The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-12 00:00:00

FIRES.

Yesterday morning, about two o'clock, a fire, which it
is feared has be r-t attended with fatal consequences, hap-
pened in the premises belonging to Mr. P. Fitzgibbon, a
chandler, carying on business at No. 96, Golden-lane, St.
Luke's. The discovery was made by a police-constable,
who noticed black smoky issuing from the lower part of
the structure. He aroused the inmates, and sent off fur
the escapes and engines. Two of the escapes quickly
attended, as well as the engines, including one of the
powerful land steamers by Shand and Mason, of Black-
friars. Two persons were compelled to come down the
escape to avoid being burnt to death or suffocated. A female
who resided in the same house, however, could not be
found, and it was feared by the neighbours and other in-
mates that she had perished. The firemen at once went to
work under the direction of Capt. Shaw, the superintendent,
but in spite of the exertions of the brigade the fire continued
to progress, and eventually the whole building presented
one sheet of flame, and there appearing every probability of
the adjoining house, belonging to Mr. U. Lockett, 22, Glou-
cester-street, Queen-square, sharing in the destruction,
the most strenuous exertions were resorted to by the bri-
gado to stop the flames in that direction,
and owing to the
combined exertions of all present the fire was at last extin
guished, but not until Mr. Fitzgibbon's premises, with the
furniture and other effects, were destroyed, and some da-
mage done to the premises of Mr. Lockett. Mr. Bridges,
the district foreman, and also his superintendent, Capt.
Shaw, have made diligent inquiries as to the fate of the
missing female, but nothing definite could be learned be-
yond the fact that she had not been seen from the time she
retired to bed the previous night. Unfortunately none of
the sufferers were insured for a single penny, and we regret
to state that their losses are considerable. The origin of
the fire at present is enveloped in obscurity.

Another fire, and which was attended with a serious loss
of property, took place in the premises belonging to Mr.
T. Austin, carver and gilder, carrying on a great business
for the retail trade, at 59, Wych-street. An alarm was
raised, and the inmates having been made sensible of
their danger, they were fortunately all rescued. The en-
gines of the parish and those of the London Brigade, in-
cluding one of the land steamers by Shand and Mason,
were on the spot in a brief space of time, and plenty of
water being procured, the firemen, under the direction of
Mr. Fogo, the chief officer of the B district, and Captain
Shaw, went to work, but they were unable to make the
least impression upon the flames for some time, and at one
period it was feared that the premises of Mr. Valentine, a
dealer in antique articles, would have fallen a prey to the
flames. Head Engineer Perryer, however, had the hose of
one of the engines brought to bear upon that building, and
he happily succeeded in cutting off the further spread of the
flames in that direction, but not until the back windows
were demolished, and considerable damage done to the con-
tents by water, &c. The premises, however, of Mr. Austin
were entirely on fire before the news reached the fire engine
station, or even the escape stationed in St. Clement's-
churchyard, and the consequence was that the building was
burned out, and most of the roof destroyed, It is unknown
whether Mr. Austin was insured or not, but Mr. Valentine
was insured in the County Fire Office. The origin of the
fire is unknown.

A fire likewise happened in the premises of Mr. Thomas
Harris, No. 2, Upper John-street, Golden-square, which
was caused from the overheating of a Turkish bath. The
engines of the parish and London brigade were soon in
attendance, and plenty of water bring at hand, the firemen,
with the aid of the hand pumps, managed to get the flames
extinguished, but not until considerable damage was done.
Between three and four o'cl. ck yesterday morning a fire
broke out in the premises belonging to Mr. W. Hambler
(private), situate No. 2, Wallbrook-street, Eagle Wharf-
road, City-road. The escapes and the engines were soon
in attendance, and plenty of water having been obtained
the firemen went to work, but they were unable, although
aided by 28 hired auxiliaries, to get the flames subdued
until the premises were nearly destroyed. It is unknown
whether the sufferer was insured or how the fire originated.
Last night a fire, nearly attended with the most disas-
trous consequences, happened in the pre mises belonging to
Messrs. W. Fisher and Co., varnish manufacturer-, carry
ing on business at No, 17, Finsbury-market. The discovery
was made by a person liv ng next door, who observed a
light shining through the shop shutters. He gave an
alarm, and called the inmates of the adjoining houses. In
the course of a few minutes escapes and engines attended.
Plenty of water being obtained the engines were called into
operation, but the flames by that period had obtained the
complete possession of the ground floor, under which were
several large casks of oil and spirits. The firemen, how-
ever, were soon at work, and they succeeded in preventing
the flames from descending to the casks of oil, &c., below,
but the fire could not be extinguished until a very serious
amount of mischief was done. The cause of the fire, or
whether the property was insured or not, could not be
learned.

Another fire happened in the premises of Mr. G. Barker,
milliner and silk mercer, No. 70, Provost-place, City-road,
which was caused by an escape o f gas. The brigade promptly
attended, but the fire was not extinguished until a deal of
damage was done. Insured in the Welsh Provincial Fire
Office,