The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-28 00:00:00

TIIE SUN, LONDON, TTIVSDAY, MARCH 28, 1837.

Fifli.E Art CHELSEA.

The inhab7tants of the vicinity of S!oane-street wet,?
awakened about twelve o'clock this morn:rig (Tuesday) by
vehement cries of " Fire ;" and it was quickly discovered
that the basement of No. 254 Exeter-street, occupied by
Mr. Joyce; a tailor,, Was in fumes. gome of the neigh-
bours itithiediatt4 despatched messengers for the parish
eng:neB; but before tilty attifed the Whole house was a vo-
lume of fire ; and ihrotigit the ineariacity Of those Who
a_nedMpatlibtl them; Hot Utitlergtanding their Work; and un-
able td bfirig thdif ettgliteg id play.; deatlY half an hour
elapsed before a drop of' water could be broii,tht to bear
upon the house. The arrival of the London tire brig Ode
with four or five engines, which were most promptly and
efficiently worked, alone saved the whole neighbourhood
from destruction. The house itself, on account of the use-
lessness of the parish engines, and the alarming rapidity,
with which the flames communicated to every story, pre-
sented, on their arrival, nothing but a complete body of
fire, and was of course entirely destroyed. Great exer-
tions were made by all the inhabitants in removing the fur-
niture from the adjoining houses, and the inmates escaping
nearly in a state of nudity, were kindly received and
treated. Too much praise cannot be given to the firemen,
for their intrepid and decisive condUct, nor to the T divi-
sion of Police, who most actively assisted in preventing the
spread of the flames, in securing the property from the ad-
joining houses, and in preserving order. Too much
grace can scarcely attach to the mismanagement and ineffi-
ciency of the parish engine.
. • We regret to be compelled to add that an aged gentle-
man -residing in the house, has fallen a victim to the flames.
Part of his body, in a most horrible condition, has just been
discovered. No cause has yet been assigned for the origin
of this lamentable occurrence.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
23, Exeter-street, March 28.

Silt,—Allow me, as a near resident to the lamentable
fire in Exeter-street, Chelsea, thus publicly to express not
only my own, but the general feeling of disgust and indig-
nation, at the manner in which the awful conflagration was
allowed to go on unchecked, through the total inefficiency
and carelessness of the men connected with our parish
engines. Not only were the most essential parts of the
hose not to be found, but not a man who in any way under-
stood the management of an engine accompanied them ; so
that the fire had uncontrolled dominion for near half an
hour, till the arrival of the London Fire Brigade ; and had
it not been for the most admirable and prompt acting of the
latter, I have no doubt the whole side of the street would
have been destroyed. My own house, only two doors from
the fire, and containing printed works in quires and paper
to the amount of some thousand pounds, was in most im-
minent danger of destruction, purely from their incapacity
to check the flames ; and as such property could not have
been moved, the consequences would have been fearful to
the surrounding neighbourhood.
I think, Sir, that in a rich and populous district such as
this is, the authorities owe it to their fellow-parishioners, to
provide not only available engines, but able and experienced
men, to be ready at a moment's notice to be of service in
such a fearful case ; and that it reflects nothing but shame
upon whoever is concerned, that our lives and property
'should be so disregarded, as that for near half an hour the
most violent conflagration could not be checked by one drop
of water, although the engines were present, and water was
in abundance. I think I ought to add, that enough can
scarcely be said of the praiseworthy conduct of the firemen
and police (T division), nor of the kind and active assist-
ance of the neighbours.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

WM. BLATCH.