The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-20 00:00:00

DREADF UL FIRE.

Yesterday morning the densely-populated neigh-
bourhood of Rotherhithe was visited by the outbreak
of one of the most terrific fires that has happened in
that locality for a considerable time past, which we
regret to say was attended with a vast destruction of
valuable property, fatal consequences to two persons,
and serious injury to two others. The scene of this
terrible catastrophe was Rotherhithe-street, imme-
diately facing the well known waterside landing
depot, termed the Platform. The premises in which
the outbreak occurred belonged to Mr. Hogg, and
were numbered 394 in the beforenamed street. The
building was of great width, depth, and height, and
the business for which it was principally used was
that of an optician and mathematical instrument
maker. The lower part of the premises was likewise
used as a shipchandler's warehouse and a Birming-
ham and Sheffield goods store. Mr. Hogg being a
large contractor for furnishing stores to ships leaving
the pool, of course had always on hand an extensive
assortment of articles ready to be put on board at a
few hours' notice. On S iturday, however, the stock
in trade, it is stated, was larger than it had been for
some weeks past, and comprised a valuable assortment
of guns and other firearms, ironmongery of nearly
every description, besides a number of packages and
crates of goods for emigrants who were about pro-
ceeding to Australia.
At a few minutes before one A.M., Davidson, who
had charge of the brigade floating-engine off Cherry-
garden-stairs, was alarmed at hearing terrific screams
of " Fire !" and " Save us !" He immediately went
to the top of the engine, when on looking towards
Mr. Hogg's premises he perceived a man and a wo-
man, the former at the second floor and the latter at
the first-floor window, beseeching the police to aid
them. The firemen forthwith beat the metal gong
belonging to the float.
The constable who was on the beat in less than two
minutes after the alarm was given, hastened to the
building, when on gaining the front door he heard
distinctly some women screaming most piteously, ap-
parently in the shop. The officer thought that if he
forced the door he should be enabled to liberate them,
and when he was knocking the door away a woman
leaped from the first floor to the pavement, with her
face and hands terribly burnt. She was at once
picked up and removed to a place of safety. It has
since been ascertained that her name was Susan Hogg,
a niece of the proprietor of the premises. It was
then suggested to Mr. Hogg that he should remain
where he then was until something could be obtained
for him to leap upon. A counterpane having been pro-
cured, the unfortunate man jumped out and alighted
upon it, but his weight was so great as to split it in
two when he fell with a fearful crash, breaking his
legs and injuring his backbone, besides causing other
serious injuries, so that he was obliged to be re-
moved to Guy's Hospital. As soon as the policeman
succeeded in opening the front door he called loudly
to know whether any one was in the shop, but re-
ceiving no answer, and having seen Mr. Hogg and
his niece jump out of the window, he concluded that
the residents had all left the building, and it was not
until an advanced hour of the morning that the me-
lancholy fact of two human beings having perished
became positively known.
The moment after the door was burst open the fire,
owing to the draught thereby given, shot up the
stairs with more than usual rapidity, so that in the
brief space of 10 or 15 minutes the building presented
one tremendous sheet of flame, which for upwards of
an hour illuminated the metropolis. This caused a
simultaneous turn out of the land engines, while the
large float was being set ready for work, so that at
one time there were seven brigade engines,
besides that of the West of England office
proceeding towards the spot with all pos-
sible expedition. Mr. Braidwood, the superinten-
dent of the London Brigade, and Mr. Henderson,
the chief officer of the D district, arrived at the scene
in a fow minutes, and so did Mr. Connorton, with
the West of England engine. By that time, how-
ever, the roof had fallen in, and, shortly after the
firemen had got the float into operation the upper floor
gave way, and then the flames shot completely across
the carriage-road, setting fire to the gable-end and
front of the India-house Tavern, the property of Mr.
Newbold. The total destruction of that building and
the premises on each side of Mr. Hogg's, viz., those
of Mr. Fleming, barge and boat builder, and those
imminent.
The Mr. Fisher, granary keeper, seemed
The branch from the float was at once brought to
bear upon the premises of Mr. Newbold, which soon
got the flames subdued in that quarter, and then the
water was discharged in immense quantities by that
powerful engine into the centre of the blazing mass,
while other land engines of the brigade, and that of
the West of England-office, performed the same
operations through the side openings; but, in spite
of the most strenuous exertions of the firemen, they
were unable to get the mastery of the fearful ele-
ment, until Mr. Hogg's premises were reduced to
ruins and several other premises damaged, the extent
of which will be seen from the official report below.
As soon as the ruins became cool and daylight set
in the firemen made an examination of the premises
for the purpose of seeing whether any persons were
therein, as no tidings could be gleaned of the servant
girl, a young woman named Jane Brown, and of
Rosina Riches, a young person related to Mr. Hogg.
After some time a most sickening spectacle presented
itself, for in the midst of the ruins both bodies were
discovered burnt almost to cinders. The remains
were carefully collected together and removed to the
dead-house to await a coroner's inquest.
Respecting the cause of the melancholy disaster
nothing that can be depended upon could be learned.
The servant girl who has perished went down stairs
with a lighted candle after the shop was closed on
Saturday night, for the purpose of turning the gas off
at the metre, and it is not improbable that in so doing
she might have dropped a spark into some of the
crates or packages in that part of the building. Mr.
Hogg says that is the only conclusion he can come to
as to the origin of the disaster. He also states that he
knew nothing of the existence of the fire until awoke
by the screams of the women, when he jumped out of
bed and proceeded below to see where the fire was
burning. He got as far as the door of the shop, when,
on laying hold of the handle, he found it quite hot.
He therefore ran up stairs and told the women to
follow him, when, ju,t as they were about to do so,
the door in front was forced, when the flames shot up
and followed him into the room, and, as the last ex-
pedient, he was obliged to throw himself out of the
window.
Susan Hogg, who also jumped out of the window,
states, that on being alarmed she went down stairs as
fir as the shop, but the door not having been opened,
she was returning, when the flames met her and she
was compelled to run to an adjoining apartment.
Even there the fire rushed in and fairly encompassed
her, so that she was forced to fight her way through
the flame., by which she received the burns about the
face and hands. She could not form any idea as to
the cause of the outbreak.
One fortunate circumstance connected with this
melancholy event is that Mrs. Hogg and her four
children left town last Tuesday, and had not returned
when the outbreak took place.
Subjoined is the official report of the damage
done:—
" Sunday, September 19, 1852. A fire broke out
in the premises of Mr. Hogg, optician, ironmonger,
end ship chandler, No. 394, Rotherhithe street. The
cause of fire not known ; building and contents in-
:ured in the Guardian Fire-office. The fire was ex_
tinguiahed by firemen and the use of the engines of
the brigade (land and float) and that of the West of
England office. The contents are consumed and the
building burnt down, through the police forcing open
the front door when they heard the people crying
within. Mr. Hogg's back and legs broken by -lump-
ing out of window ; taken to Guy's Hospital. Jane
Brown, the servant and Rosina Riches burned to
death.
" No. 393 in the same street. Mr. AV. J. Fleming,