotine. Won by
two lengths, half a length between the second and third ;
the others beaten off.
BETTING UP TO SIX O'CLOCK.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAKES.
7 to 2 agst Crown Pigeon (taken)
4to 1 agst Veteran (taken and offered)
9 to 2 aget Flatterer (taken)
10 to 1 agst Vandyke (taken and offered)
13 to 1 agst Macros" (taken and offered)
20 to 1 apt Pole Star (taken)
33 to 1 agst Robe!' (offered)
DERBY.
20 to 1 agst Artillery (taken)
Delightful weather, and excellent sport. One race
terminated in a dead heat with four. To the best of our
knowledge such a thing is unprecedented in the annals
of the turf. The attendance of company was compara-
tively moderate.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.—The following are scratched :
Neville, Vindex, Grand Inquisitor, Honeysuckle, St.
Stephen, Bianca, Elvaston, King Tom, Quince, St.
Clare, Greville's Mortimer, Orinoco (dead), Epaminen-
das, Boiardo, Pares, Burlington, Vandal, Treachery, Bal-
rownie, Little David, Eglinton, Cowl filly, Dalkeith,
Cave Adullam, Rotherham, Capucine, Herald, Types,
Boer, Palmerston, Surgeon-General, St. Julian.
FILBERT v. SECRET.—ADJUDGED CARL—After hear-
ing evidence to-day relative to the above case, which oc-
curred on the Friday in the Second October Meeting,
the stewards decided that the charge of crossing was
proved against Plumb, the rider of Secret, and that Fil-
bert was therefore entitled to the stakes.
The Nursey Stakes closed this evening (Monday) with
64 entries.