The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-21 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE AT EXETER.

One of the most destructive fires which has been
known in this city for the last 30 years occurred on
Wednesday night. The premises in which the fire broke
out were known as Scotland-house, and extended from
Fore-street into Westgate. They belonged to Messrs.
Burne and Company, who carried on the business of
drapers. The shop had not long been closed, and the
assistants had but just left, when smoke was seen issuing
from the shutters, and in a few moments the whole
house was in a blaze.

As soon as the firemen arrived, they proceeded at
once to pull down the shutters of the shop, so as to
pour in the water upon the fire within. No sooner was
this accomplished than the flames, which had been pent
up within, burst forth with terrific violence, and the men
were soon compelled to retreat further into the street.
It was then discovered that the whole of the goods in
the shop were on fire, and that all attempts to save them
would be unavailing, The engines soon began to play •
upon the burning mass, but with very little effect. The
flames soon reached the second floor, and with the
utmost rapidity shot through the whole of the building.
About nine o'clock, so fiercely had the fire burnt, the
frame-work of Messrs. Burne's house only was standing,
and the front was entirely supported by a couple of balk
props which supported the cornice of the shop. The
scene at this time very striking, the light fabrics which
made so large a portion of the stock came flying out
in clouds, the sparks being wafted high up and far
away, by the mere force of the flame, there being not
a breath of air stirring. The excitement was tre-
mendous as the blazing front stood supported by these
two props, which were kept in their place by the weight
of the material above the water poured on them pre-
vented them from burning. It was evident that the front
would soon fall, and the mob retired to a greater distance.
at last down it came, and the crash was responded to
with a loud and hearty cheer from the immediate spec-
tators ; but those at a little distance fled, panic-struck
with the crash, the cheer, and the confused noise of the
pumpers and the pumping. It was curious to see how
far the panic carried them, Happily, this fall settled the
whole matter. The burning debris was separated from
the houses adjoining, it partly smothered itself, and was
immediately under the command of the firemen—the
fire was now virtually subdued, and though the firemen
kept guard all night, the crowd betook themselves to
their several beds.
When the fire was at its height, it was rumoured
amongst the spectators that the dead body of a young
man was is the house. This was true. It appeared
i
that a young man, named Smith, a nephew of
Burne, had died a few days before ath
.hreir. w
he wasPPell's,
an
woollen draper, of High-street,
assistant, and his body had beenl trewwmasoevendattuoraSiciyotlsaunpd
House previous to interment. .
e searched,d.lr. Wil-
liam
th
discovered it in the ruins at
poseda
a), G thatuest,
thee cuonrdpesret
ker, d
o'clock on Thursday
morning.
be almost wholly
destroyed, t. lly
been consumed.
others,consum
fire was given, Mr. Burne, sen.,
When the alarm of
destroyed, bTuhtethceofficonrp‘sveasyc.fa idg
his room, and found was in bed unwell. Several of
leep.theArfieteigrhsbrsoomuedwiffiecnutlttyo
him, and he was obliged to
theymak make
succeeded eeesdceadp
escape
i inn rousing s g
the drapery stock ,
and furniture with
The whole of
triflingdres
articles,s were consumed.
the exception of a
The shop assistants lost the whole of their wardrobes,
few gh
The origin of the fire is at present unknown.
'
Burne 8 stock was insured in the London Fire
not a vestige of which could be saved.
Messrs.
Assurance Society, and tne premises in the West of
England ; but we regret to hear that the insurance did
not reach half the value of property destroyed.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT BY BLASTING ROOeKeSk..
A
It
frightful accident, attended with fatal consequences, was
the subject of an inquiry before the county coroner,
I w
Mr. Cockey, at Torquay, Devonshire, last
appears that two men, named Robert
James Brown, were employed blasting rocks on the
Braddons, at Tor, for the erection of some houses in the
hnoeilgeshbinoutrhhooold.o,oakn, dahoonoFt Friday
yards y
acs morning they bored two
apart, which they
charged in the usual way with gunpowder. Instead of
providing the necessary apparatus for firing the train,
Richards had recourse to an invention of his own, which
was the substitution of a common reed, one end of which
he inserted in the hole he had bored in the stone, having
previously put in a heavy
ch arge of powder ; and, .as he
Was in the act of attaching a lighted fusee to the other
end of the reed, by some means the powder exploded,
and the unfortunate man was blown some distance into
the air, and then fell over the cliff, a depth of upwards
of 100 feet. He was taken up frightfully mutilated, and
conveyed to the infirmary, where he died soon after his
admission. His companion, Brown, had a most mira-
culous escape, having only left the spot a minute before
the explo -ion took place.
THE GOVERNOR OF THE GOLD COAST.—A valuable
service of plate has been, presented by the King of Hol-
land to his Excellency Major S. J. Hill, the Governor
of the Gold Coast, which her Majesty has been graciously
pleased to permit that officer to accept, in testimony of
valuable services rendered to his Majesty. Major Hill
has also had presented to him a valuable richly gold-
mounted scimitar, by the Governor, civil officers, and
merchants of the Gambia, in testimony of his military
services in the field in ]849 ; and a gold medal from
the South Holland Institutioto
learn, for s
recentshipwreck. advices
from the coast, that all fear of a renewed Ashantee war
is at an end.—Eritidk ArmY Despatch.