The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-27 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL, Thursday.—Shortly before noon to-day a
most extensive fire, which probably will be attended with
considerable loss, broke out in four very large warehouses
situated in Lancelot's Hey, and in the midst of a den se'y
populated neighbourhood. When the anneuncem eat
was made of the existence of the fire in the locality
above-named, much alarm was felt by the inhabitants as
to the result, in consaquesce of there being a great
quantity of East and West India produce in the build-
ings. The whole of the property belongs to Mr. Moly-
neux, and is situated opposite Fazackerly and another
street. It was well known that there were vaults under-
neath the cellars, in which large quantities of spirits
were in bend, and above the vaults were numbers of
spirits of turpentine, spirits of tar, rosin, &c., and this
k no wled ge added considerably to the opinions entertained
as to the destructive results of the conflagration. The
cellars in these warehouses had each communication with
the other, and in one of them it was reported upwards of
100 barrels of turpentine was deposited, besides saltpetre
&c. Above these collars, to the extent of six stories, were
cotton, hemp, &c., which, with the other combustibles
spoken of, belonged to Messrs. F. Campbell and Co.
Mr. Hearne, and Messrs. Stolterfoht and Co. The
spirits belonged to Mr. Hearne. The premises were
what is termed certified warehouses, i. e., they were ex-
ternally fire-proof, and as yet it is a mystery as regards
the origin of the fire. However, it is certain that the
vaults and cellars were entered with a lamp, and on this
day it was noticed that the " bull's eye " of the lamp
was cracked through, It had been used during the morn-
ing, butafter the discovery of the fire it was found in the
street. It was, however, rumoured that a lighted candle,
without any external protection, had been taken into
the subterranean storehouses, and as a natural result,
an explosion took place. Be this as it may, the
fire ascended from the cellars, and as it came in
contact with the barrels of turpentine, &c., a lotel
explosion followed, occasionally inducing the lookers-on
to retreat in the most precipitous manner. The intelli•
pace of the fire was scarcely promulgated before the
West of England engine and the corporate engines were
on the spot, together with a large body of policemen.
No order, however, seemed to prevail ; the approaches
to the warehouses were thronged with idle and indolent
people, undesirous of rendering any assistance, and if it
had not been for the timely arrival of the mayor, J. B.
Lloyd, Esq., that order and regularity which followed
his injunctions would have been unknown. The fire
ascended with great rapidity, and the Mayor gave direct
instructions for the clearance of the avenues, and being
promptly obeyed, the firemen wore enabled to do all that
human effort could do, namely, to pour in copious quan-
tities of water, for the density of the smoke, together
with its suffocating tendency, nullified even any ordi-
nary efforts to arrest the progress of the hidden fire.
The proprietors and the tenants of the adjoining ware-
houses speedily busied themselves in the employment of
large drays and other conveyances to remove the pro-
perty deposited in their warehouses, consisting of cotton,
sugar, sulphur, &c., and the celerity with which their
removal was accomplished was gratifying to a degree.
While all this was proceeding dense columns of smoke
obscured the sky, and, taking into consideration the
narrowness of Launcelot's Hey, the corporation brigade
discharged the duties assigned to it with commendable
expedition and patience. At length, however, the lungs
were unable to receive the fumes which rose from the
mass then burning secretly, and for personal safety most
of those engaged in the hazardous occepation were
cbli,ged to withdraw to some distance. Still the engines
played vigorously, but without much effect.