The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-16 00:00:00

FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE.

- -
Yesterday morning, between 1 and 2 o'clock, a dreadful fire
broke out in one of the lofty mansions in Cumberland-street,
Hyde Park, belonging to Mr. S. W. Barret t. The house stands
nearly opposite the Marble Arch, and is a large capacious
dwelling ss ith flats at the back, which afforded easy means
of escape in case of a fire, but which, unfortunately, were
lost sight of by the inmates. At the time the fire broke
out there were more than a dozen persons sleeping in the
house. They consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, their chil-
dren, governess, lady's maid, nurse, general servants, and
butler. Mrs, Barrett had only been confined a fortnight
before. As customary, the family attended prayers at 10
o'clock, and soon afterwards Mr. Barret went over the
house, in conformity with his usual practice, to see that all
was safe. By 11 o'clock the whole household had retired to
rest. About 12 o'clock, or a quarter past 12, a light was
seen in the kitchen by a police constable who was passing.
On closer examination ho found that the house was on fire.
He instantly sprang his rattle and rang the bell. In a few
moments the front door was unbolted and opened by a per-
1 son in his night-dress, who turned Cut to be Mr. Barrett.
He was only there a moment, for he reclosed the door and
belted it, and was, not again seen alive. Shortly afterwards
piercing screams issued forth from the top part of the house,
and loud cries of "Fire! fire I" " Help ! help /" from the
upper windows. The flames had seized upon the whole of
the staircase, thus cutting off all means of retreat by the
regular way. The only chance left depended upon the
early arrival of the Royal Society's fire-e.
fire-escape. Fortu-
nately, Conductor Elsdon arrived with his escape in two
minutes after hearing the call, and was quickly followed by
Conductor Hutchings with another of the Royal Society's
escapes. Upon getting in front of the building they could
see the smoke rolling from nearly every part of it, and at
several of the windows were women and children screaming
frantically for help. Elsden placed his machine in front of
the house, and at the risk of his own life entered the different
rooms, and brought down in rapid succession a little child,
four women, and an old gentleman. While he was so en-
gaged the other conductor, hearing screams proceeding
from the next house, pitched his machine against it, and
having passed through some of the rooms, on reaching the
leads at the back of the house found the governess of Mr.
Barrett's family there almost stifled with smoke. He at
once brought her down the escape and also three other per-
sons. As the escape conductors were engaged in front,
John Parsons, coachman to Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P,, pro-
cured a ladder from his master's premises, and placed it
against the back of the burning house. He managed by
its means to save the lives of Mrs. Barrett, her infant, and
the monthly nurse. From her recent confinement Mrs.
Barrett was little able to exert herself. She was for the
time taken from the back window in Cumberland-mews
to Mr. Parson's lodgings. Loud cries were then made
for the conductors to enter the building and rescue Mr.
Barrett and his two children, who were known to be still
inside. The conductors both made for the first floor, but
the flames were rolling out and curling round the window-
tops with such fury that they were fairly driven back by the
flames and heated smoke. They next went to the other
windows, but with the same result. All hopes of saving the
three persons known to have been leit behind in the building
were therefore at an end, loud and piteous screams were
heard, apparently proceeding from some portion of the
ground-floor. Here an attempt was made to enter, but
without success, and in a few minutes the screams ceased,
and the flames shot out into the street. It then became
manifest that these unhappy persons had perished.
The engines of the London Brigade from King,street Baker-street, Golden-square, &c., with the land steam-en-
gine
of Shand and Mason, and others from more distant
depots, bringing with them Capt. Shaw and strong bodies of
firemen, arrived in rapid succession. A good supply of
water was at once procured, but the flames had obtained too
firm a hold to be easily conquered, and great fears were for
sjme time entertained for the safety of the houses on either
side. The firemen, although exposed to imminent danger,
were the means of saving a vast amount of the surrounding--
property ; but the main body of fire could not be extin-
guished for nearly three hours, when the house in which it
had originated was burnt out, and those on either side
damaged.

With the intention of getting closer to the flames the fire-
men tried to force the hall door open. They wished to take
their hose in, but finding it would not yield to their blows,
one of the men with an axe drove in one of the lower panels.
Through the aperture were seen the bodies of Mr. Barrett
and his daughter huddled together, both dead. It then
became evident that th• unfortunate gentleman had, after
closing the door, run up the staircase to his daughter's
bedroom, and, getting her in his arms, returned to the
front door to escape into the street. In his ::•fight he had
forgotten that he had bolted it, and had fallen in the
struggle to get it open. The police were outside at
the time, and could have saved them had they known they
were there. After the fire was extinguished search, was
made for the other daughter, aged 4 years, and she was
found near her cot in her bedroom, which was unburnt.
She appeared to have died from suffocation. For some time
it was feared that a French governess had also lost her life,
but she was found to have escaped with the rest. The in-
terior of the house, with the stone staircase, appears to be
entirely destroyed. The bcdies of the sufferers have been
placed in shells to await the coroner's inquest, which, A is
expected, will be held this day,

Mr. Inspector Spencer, oi the Royal Society for the Pro-
tection of Life from Fire, with Captain Shaw, the Superin-
tendent of the London Brigade, made a most searching
inquii y yesterdayfor the purpose of ascertaining, if possible,
how the misfortune took place. Nothingpositive, however,
could be gleaned on that point, but the prevailing opinion
is that one of the gas burners had been left extinguished
but not turned off, and that the gas coming in contact with
a firo in the grab had exploded.

MARKETS-THIS DAY.

COVENT GARDEN.

The show of fruit on sale here to-day was very mode-
rate, but there was a good supply of vegetables on offer.
On the whole, the demand was steady at the annexed rates.

FRUIT,

s. d. s. d.
Pine apples, perlb 3 0 to 5 0
Colonial do., each 0 0 to 0 0
Grapes, per lb 3 0 to 6 0
Foreign do 0 0 to 0 0
Peaches .. 8 0 to 15 01
Nectarines, per dz 3 0 to 10 01
Apples, per ht-sv. 2 6 to 5 0
Pears, per do 3 0 to 6 0
Oranges, per 100 6 0 to 12 0
Lemons, per 120.. 5 0 to 10 0
Gooseberries hf:sveo 0 to 0 0
Strawberries pr pt 0 6 to 0 0

a. d. sd.
Cherries, per lb. 0 oto 0 0
Foreign ditto, puno oto 0 0
Filberts, per lb .. 0 9to 1:3
Cobnuts, per lb 0 oto 0 0
Almonds, per bus 0 oto 0 0
Walnuts, per 100 0 oto 0 0
Figs, per doz. .• 4O to 0 0
Damson .. 4 oto 5 9
Currants, per h.sy 5 oto 6 6
Plums, per do. .. 4 6to 5 6
Greengages, pr do. 0 oto 0 0
Raspberries, pr pt 0 oto 0 0

VEGETABLES.
Greens, dz bunch 2 6to 3 0 Shallots, per lb .. 0 10 to 1 0
Cabbages, pr doz 0 9to 1 3 Horseradish, pbn 1 oto 1 6
Savoy do., pr dz 0 oto 0 0 Parsley, per ditto 0 3to 0 4
Cauliflowers, pdz 1 oto 3 0 Celery, per ditto 0 oto 0 0
Brocoli, per bun. 0 oto 0 0 Beet, per doz. .. 1 6to 2 0
Potatoes, per ton CO to 130 0 Parsnips, per do. 0 oto 0 0
New ditto, pr pd 11 oto 16 0 Small salad, p. pn, 0 oto 0 0
Peas, per i sieve 0 0 tolo 0 I Mushrooms.p ptl. 1 6to 1 9
Turnips, dz bunch 2 6to 3 0 Artichokes, each 0 3 to 0 6
Carrots, pr do 5 oto 6 0 i Cabbage lett,score 4 oto 0 0
Cucumbers 0 3to 1 01 Endive, per score 0 oto 0 6
Garlic, per lb
Sorrel, per sieve 0 oto 0 01 Tomatoes, doz... 0 oto 0 0
Green peas, h.-sv.l2 oto 0 0 Walnuts, per 100 0 oto 0 6
Brus. sprouts,h.s. 0 oto 0 0, Chillies, per ditto 0 oto 0 6
Onions, hf. sv 10to 1 6 Capsicums, per do 00to 0 0
New Do., dz bun 0 9to 1 3 Rhubarb, per bun 0 oto o o
French beans, 100 1 oto 2 0 Asparagus, pr do. 0 oto 0 0
Leeks, per bunch 0 oto 0 0 Seakale, per bun. 0 0 to 0 0
NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.

Turkeys, Os Od to Os Od ; geese, 5s Od to 7s Od each ;
goslings, 4s Od to 7s Od ; ducks, Is 9d to 2s 6d ; ducklings,
Os Od to Us Od; rabbits, is Od to is 9d each; wild do., 8d
to is Od ; pigeons. C 1 to 8d each; lalge Surrey fowls,
8s Od to 121 Ou ; •cnickens, 4s Od to 75; barn-door fowls,
3s 6d to 5s Od; capons, Os Od; hares, Os Od to Os Od ;
grouse, Os Od to Os CI each; ptarmigan, Os Od to Os Od ;
partridges, Os Od to Os Od ; woodcocks. Os Od to Os; snipes, Os
Od to Os; teal, 03 Od to Os Od ; wild ducks, C Od to Os Od ;
widgeons, Gs Od to Os Od ; provers, 03 Od to Os Od each ;
guinea fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; roasting pigs, Os Od to Os Od
each; Ostend fresh butter, lid to is ld •' English, is
to is lid per lb ; English eggs, 7s Od to Os Od; French do.,
5s 6d to 78 Od per 120; loverets, Os Od to Os Od each.