The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-14 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE FIRES AND GREAT LOSS

OF PROPE.RIY.

Yesterday morning, about two o'clock, a fire of
a serious character, and attended with a great loss
of property, broke out in the large manufacturing
premises belonging to Mr. Selig, a cabinet-maker,
&c., situate at 125, St. John's-street, Clerkenwell.
The discovery was made by the police-constable on
the beat, whose attention was attracted by the loud
and repeated barking of a dog. Thinking that a
robbery was being attempted in one of the houses
near induced him to make a diligent seareh, and
whilst doing so he noticed'a dense mass of smoke
hovering over Mr. Selig's factory, and being now
satisfied that a fire was on the point of bursting
forth, he gave the necessary alarm, and set about
awaking the inmates of the front and adjoining
houses. That was not accomplished without con-
siderable difficulty and loss of time, and before the•
residents of Selig's dwelling-house and those ad-
joining could be made sensible of their impending
danger a huge sheet of flame shot forth from the
factory.
Adjoining that building was an open timber yard
in which a great amount of stock was deposited,
and communicating stood the dwelling house, and
on one side was the building belonging to Mr. G.
Sheane, watch spring maker (No. 124), and on the
other the premises belonging to Mr. T. C. Blundell,
a rope and mat maker, so that it at once became ap-
parent that unless the conflagration could be quickly
extinguished a great loss of property must ensue,
and unfortunately the latter turned out as was ap-
prehended.
Information of the disaster having been sent in
sundry directions, in almost incredibly short space
of time two escapes attended, as well as several
manual working engines of the London Brigade,
one of the parish, and the land steam-engine. This
force was under the command of Capt. Shaw, the
superintendent, his Grace the Duke of Sutherland,
Mr. Fogo, the chief officer of the B district, Engi-
neers Perryer, Flinn, and other officials.
Before sufficient time had elapsed to set a single
engine to work the flames belched forth from every
part of the factory, and were attacking with full
vigour the valuable stock of timber, including rose-
wood veneers and other goods. The greatest excite-
ment was then caused throughout the neighbour-
hood, and the occupants of several houses hard by
commenced removing their furniture and other
effects, by which much property was broken and
damaged by water.

By direction of Captain Shaw the land steamer
was set to work from an abundant supply of water,
under the charge of Foreman Gerrard, whilst the
other engines were pumped by a great many hired
auxiliaries. Every one present exerted himself to
the utmost, including the noble duke, in endea-

vouring to stop the ravages of the devastating

elelement, and to a considerable extent they were
successful, for at one time the front house of Mr.
Selig and those of Mr. Blundell and Mr. Sheane
were all blazing away at the back with the
greatest fury. The steam-engine at once began,
by the great quantity of water it discharged
into the blazing premises, to tell in a palpable man-
ner upon the flames, and they were arrested in a
very brief period afterwards. Steam of 50lbs.pres-
fcolalpotwaiinngs
ware was obtained in 11 minutes after lighting the
fire of the boiler, and 200 gallons of water were
pumped per minute in and around the burning
buildings, and eventually the conflagration was ex-
tinguished ; but the damage done was considerable,
official report fur-
nishedas will
tbnee
haw :
"No. 125, St. John-street, St. John-street-road.
—Mr. S. Selig, cabinetmaker.__Factory burned
out, stock in open yard destroyed, front house used
seen
rthbey
as a dwelling (communicating), and stock seriously
damaged by fire, &c. Cause of fire unknown. Con-
tents insured in the Provincial Fire-office.
"No. 124.—Mr. E. (3. Sheanes, watch-spring-
maker—Back front of buildings severely damaged
by fire, and contents by water. Contents and build-
ing insured in the Sun Fire-office.
'• No. 123.—Mr- T. C. Blundell, rope and mat
maker.—Back front of premises damaged by fire,
and roof of back workshops injured by breakage.
Building insured in the Sun Fire-office, and the
contents were insured in the Phcenix Office.
" The police rendered great assistance to the fire-
men by keeping a large concourse of persons out
of danger."
Another very alarming fire broke out about the .
same time as the one in Clerkenwell, in the pre-
mises belonging to Mr. W. Bond, a stationer, &c.,
carrying on business at No. 30, Cross-street, Upper-
street, Islington. The flames were discovered by
the inmates through experiencing a dense suffocat-
ing sensation, and those who wore sleeping in the
front room first-floor found the flooring so hot as
to nearly draw the skin off their feet. Informa-
tion was at once sent off for the Royal Society's
escapes, and for the engines, and in a short space
of time two escapes, under the direction of Mr. In-
spector Baddeley- arrived, as well as the engines of
the parish, and others belonging to the London bri-
gade. Plenty of water having been procured the
parish engineer and the firemen of the brigade went
to work in an admirable manner, but the flames had
previously obtained possession of the valuable stock
in trade in the shop, and also of the back rooms, but
by dirt of great perseverance the fire was confined
to the lower part of the building, but the damage
done is very considerable, as the whole of the stock,
fixtures, and other effects are nearly destroyed. The
loss will fall upon the Liverpool and London Fire-
office. The origin of this fire is also unknown.
About half-past four o'clock the same morning a
fire, nearly attended with a great loss of life, hap-
pened in the premises belonging to Mr. J. Laivand,
situated in Marshall-street, Golden -square, but let
out to numerous families as a lodging-house. The
police-constable on the beat in passing the house
heard a loud crackling noise, evidently arising from
burning wood. The officer, feeling satisfied that
the house was on fire, gave an immediate alarm,
when a scene of the greatest confusion ensued, for
owing to many persons sleeping in the various
rooms in the building, it appears miraculous that
any of the residents escaped with their lives. The
Royal Society's escapes promptly attended, as well
as the engines of the London brigade, and also one
of the land steamers. Owing to the indefatigable
exertions of the brigade under Mr. Staples, the
foreman of the C district, tbe fire was extinguished,
but the lower part of the building was burnt out,
and the upper part damaged by heat and water,
besides the breakage of the furniture. Fortunately
the whole of the ff
su arers escaped, but they were
all uninsured.

Snow has fallen pretty generally all over Ireland.
In the counties of Roscommon Galway, and Leitrim there
have Leen heavy falls, and the same report comes from the
neighbourhood of Belfast. Stooks of corn, it is stated, may
be seen embedded in the snow in some places.