The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-19 00:00:00

FIRES YESTERDAY.

At 20 minutes past two yesterday morning the
inhabitant of Stepney were alarmed by seeing an
immense sheet of flame rising high into the air,
which induced them to believe that a fire had broken
out in the West India Dock warehouses. It however
was soon ascertained that the disaster had taken
place on the premises belonging to Messrs. M. A.
Harrell and Co., coopers, situated in the Horseferry
Branch-road, close to the Regent's Canal, at Lime-
house. The property covered a large space whereon
were erected the saw mills, steam-engine house, and
sundry other buildings, whilst the open yard was
stacked with piles of timber. The discovery was
made by one of the Thames police, by seeing the
fire issuing from the windows of the steam saw-
mills, a range of brick buildings aboat 40 feet long
and 30 feet wide, fitted up with costly machinery,
and filled with timber of different sorts used in the
trade. The constable at once sounded an alarm, and
sent off messengers in many directions to call the
engines, but the great light in the air became a far
more speedy means of intelligence than those par-
ties sent away, and forthwith a general turn out of
the brigade took place. The lower steam floating
engine, several hand engines, and two land
steamers, by Shand and Mason, were at
the scene of danger in a comparatively brief
period, under the command of Captain Shaw, Fore-
men J. Gerrard, Bridges, Maidman, and others.
Lord Richard Grosvenor, M.P., also attended with
Captain Shaw. Plenty of water having been ob-
tained from the mains of the East London Company,
and also from the Regent's Canal, the hand engines
and steam engines were set to work in an admirable
manner; but the fire had previously obtained too
firm a bold to be easily extinguished, for the save
mills and the eng;6le house were in a blaze, and the
fire was attackin, with full vigour the piles of tim-
ber in the open yet The land steamers and the
manual power engil. at once set to work, and
copious streams of water were so directed upon the
flames as to meet them at each point, and thereby
prevent their farther extension ; but the main body
of flame could not be extinguished until the mills
and engine house were nearly destroyed, and the
contents severely damaged by ire. The stock in
the timber yard is also severely damaged by fire,
water, &c. The origin of the fire is unknown. The
loss will fall upon the Hand-in-Hand, the Ma"
chester, the Royal, and the Queen insurance offices.
Mr. Charles White, of the County Fire Office, and
Mr. Langham, of the North British and Mercantile
Offices, were early in attendance, and assisted the
firemen.

A fire also took place in Limehouse, on the pre-
mises of Mr. R. C. Mansfield, No. 1, EAmouth-place,
Catherine-street. The engines of the parish and
London Brigade quickly attended, and they were
set to work, but the firemen were unable to get the
flames extinguished until a serious amount of
damage was done. Insured in the Royal Exchange
Fire Office. The origin of this fire is also unknown,
At an early hour in the morning another fire
broke out on the premises of Mr. W. Payne, a hair'
dresser and tobacconist, carrying on business at No.
1, Inverness-place, Plumstead. When discovered the
inmates were in their beds asleep, but fortunately
the police succeeded in arousing them in time to
allow of their making a safe retreat, but not,
however, before the flames were rushing up the
staircase. The engines from her Majesty's arsenal
quickly attended, and the hose reel having been
attached to the reservoir of the Kent Company' a
bountiful supply of water was thrown into the burn'
ing building, but the fire could not be extinguished
until the lower part of the building was burned out
and the upper portion extensively damaged. The
cause of this fire is also unknown. Fortunately the
sufferer was insured in the Liverpool and London
Fire Office.