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

GREAT ME AT SUNDERLAND.

On Saturday forenoon, about half-past ten o'olock,
fire which has proved of the most disastrous nature,
broke out at Hay's patent ropery, near the Mrnkwear-
mouth Railway station, and created the greatest alarm
for the safety of several cottages which immediately ad-
join the manufactory, and which are mostly occupied by
lab•iurers employed there or at the railway.
Tue ropery was a very extensive place. At the south
end was the main building of two storeys, containing the
machinery, and extending from this, for about 20 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 4,000/.-3,000/. worth of which had been there
but a few days.
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 eng,inernan at once pro,
ceeded to shut cff 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, Ztc., who were /11
the immediate neighbourhood, were instantly on the
spot, and the lower part of the front of the buildingt
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 alarin
word had been conveyed to the Monkweartnouth
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 HartleYy,
arrived, and it too was set to work, but all their efforts
were thrown away, the fire was then raging with el"
treme violence, and in less than half an hour the roof
fell in, and a few minutes after the floor dividing the
upper from the lower storey followed, bringing down
with it large masses of nnconsumed hemp and all the
valuable machinery. The wind was now blowing s
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 assistance was rendered to the police,
Large quantities of tar and manufactured 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 Tel
conspicuous from the active part be took, advised the
building composing the ropewalk to be cut in two, and
by this means the fire was prevented from extending 1°
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 00;
rated from the burning building by a few yards. Ore. 3;
fears were several times entertained that these wool
take fire, and from the immense volumes of blinding 1131 e
suffocating smoke it was impossible to take any steps t°
save them. Fortunately these escaped, but their inmates
were in the utmost trepidation. The wife of a workia
mar, residing in one of these cottages, was during 06
fire confined with a male child.
The safety of this part being now insured attentil
was again directed to the south end, which was stil
burning furiously. All the water which had heen
thrown upon it was of no effect ; in fact, there was be;
one engine present, and one hose and stand-pipe, 2/4
these were in a wretched state, fully two-thirds of tmi
water being wasted before it reached the fire. At I¢/t
the engines of the garrison arrived, about twelve o'eloci
with nearly the whole of the militia. These rendsre,
good service in keeping some sort of order, but the one'
was of little value.

At an early part of the fire Mr. James Lindsay egl;
tered the office, at which a olerk was seated unconsci°u;
of the fire raging round him, and succeeded in 0,041°
the whole of Mr. Hay's valuable books and pipers,
which he conveyed in a cab to Mr. Hay's residencef
Creswell-house.
At the time of the occurrence of the fire the macbi'
nery of the ropery was in full work, and the suddel!
shutting off the steam by the engine-man rendered tl3;
position of those parties near extremely dangerous, fol‘ is
was apprehended that the boiler would explode.
last the steam was let off through the valves, and t'"
plug of the boiler drawn, allowing the water to eecaPe,
and removing all danger on that score.
About two o'clock all danger of the fire doing all
further damage was at an end. The only part which it
was deemed necessary to watch over was the ruins 14,
the south end, in which a good deal of hemp and bAi
consumed beams, flooring, SEc., were laid.
The whole of the buildings are a mass of ruins, 5130,3
completely gutted foom the top to the bottom. 11°t
the fire originated cannot be accounted for ; the il3°9„
probable cause was some of the machinery beconaih
heated through friction, and communicating with tli°
hemp.
The buildings and machinery were insured to tb
full amount-3,0001. in the Norwich Union, and 3,007
in the General. The full amount of damage done is est.'
mated at about 10,000/,
The Wear floating engine was towed up to galls°
dock, and after considerable delay was brought into 10;
tion, when it was found that serious disarrangetnatt
existed, and it was found impossible to force the sate
up to the fire.
The necessity for a fire brigade was at this, as at 511
other fires which have taken place in Sunderland for the
last few years, painfully apparent.