The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-04 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

A serious fire broke out last night (Sunday), about
seven o'clock, in Spitalfields. The scene of the disaster
was a large space of ground, whereon was erected a
number of houses forming Bell-lane, Cocks'-square,
Petticoat-lane, and other thoroughfares leading into
Bishopgate. Amongst the more promiment buildings
were the Jews Free School and premises belonging
to Mr. Dimsdale, a builder and contractor. The
last-named were unfortunately doomed to destruction.
The premises of Mr. Dimsdale occupied a considerable
space, the carpenters' workshops alone being 250 feet
in depth. The steam-sawing department was almost
as large, whilst sundry piles of timber filled a large
yard. Owing to the number of courts and narrow
streets which surrounded this property it soon be-
came apparent that unless the fire could be subdued
in its incipient stage, many thousand pounds'
worth of property would be destroyed. Police-
constable 51 II was the first to make the discovery,
at which time one rack or pile of timber only was on
fire on the eastern side of the yard, nearest some paint
and turpentine stores. Mr. Superintendent Stead, of
the H division. with Inspectors Miller and Black,
and Sergeants Price, German, and Foay, together
with a strong body of police, soon arrived, and took
possession of the approaches to the blazing premises.
The crowd, however, was so great that they had con-
siderable difficulty to clear the streot, a number of
persons were thrown down, and two or three trampled
on by the mob.

Tile engines of the London brigade, parish, and
West of England office arrived at the spot with all
possible expedition, when the firemen found the whole
of the carpenters' shops, joiners' houses, steam-boiler
house, and the saw-mills, in Mmes. The first thing
sought to be accomplished was to direct the water
from the engines against an immense pile of deals and
veneers standing perpendicularly in stacks against
the steam-engine house, and extending to within a
few feet of the Jews' Free School. For some time
the labours of the firemen appeared to be crowned
with success, but the wind suddenly shifting, drove
the flames into the middle of the timber, and the
whole became wrapped in flames. Suddenly the
railings that bound the whole together gave way,
and timbers toppled over in a thorough state of
ignition ; and about the same time one of the lofty
walls fell.

Every one at that period looked upon the ecene
with dismay; for an extensive building belonging to
Truman and llanbury, the brewers (formerly a
sugar house), and which contained a vast number of
pockets of hops, became fired at the end overlooking
the blearing timber. A large number of houses faced
this structure in the front street, and it was apparent
that if the contents of this establishment caught fire,
the houses opposite would share in the ruin; but a
number of persons very courageously entered, and
having thrown the principal portion of the stock out,
the same was carted to a place of safety.
Whilst the fire was at its height it became known
that several draught horses belonging to Mr. Dims-
dale were in the stable, which was so surrounded by
the flames that no one could enter by the regular way.
Wood, the conductor of the Royal Society's fire
escape, and Sergeant Price, having cut a thick wall
away, they were enabled, under the direction of Mr.
Boddilly, the inspector of the society, to save the lives
of the whole of the animals, which were of consider-
able value.

By half-past eleven o'clock the firemen had suc-
ceeded in obtaining control over the conflagration, as
far as any further extension was concerned, but there
seemed no chance of its being entirely subdued for
some hours longer.

The loss will amount to several thousands pounds.
Independently of the destruction of Mr. Dimsdale's
premises, many of the contiguous houses are da-
maged. Mr. Dimsdale was insured, but not to the
extent of his loss.

ONE O'CLOCK, A.M.-At this hour the fire is far
from being extinguished, there being no fewer than
nine engines of the brigade, and that of the West of
England at work. Several boys and a man named
Tomkins are very much injured by being thrown
down and trampled on by the crowd, but from the
inquiries made by the officials of the brigade, it ap-
pears that none of the firemen had been killed, as
was at one period anticipated. Many of the oc-
cupants of the houses in the surrounding streets
are serious losers by the hasty removal of their fur-
niture, &c.

Last night whilst the fire was raging in Spitalfields,
another, which was attended with considerable
damage, broke out in the premises of Mr. Lewin,
dairy and butterman, situate in the New North
Road, Islington' near the North Pole tavern. The
flames were not discovered until they had obtained a
firm hold of the building. The necessary alarm having
been given the various engines of the London bri-
gade and West of England office attended, and a good
supply of water having been obtained, the engines
were set to wurk but tiro firomen were uuthblo to get
the flames subdued until some hundred pounds worth
of property was destroyed. The origin of the mis-
fortune could not be ascertained • but, fortunately,
the sufferer was insured in the Union-office. The
adjoining houses sustained some damage, but not to a
serious extent.

Last night (Sunday), whilst the fire was raging in
Spitalfields, a fearful explosion occurred on the pre-
mises of Mr. Holyhead, a firework maker, situate in
Long-alley, Eldon-street, Finsbury. It appears that
a number of boys and men have been engaged for
several days preparing a quantity of fireworks, to
complete a large order for Guy Fawkes day next.
During the night, whilst one of the hands was filling
a squib case it exploded, and the sparks falling on a
quantity of gunpowder, the latter also exploded
with a fearful noise, and the heap of composition
placed for the use of another was likewise
blown up, and in an instant the room
became filled with flame, and three persons,
who were unable to escape, were completely pros-
trated. The cries of the unfortunate individuals were
pitiable in the extreme, but owing to the fury with
which the fire was raging it was with considerable
difficulty that any one could enter. Some one, how-
ever, more courageous than the others rushed into
the apartment in question, and succeeded in throwing
one of the lads out of window, and at the same time
another jumped out with his clothes on fire ; and a
third was, it is understood, also thrown out. The
poor creatures were immediately collected together
and removed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Every-
thing was done for them that surgical skill could de-
vise, but upon inquiring at the hospital at half-past
two this morning we were informed that one of the
sufferers, viz., John Howard, had expired, and that
Cornelius Conolly, another of the workmen, together
with the persona who jumped out of window, were
not expected to survive the night. The moment the
alarm was given information was sent for the engines,
and forthwith those of the brigade and parish attended ;
and owing to the exertion of the police and neigh-
bours the fire was subdued, but not until considerable
damage was done to the building and its contents.
It is understood that neither the premises nor their
contents were insured.