The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-28 00:00:00

FALL of TWO HOUSES in SEVEN DIALS.

(LATEST PARTICULAM

Yesterday morning, between the hours of 2 and 3
o'clock, an occurrence of a most frightful character,
by which a great number of persons were seriously,
and it is feared two or three, fatally injured, happened
near the angle of Queen-street and Great St. Andrew-
street, Seven Dials. From careful inquiries made on
the spot, as well as at the various hospitals and St.
Giles's Infirmary, the following particulars were ob-
tained, which may be relied upon as being substan-
tially correct.
It is necessary to state, that at the corner of the
two streets before alluded to stands one of those large
spirit establishments, which abound in that neigh-
bourhood, termed the Crown Tavern. Adjoining
this building stood a lofty house, which was let out
as a cheap lodging-house for tramps, &c. It had a
frontage In Queen-street, and extended as far back as
the houses in Great St. Andrew's-street. On the
other side of the public-house stood an oil and colour-
shop belonging to Mr. Levy, which was entered from
St. Andrew's-street.

All of a sudden the inhabitants of the adjoining
streets were aroused from their slumbers by a noise
resembling a heavy clap of thunder, and so severe was
the concussion that several houses were shaken to
their foundations, and men, women, and children
rushed forth in their night clothes, and sought pro-
tection in the street. It then became apparent that
the greater portion of the two houses adjoining the
public house in each street had fallen, and from the
screams which were proceeding from the ruins it was
manifest that a number of persons were buried in
them. What to do for the best the neighbours scarcely,
knew, as they expected every minute to see the re-
maining walls fall. Nothing daunted, however, by
the great risk of losing their lives, they manfully
entered, and after some time they succeeded
in extricating from the lodging-house three persons,
whose names are given below. These were at first
thought to have been killed, and they were quickly
removed to St. Giles's workhouse, where, upon being
examined by the surgeon, they were found to be alive,
bat so seriously hurt that they were at once removed
to the infirmary. _ _

Some few minutes afterwards three other men were
got out of the ruins of the lodging-house, terribly
wounded, and they were Olken to Charing-cross
Hospital. One man, it is feared, is fatally
injured. Several others were likewise extricated,
but they were found to be comparatively unhurt, and
were removed to some of the other lodging-houses in
the neighbourhood. While most hands were engaged
working on the ruins of the lodging-house, a cry was
raised that several others were buried in Mr. Levy's
premises. This unfortunately turned out to be cor-
rect, for when the building fell five persons were in
the place, and as the floors fell they were precipitated
to the base, and became buried in the rubbish. A
young man fell with Mr. Levy's two children, but
the timbers toppled in such a direction as to form
something like a tent over them, and they were got
out without being seriously injured. Mrs. Levy,
however, was not so fortunate, for she fell amid
such a heap of rubbish that near two hours elapsed
before she could be extricated ; when that was ac-
complished she was found to be so seriously injured
that she was taken to Charing-cross Hospital.
Mr. Levy himself had a miraculous escape, for it
seems that he had not retired to bed when the acci-
dent happened, but was in his shop making up some
accounts, when he heard the crash, and, before he
could get to the street-door, he saw his wife and
children shot to the bottom of the building. The man
in charge of the. lodging-house was closing a bargain
with another man respecting the price for a lodging,
when he heard a crack which he thought was caused
by a rat in the cupboard. Having obtained a hammer
he opened the door of the cupboard, when, to his dis-
may, he saw the back part of his house open and fall
to the ground.
A strong body of the F division of police, as well
as a number of labourers, were engaged up to dusk
last evening in searching the ruins of the two houses
for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not any
other persons were buried in them. The result, how-
ever, is quite unsatisfactory. Some of the men who
were at work in the forenoon removing the rubbish
assert that, for a long time after they commenced
operations, they could hear a noise as of persons
moaning. From the inquiries subsequently made,
there seems to be but one person now missing. That
person was a young man who slept on the first floor,
and he was seen by some of the other lodgers, who
are now in the hoapital, clinging to one of the rafters,
which was at the time stretched over a considerable
portion of the flooring. The building used as the
lodging-house belonged to Mr. Jenkins, the pro-
prietor of the Crown Tavern, at the corner of the
street, but was let to a man whose name could not
be ascertained, and who afterwards sublet it to nu-
merous persons. Upon making inquiries as to the
exact number of lodgers in the house when the catas-
trophe occurred, the only answer that could be ob-
tained was, that accommodation was provided for a
large number, but it was impossible to tell how many
were in the building that night.

From the examination which was made yesterday
afternoon it is thought that the wall of Mr. Levy's
premises in Great St. Andrew's-street was the first
to fall, and alighting on the top of the lodging-house
the great weight of the materials caused the latter
building to give way. The Crown has not received
the slightest injury. The furniture, wearing apparel,
&c., in the two houses that fell have, however, been
destroyed, and the valuable stock in trade of Mr.
Levy is considerably damaged.
The following are the names of those known to
have been injured :—ln St. Giles's Infirmary—Wil-
liam Callhoeler, aged 61 ; John Shafto, aged 48 ; and
John Forest, aged 39. In Charing-cross Hospital—
Charles Regan, aged 30; Joseph Holmes, aged 64;
James Hayes, aged 30 ; and Hannah Levy, age not
known.

Last evening Mrs. Levy still remained in a very
dangerous condition, as did also the man Joseph
Holmes. The three sufferers in the St. Giles's Infir-
mary, although terribly injured, were going on very
favourably.
Orders have been given by the district surveyor to
have the property shored up. The thoroughfares
through Queen-street and Great St. Andrew's-street
were closed during the day, and so great was the crowd
of anxious inquirers who flocked to the scene that a
powerful body of police were required to keep them
out of danger, and to protect the property removed
from the ruins.

The following is a letter from Mr. Bland, an
inmate of Mr. Levy's at the time the accident
happened:—

" Sir,—l think it my duty (after thanking Provi-
dence that I am alive to record it) to give you au
account of my miraculous escape, uninjured, from a
frightful death this morning. I have been living
with my uncle, Mr. A. Levy, oil and colourman,
at No. 2, Great St. Andrew's-street, Blooms.
bury. I was awoke this morning, about half-
past two, by sounds resembling discharges of
cannon, accompanied by screams and groans, and
was immediately afterwards thrown out of my bed
against a post in the centre of the room, placed
there, I assume, to support the roof, the house being
very old. On recovering myself lat once made for
the stairs, but to my horror found them gone, and the
whole of the back part of the premises, together with
a house at the rear, entirely demolished. With much
difficulty, I contrived to descend from my perilous
position by means of a rope, which had for some
months hung from the top balusters for the children
to play with, but which tended providentially to my
escape. On reaching the first floor I found my uncle
in a state bordering on frenzy, my aunt and her two
children having been by this time buried in the ruins,
and neither ho nor I being able then to render them
any assistance. On reaching the street door I found
the shopman in a state of nudity, he having been pre-
cipitated downwards from the second floor. I then
ran round to the rear of the premises in Queen-
street, and was enabled to rescue my little cousin,
nine years of age (who bad fallen with his mother),
from a frightful death. The other boy (11), who
might have been saved at this time, refused to move,
exclaiming that be would not leave his mother, and
immediately afterwards the timbers again gave way,
and he was once more buried. After the lapse of an
hour and a half my aunt and cousin were dug out of
from the ruins, and the former being seriously in-
jured was carried to Charing-cross Hospital. I can-
not but express my sincere thanks to Inspector Dodd
and the police under his direction for their efficient
services upon this occasion. I have not at present as-
certained how many persons in the back premises
have been injured, but I saw the feet only of one
poor sufferer protruding from the ruins. Having
thus informed you of the facts of the case, I naturally
ask why the house has been suffered to be in such a
condition. Surely, the parish surveyor must have
been very remiss in his duties to have allowed the
house, and those in the rear, to have remained uncon-
demeed, for an inspection by any person will convinceT
him that they were totally unfit for habitation.

THE LATE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.—Some parties
have circulated a report that the Duke of Wellington has
left a sovereign to every soldier in the British army. A truer
statement, in one sense, has never been made, as the late
gallant field-marshal has not only left a sovereign to every
soldier, but also to every sailor in the services, and to every
subject of Queen Victoria, as if it had not been for the suc:
cuss of the Duke of Wellington and the army he commanded
at the battle of Waterloo, it is doubtful if this country could,
at the present day, boast of having a Sovereign of far greater
value tf—n any golden sovereign ever coined. The admi-
rabl) tactics of Grace also put down the movement of the
Chartists Qn Vio 10th of April, at aperiodin great
wliensereeorpaalrdoyf
the crownea heals of Europe were placed
of having thei. sovereignty taken from them.
ONE GOOD THING IN A FAMILY.—A New York
paper remarks—" A. good newspaper is one good thing in a
family; and one who don't take a good paper, and pay for it
is an unworthy citizen, and disregards the best interests of
his family."