The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-14 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE FIRE AND MIRACULOUS
PRESERVATION OF FIVE LIVES.

A fire of a very alarming character, and nearly
attended with the loss of five lives, happened in the
premises belonging to Messrs. Perry and Davis,
machine and general printers, carrying on business at
Newington Butts, within a few doors of the Elephant
and Castle Inn. At the time of the outbreak there were
on the premises asleep a lodger named Fell, his wife, his
two children, and a man who was taking charge of the
establishment. The discovery was made at a few
minutes before five o'clock on Saturday morning by a
person named Catchpool, residing in the next house. An
instant cry of "Fire !" was therefore raised, which
brought Smart, the conductor of the Royal Society for
the Protection of Life from Fire, to the front of the
house. At that time the whole of the printing offices,
extending from Surrey-row into Walworth-road, pre-
sented one immense sheet of flame. By repeatedly
knocking at the door, and ringing the bells, the five
inmates were made aware of their great danger, but on
their attempting to descend the stairs they were met by
a huge sheet of flame which prostrated them. Fortu-
nately they managed to regain their feet, and retraced
their steps to one of the upper rooms, where they re-
mained until the fire-escape was adjusted in front of
the house. The conductor at once ran up the escape
—brought down the children in safety— then mounted
the machine again—carried down Mrs. Fell on his
shoulders, and finally rescued Mr. Fell and the other
man just as the flames had entered the apartment in
which they had been waiting. With as little delay as
possible the engines of the London Fire Brigade and
West of England Insurance Office attended, and fortu-
nately an abundant supply of water was obtained from
the Lambeth Company's mains, from which the engines
were supplied, and after the lapse of two hours the
flames were extinguished, but not until the stock in
trade was consumed and the building nearly gutted.
Fortunately the valuable and extensive collection of
blocks belonging to Mr. T. R. Smith, of the Tour of
Europe, Leicester-square, were, owing to the exertions
of the firemen, saved from destruction, or the loss
would have proved far more serious than it has been.
The damage done to stock in trade, &c., it is feared
will amount to 20001. The sufferers were insured in
the Phoenix and Royal Exchange fire-offices. The
origin of the misfortune is unknown.

STATE OF TRADE.

Front the Manchester Guardian of Saturday.)

MANCHESTER, Nov. 11—Throughout the present week
there has been a more decided abstinence than before
from any but such small purchases of yarns and goods
as might be absolutely necessary in the way of assort-
ment. It is felt to be of vital importance to the interests
of the country that we have now had ten or twelve days
of weather highly favourable for preparing the land and
sowing wheat ; but even this most propitious circum-
stance, with its influence upon the price of corn and upon
the state of the money market, aided by our greatly di-
minished production of yarn and cloth, and by the con-
sideration of the very considerable fall which has taken
place in prices, entirely fails to induce anything like
ventures on the part of either home or foreign buyers.
There is indeed some little speculation in cotton at
Liverpool, with a hardening in prices, occasioned by
very apocryphal accounts of a " killing frost" having
occurred in the United States. Under these circum-
stances, there is a somewhat increased desire, though no
pressure, to sell ; and it may be said that the bias of
prices is, in many things, slightly against producers.
This is not the case, however, in India mule yarns, for
which there is rather more inquiry. Warps, also, up
to 24's, continue steady.
GLASGOW, Nov. 11.—There has been a quiet market
for cotton during the week, the trade only purchasing
sufficient to supply present wants. Prices are un•
changed.
BRADFORD, Nov. 14.—Wools : There is no change
during the week, and the buying is on the narrowest
scale possible. Yarns—The supplies are most mate-
rially diminished, the continued short-time working,
stoppage of machinery, and ruinous price for yarns,
compared with the cost of the raw material, compel the
spinners to cease working, as near as they possibly can,
till a turn for the better presents itself,
NOTTINGHAM, Nov. 10.—There is no alteration in
the lace trade worthy of notice since our last.
LEICESTER, Nov. 10.—Nothing is buying in any
branch but to complete orders. Long wools are giving
way; short kinds hold their value.

STATE OF THE WOOLLEN TRADE.

(Front the Leeds Mercury of Saturday.)