The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-28 00:00:00

SERIOUS FIRES.

Yesterday afternoon, between the hours of two and
three o'clock, a fire, that caused considerable alarm,
broke out in the premises belonging to Messrs. Sadding-
ton and Co., rug manufacturers, carrying on business in
the Grove, Guildford-street, Southwark. It originated
in the carding-room, on the ground floor, from the fric-
tion of the machinery. The engines of the London
Brigade promptly attended, and the fire was happily
confined to the destruction of 3001 b. of jute and some
baskets. It could not be learned whether the property
was insured.

About five o'clock last evening some confusion was
caused in Greek-street, Soho-square, owing to a tre-
mendous explosion of gas taking place in the premises of
Mr. J. Bowles, licensed victualler and proprietor of
the Coach and Horses Tavern, situate at No. 39, in
the before-named street. Such was the force of the
explosion that the whole of the facia over the door
was blown down, but fortunately no one was injured.
Yesterday morning, shorty before 4 o'clock, a fire
broke out in the extensive premises of Mr. W. Samuels,
ooaohmaster, 28, City-terrace, City-road. It originated
from some unknown cause in the ground floor, amongst
a quantity of paint, turpentine, &c., and speedily ex-
tended to two rooms above. The engines of the Lon-
don-brigade, and West of England Office, as well as the
Royal Society's escapes were soon on the spot, but the
flames could not be extinguished until considerable
damage was done to the premises and their contents.
Unfortunately the sufferer was not insured.

A fire, attended with a great loss of property, hap-
pened on Wednesday night in the private residence of
Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P., No. 41, Upper Grosvenor-
street, Grosvenor-square. It commenced in the drawing-
room amongst a collection of pictures, valued at nearly
20,0001. A spark, which fell from a lighted candle, set
fire to the covering of the pictures, and then the flames
travelled round the room with amazing rapidity. The
engines of the Brigade and parish and the fire-escapes
quickly attended, but the inmates bad succeeded in ex-
tinguishing the fire before their arrival. The damage
done, although confined to so small a space, it is feared
will amount to some thousand pounds. The pictures
were insured in the Royal Exchange Fire Office.

THUNDER STORM.—Last evening the metropolis was
visited by one of the most terrific thunder' storms that has
occurred during the year, and was accompanied with rain
and hail, which descended in torrents. The afternoon
had been particularly close and cloudy, although heavy
and refreshing showers fell at intervals, and it was evi-
dent that the atmosphere was heavily charged with elec •
tricity. About 5 o'clock a heavy-shower of rain fell, and
shortly after the sky was illumined with frequent and
vivid flashes of sheet lightning, each being followed by a
peal of distant thunder, which approached nearer on
every successive flash. Shortly before six o'clock the
storm was at its height, the flashes of lightning like
those frequently seen in tropical climates, and one very
vivid flash was succeeded immediately by a terrific crash
of thunder, which denoted its proximity. At this time
the rain fell in sheets, overflowing the foot pavements
and inundating the carriage roads to some depth. In
consequence of the drains and sewers being surcharged,
the surplus water made its way into some cellars to the
depth of some inches. In Fore-street, Cripplegate,
where an excavation has been made for the purpose
,of
laying down new gas mains, the opening was half-filled
with water. Shortly after seven o'clock another storm
followed, but not of such a violent character as that
which preceded it. There can be very little doubt, from
the terrific nature of the first-mentioned, that serious
damage has been sustained within a very short distance
of the metropolis.