The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-01 00:00:00

TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION AT HAVRE.

A terrible conflagration broke out between 6 and 7
o'clock on Tuesday evening iu a large spirit warehouse
belonging to MM. Bernachon and Levionnais, Rue
Scudery, at the corner of the Place du Commerce, at
Havre. One of the cellar-men was drawing brandy from
a large cask, when unfortunately the cock fell out. He
placed one hand on the orifice to prevent the escape of
the liquid, and tried with the other to pick up the cock,
out the brandy spurted through his fingers on to the
flame of the lamp, which he had placed on the ground.
Flames immediately shot up, and in a moment reached
the large wooden vessel which was nearly full of brandy.
The liquor instantaneously caught fire, and the man was
so much burned that he was obliged to withdraw his
hand from the hole. The brandy the n burst forth in
large quantities, and it was immediately caught by
the flames. In an incredibly short time, the con-
flaeration reached the other casks in the cellar,
which were filled with spirits, and caused them to
explode successively with a loud noise. Their contents
materially increased the violence of the fire, and the
flames not only filled the ea:lr, but escaped by the dif-
ferent issues ; and then, being fanned by the air, soon
burst through the roof, shooting up to a prodigious
height, and extending even to the opposite side of the
street and to the trees in the Place du Commerce. Above
the cellars of MM. Bernachou and Levionnais were the
premises of Mes, rs. Mei tier and Marette, sail-makers,
which were also filled with inflammable materials ; and
these having caught fire added fury to the flames. Very
shortly after the conflagration had commenced, a strong
body of firemen, large detachments from the garrison,
and an immense number of the inhabitants assem-
bled ; but it was soon evident that the fire was too
furious to be extinguished, and that all that could
be attempted was to prevent it from extending. In
spite, however, of the most active efforts, it reached
the premises of Messrs. Dussaquier and Co., in
which were a vast quantity of bottles of champagne, and
80,000 boxes of pilchards, and there destroyed every-
thing. A warehouse belonging to Messrs. Yrigoyen
and Son, was with its contents likewise destroyed ; but
fortunately, only a few hours before 900,000 f. worth of
cotton goods bad been shipped from it for the Havannah
and Mexico. The fire also extended to the premises of
Messrs. Pitray and Co., and destroyed them, together
with 400 bales of cotton ; but it went no further. Next
to Messrs. Pitray's warehouse was one containing a vast
mass of bales of cotton, but hundreds of vehicles were
called into requisition, and they were safely removed to
the ramparts —and the walls of the warehouse were
luckily too thick for the fire to penetrate them. On the
opposite extremity near the place the fire was also
checked by the thickness of the house of M. Marziou,
and by a vast quantity of water being thrown on it and
on the adjacent roofs. Although, however, the fire was
prevented from spreading further than the houses and
premises mentioned, it did some damage to those on the
opposite side of the street. At length, after raging for
upwards of four hours, it began to decline, and was
eventually extinguished, partly by means of water, andn
partly by means of vast quantities of sand being thrown
on on it—the latter being the more efficacious method
ost!
the two. The spectacle presented by the fire
sloaave the
imposing, and people collected on the heights
town to witness it. At one time it was fea!ed.,tehaathtihpe.
burning fragments might be carried amongst Ln
quench these
on beard the different vessels and onlanddwas not high, and
ping in the dock ; and every precaution
to
taken both
flying particles ; fortunately the
a fireman, but
the shipping escaped. Shortly
man named Thomas, who was
formerlyheservice of M. Troteux,
who had been for some time in the after the fire had begun a
that his practical
hastened into the 'cellar,thinking
experience might enableut
he to suggest mean for extie.
was in an instant completely
gui-hing the flames; b
wdas burned to death. Several
ration, but none of them seriously
or otherwise injured in the
Douses
ied seriously
Prince
T totalhS ee Several
unfortunateear
amount
o
surrounded
other
persons hy themw etftase
baunrdne
course of the con
aides-do-camp, arrived
shortly a
begun to declTinhee.
Prince Jerome,
the spot un i e
Russian prisoners actively assisted bringing up water,
fcer theafitrtee-nbt cboymhnise
done is at 500,000 f,
whatever
estimatedwas required.
ou fnt
tho f
damage til it had
Thomas leaves a wife and six
tion has lit ea opened for their relief. The pot r man's
or doing
body was found yesterday morning in the ruins ; it was
dreadfully burned, but the head
was not toucled. At
one moment the unfortunate man bad been seen to rush
, through the flames to the grating of the cellar and
to shriek for help, but it was not possible to assist him.

We have received intelligence from Bokhara by the
overland mail confirming the account of the collision
between. the Russians and the Khan of Khiva, and the
repulse of the latter. With regard to the King of Bok•
hara, it is now asserted that he is seeking the alliance
bath of Persia and Russia, alarmed by the advances of
the latter Power, that he has sent an agent to the Rus-
man General on the Kokan frontier, inviting him to send
5,000 ruen with some guns, and station them on the
banks of the Oxus, opposite Balkh.
THE Caors IN IRELAND.—In Louth and Monaghan
the potatoes, like last year, have suffered in the leaves
and stalks, but the tubers are not affected to any extent.
The wheat crop in Louth, particularly at Cooley, so
famous for that crop, is said to be superb. The potato
disease has not extended its ravages in Sligo, and on the
whole there is every prospect of an abundant harvest in
that district. It is generally supposed that the great
bulk of the harvest in the south of Ireland will be out
down and saved within the next week, and the pleasing
intelligence that we will have an abundant harvest this
season moles us from every side.