The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-30 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Shortly after five o'clock yesterday morning the inha-
bitants of Knightsbridge were thrown into a state of great '
consternation and alarm by the sudden burstinr, forth of
a most alarminc, fire upon the premises of Mr. James
Clark, potatoe salesman, N 0.2, Middle-row, at the junction
of the Fulham with the great Western Road, nearly oppo-
site Sloane-street. It was discovered by police constable
Gough, T 44, who, while on duty near the spot, observed
flames issuing through the shutters of the shop front. He
instantly gave an alarm, and, within a few minutes after-
wards, a smell engine belonging t) St. Margaret's, West-
minster, in which parish that portion of the neighbourhood
is situated, was brought to the spot, followed in about ton
minutes he Martin, the Kensington beadle, with a very large
engine, built about 60 years since for the British Museum.
hut, now placed at Brompton during the repair of the
Ken,ineten district engine, which was of moat essential ser-
vie:, hi preventing the destruction of the whole triangle of
buildings, consistiog of upwards of thirty houses, escitisi%e
of a large range of livery stables, the whole of which were
for some time in great danger of falling a prey to the de-
vouring element. Fortunately there was a most plentiful
supply of iv iter from the plugs of the Chelsea Water
Works Company, and the above engiucs being got
into Immediate operation, centinu d streams was poured on
the flames, which I,ad by that time extended to the back
promises of Mr. Moore, cutler, at the eastern corner of the
Great ;Western-road; Mr. Kershaw, .fruiterer ; and Mr.
Carter, tripeman, at the corner of the Fulham road. At •
that time, however, the Horns Tavern (Chelsea) engine
was brought to the spot, closely followed by an engine be-
longing to the County Fire Office, which was dragged by
Itlnd from the engine-house, at tie hack of the Quadrant,
Regent-street, and seven engines helonging to the London
Fire Establishment, under the superintendence of
Braiulwoed, and the West of England engine, the whole
of which were instantly got i.rito operation, and under whose
combined influence the flames were, we are happy to say,
by seven o'clock sufficiently subdued to allay all fear of
their extending further.
Several of the houses adjoining have sustained trifling
injury. How the fire originated is at present a mystery,
but it is reported that a man in the employ of Mr. Clark
was observed by the police about three o'clock to enter the
premises in a state of intoxication, and it is supposed to have
been oeca-ioned through his negligence.

The half-yearly meeting of the pronrictote of the
General Steam Navigation Company was held yesterday at
the office of the Company, No. 0, Lombard-street, wi.ich
was numerously attended. The Report from the Direct‘;rs
of the proceedings of the half year ending the 30th of June
last nos read, and gave general satisfaction. It, is stated
that the Neptune, of 650 tons, built by Messrs. Greene
and Wigrarorand the Leith, of 780 tons, built by Messrs.
Menzies, of Leith, had been added to the fleet of the
Company. After declaring the dividend for the half year
ending the 30th of June last the unanimous thanks of the
proprietors were voted to the Chairman and Directors, and
the meeting separated.
The depot of the London and Birmingham Railway
at Camden Town, on the side opposite the fiAds, is en-
closed by a high wall, which, after rising to a considerable
height, is all at once narrowed, so as to leave a slight
ledge on the outer side, about four feet from the top of the
wall. On Sunday afternoon, a number of boys were en-
deavouring so walk along this ledge, holding on by the top
of the wall, and among others a boy of about thirteen years
of age, named Hurlock, whose parents reside in Somers'
Town. After proceeding for a considerable distance,
Hurlock, becoming giddy, lost his footing, and fell with
great force to the ground. He was taken up insensible,
and remained so for a considerable time, but by the appli-
cation of water to his forehead and face, was at last
brought round. In addition to a severe cut under one of
his eyes, it was found that he bad hurt one of his legs. By
the assistance, however, of one of his companions, he was
able, after the lapse of half an hour, to proceed homewards.
As this feat is often attempted by the boys and lads who
frequent the Chalk Farm fields, it is astnnishing that more
serious accidents do not occur. Being outside the depot,
the Company's officers who are placed within cannot inter-
fere to prevent it, while the policemen are necessarily dis-
persed through the neighbouring fields. If the Company
were to station one or more of their officers outside the in-
closure, they might prevent serious accidents, and certainly
would save the walls from the damage which they must
sustain from the efforts of persons anxious to get a sight of
the interior.
ORKNEY.-On Monday morning last there was an
important capture of whales, of the bottle-nose species,
made in Scapa Bay, near Kirkwall. A hundred and sixty
were taken in all, varying in length from six to twenty-two
feet each. The massacre was dreadful, and the whole
scene had something of the sublime and terrific in it. The
Bay was for a time metamorphosed ad literam into a " Red
Sea," and the shore presented the spectacle of a hundred
and sixty dead carcasses ranged along it. A sale after-
wards took place of these monsters of the deep. They
were disposed of in different lots, and brought upwards of
4001. At Stromness upwards of sixty whales of the same
species made their appearance, and a number of them run
on shore. We have been informed that a number of the
same description are ashore at Stronza. Some hundreds of
them were also seen off Scapa Bay since the first capture,
but though hotly pursued, they got off.—John 0' Groat's
Journal.
The consumption of gold for gilding at the various
potteries is said to amount to upwards of 6001. a week,
and the consumption of coals in the same period is about
800 tons.
Some time before the death of his late Majesty, he
was informed of the great necessity which existed at St.
Bude, in Cornwall, for the establishment of a life-boat. He
immediately gave orders for one to be constructed at his
own expense, and presented to the inhabitants. It
arrive
to
d
here yesterday, on board the brig Rosina, belging
Messrs. Winlnw and Son, and will be forwarded to Bude as
soon as possible. It was built at Sunderland, and cost one
hundred guineas. It is a gift well worthy the benevolent
heart of England's sailor ding.—Deveriport Independent.