The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-21 00:00:00

THE FIRE IN BED LION-STREET•

The fire which broke out on Sunday night in the pre-
mises belonging to Messrs. Arnold, Scott, Wing, and
Co., watch and clock manufacturers, Nos. 59 and 60, in
Red Lion-street, Holborn, briefly reported in this jour-
nal of yesterday, has been attended with, in addition
first
to
a far greater destruction of property than was at
expected, the sacrifice of two lives—a mother ant itnd ono of
her male children. After the fire was got o was
confidently asserted by some of the persons living in the
house, who had been fortunate enough to escape, that
every one bad, although with great difficulty, been en.
abled to leave the premises ; and from the fact that one
of the poor creatures who have perished in the flames
having been seen in the street after the outbreak was
made known, not the least suspicion was entertained
that they bad fallen victims to the flames, but it was
generally supposed that they had taken shelter in the
house of some friend in the neighbourhood. The whole
of Sunday night even passed away without the firemen
fa
ct.
The the least suspicion of the melancholy
The unfortunate woman who, together with her son, a
boy 6 or 7 years of age, is burnt to
.1\ death, was Mrs.
ce
Emma Jones, the wife of r
; jinolitnh se
second floor, and
vocalist, who, it appears, va
was the first person who made the unwelcome Clare Jones,
discovery. a
That gentleman informedlr. Morris, the head engineerof the Holborn brigade, that
ceeded to the first door back on smelling the fire he pro-
. room, where he heard a loud
crackling noise, which at once convinced him that that
room was on fire. Thinking that he should be able to ex-
tinguish the fire he broke open the door, when an immense

saiunte of Mark make ithibatt forth; 'whirl rurly Arses
Crated him. lie, however, managed to get his wife and
children, including two who were in bed, dowk stairs-
eted he left them as ho supposed in the street. TiVirci
some cause, which at present is not clearly understooll,
the unfortunate woman must have returned tip the stairs
unperceived by any enP, probably thinking the whole of
her children had net been saved, or to rescue some
article of value. It is also probable that her son fol-
lowed her ; but possibly he might, during the fright
and confusion which prevailed, have been left behind,
and the poor woman, remembering that such was the
cue, might have rushed up for the purpose of endeavour-
ing to save him. Several persons, however, living on
the opposite side of the street, are positive they saw the
:her and the child -on the pavement in front of the
house, and they say that the former was wringng her
hand., and seemed to be in a partial state of frenzy.
The following is the official report of Mr. Superinten-
dent Braidwood:—

7.15 p.m. to a
" Sunday, Nov. 19, 1854.—Called at
fire in the premises belonging to Messrs. Arnold and
Co., watch manufacturers, Nos. 59 and GO, Rod Lion-
street, Holborn. Four engines of the establishment
belonging to the B district, one of the C, and that of the
West of England office, attended. The fire was extin-
guished by firemen and 84 hired auxiliaries at the en-
gines.
" The first and second floors and attics burnt out, stair-
cases destroyed, and part of roof off. Cause of fire not
known. Contents insured in the Sun Fire-office, and the
building, No. 60, in the same office. The building
situated at No. 59 not known w hether insured or not.
Considerable damage has been done to this house by
water.

" No. 59, the first floor, Mr. J. Smith, private
lodger. Burnt out and contents consumed. Not
insured.
" No. t 9, second floor, Mr. St. Clare Jones, private
lodger.—Floor burnt out and contents destroyed. Not
insured. Mrs. Jones and a boy has since been found
burnt to death.

• No. 53, ditto, Mr. J. Chipperfield, chessemonger.
—Gutter plate of house burnt, and part of roof with
contents damaged by water, removal, &c. Insured in
the Scottish Union Fire office."