The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-21 00:00:00

DES7RUCTIVB FIRES AND LOSS OF

LIFE.

This morning (Tuesday) a most painful sensation was
caused amongst the whole of the aged inmates of St. Mary-
lebone Alms Houses, St. John's-wood-terrace, St. John's-
wood, owing to a fire, of is rapidly destructive character,
breaking out in one of the houses occupied by one of the
poor recipients, which, we regret to state, not only destroyed
the building and the humble furniture, but was also at-
tended with fatal consequences to a female, 82 years of
age.

From inquiries made OR the spot it appears that, whilst a
police constable of the D division was patrolling his beat,
he observed a dense mass of black smock hoverin€ over
and in front of the Alms Houses. Owing to the intensity
and thickness of the smoke it was at first impostaLl,4 to tell,
with any degree of accuracy, which building was on fire,
although it was quite apparent one was. The officer there-
fore raised a general alarm, by springing his rattle in front
of the whole row of buildings. This caused a scene to take
place pitiable in the extreme, for the aged people, not
knowing to the contrary that their own habitations were on
fire, rushed out the best way they were able, some almost
in a state of nudity. A few seconds, however, told the tale
that the conflagration had commenced in the house num-
bered 9, in which resided a female, named Mary Smythe,
aged 82. An immense 'sheet of flame made its exit
through the four windows in the building, and up to that
time the poor creature had not been seen to emerge from
her ill-fated habitation. For any person to attempt
!.3 enter the place was then an impossibility, for the fire
was rolling up in dense bodies and also through the roof,
threatening to destroy tae committee-room, No. 8, and also
the alms-house, No. 10. Efforts were therefore made to
remove the books and furniture from the last named pre-
mises which was accomplished, but in so doing considerable
damage was done by breakage and water.
The police and others started off in sundry directions to
call the engines and the Royal Society's fire-escape, and in
an almost incredibly brief space the engines of the barracks
the parish, three of the London Brigade, and the land
steamer by Shand and Mason, arrived, and also the fire-
escapes. The mains of the West Middlesex Company
having yielded a good supply of water, the firemen, under
the direction of Mr. Staples, the chief officer of the C dis-
trict, went to work in an admirable manner, but, although
aided by 50 hired auxiliaries, they were unable to get the
flames extinguished until the building and the contents
were destroyed ; but, fortunately, the fire was prevented
from reaching the adjoining houses.

As soon as the ruins were sufficiently cooled to enter,
search was made for the poor woman known to be therein,
and after some time her charred remains were found under
the heated debris by the firemen. They were placed in a
shell and removed to await an inquest. How the
catastrophe occurred at present remains a mystery. It is
feared that none of the occupants were insured.
Another fire happened in the premises of Mr. N. Y.
Nathan, No. 6, High-street, Shadwell. It commenced
from some unknown cause in the first floor, and speedily
assumed a threatening aspect. The parish engine, and
several Of the London Brigade were early in attendance,
and the parish engineer and fire brigade, with the aid of a
supply of the East London Company's water, succeeded in
getting the fire extinguished, but the damage is conside-
rable. Fortunately the sufferer was insured in the Alliance
Fire Office, and the building was, insured in the London
Office.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A RAILWAY BREAKSMAN.
—Shortly before 10 o'clock on Saturday night, Ed ward
Renton, a breaksman in the employ of the London and
North-Western Railway Company, was killed on the line,
near to the Ribble Bridge, a short distance from the Pres-
ton station. He was head breaksman on the luggage trains
between Preston and Carlisle, and on Saturday night, hav-
ing arranged his train for the north, he gave a signal to the
engine-driver to attach his engine to the front part of the
train. Whilst the engine was being backed up, Renton
stepped on to the down line of rails, without observing that
an engine was approaching him on the same line. Before an
alarm could be raised he was knocked down by the engine,
which passed over his back and the hinder part of his head,
causing instantaneous death. The body was fearfully
mutilated. The deceased, who was about 30 years of age,
and had long been in the employ of the company, has lefts
wife and one child.
ACCIDENT IN LEITH HARBOUR.—An accident
which nearly proved fatal took place about one o'clock on
Saturday morning. A merchant, having happened to lose
his way in North Leith, wandered down a narrow lane
leading from Coburg-street to the harbour, and not being
aware that he was near the water, he walked over the
quay. His cries for help were heard by Constable Elrick:
who was on duty in the neighbourhood, and others, and
_
they hastened to his assistance. The constable in his ,
eager desire to save the gentleman fell into the water, and
both had to struggle for their lives. It being about
tide, a mud-bank near was uncovered, and it they succeeded
m o more
out with a rope in a sad condition e
asinsriestaitenhciengw.asHpreorecutrheedy, waenrde cuolmtimpealtleeldy
drawnttohreeymwaienretill
the
The gentleman did not receive any cut or bruise, but
from the water and mud.
constable sustained a severe injury on one of his legs, which
has rendered him unfit for his duty since the accident.
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