The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-13 00:00:00

_ --_______...............
21IE FIRE A2' MESSRS. SCOTT RUSSELL'S.

Opp',

iIoCIAL REPORT OF THE EXTENT OF
Ms's...ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
the almost is almost impossible to convey an adequate idea of
leagnitude of the havoc occasioned by the fire which
anAdPelied at the establishment of Messrs. Scott Russell
see
• steam-ship builders, on Saturday morning.
morethe formation of the London Fire Brigade, now
sr,
on „_ .so years, no event of the kind has occurred
rtshs„
banks of the Thames which involved so great a
debt
yuction of machinery as this truly unfortunate disas-
"
that It
hick li been most devastating in every respect ;and
theiref a.s
will most seriously affect the firm is the loss
Ito.:t valuable collection of models, patterns, designs,
can e work of years to collect, and which no money
replace.
insell,.r.:3llghout yesterday the surveyors of the various
eno4noe offices which are affected by the fire, were
thenged in
k4'° inspecting the ruins. From them we gather
nnesed report, which will furnish a more accurate
ed
Yet, b ge of the extent of the conflagration than has
bee given.
:akThe works destroyed comprised, first, the boiler-
e re' and forg g-inshops, which contained large punch-
Leiniit-d cutting machines worked by steam, powerful
g cranes, six forges, and other ponderous ma-
notes'? and iron-work. The roof, which rested on iron
u.nuten,s, was formed of weather boarding, covered with
sun'arpauling,
eling, and to that inflammable character of shelter
Y be attributed the rapid progress of the flames.
"It w • thisin department that the fire originated,
„r_ueiore the workpeople bad an opportunity of sup-
ar,:::!ng it, the flames travelled along the covering with
80`4,
wing rapidity, and the whole place, in a minute or
destroyed a blaze. The best part of the machinery is
.
The
vithjoiners', carpenters', and painters' workshops,
_t_iiin_ia:bat:idi-nsnglls underneath, were filled with partly
_ work and materials. All were consumed. It
80 feet by 25, two stories in height run-
Zee between the boiler and forging-houses and the main
laid°-rY, the whole of which, with its contents, has been
in ruins.
enti"The engine-house adjoined ;it was 30 feet by 16,
tworelY distinct from the other buildings, and contained
dri engines of 25-horse power, which were employedin
Prig the machinery in different parts of the works.
-*as destroyed.
id
ere The
main building or factory was a massive brick
tnes'mn, 120 feet long and 80 wide, four stories high,
upied as fitters' shops, turning and driving rooms,
`_4°llld lofts, pattern stores, &c. It is stated that it
could have contained little short of 50,000/. of machinery.
chi° ground or basement floor was filled with the ma-
hu-rierY commonly employed in factories of this kind,
je lathes for boring large cylinders, drilling, slotting,
sue Paring machines with other machinery of an elabo-
,no character. The' first story was also a fitting-shop,
delitairling a large amount of machinery of a more minute
nt;_eription than the floor beneath. The remaining,
rhoosuliess,waeirie used as moulding, designing, and pattern-
of which were almost filled with the most
en and valuable work of the firm. The loss will be
Severely felt. There were plans and models of a corn-
..." fleet of steamers, many for foreign governments,
-`4lll d their destruction as a reference, in case of accident,
4 i
114 involve most serious inconvenience. The whole of
s building was gutted, not a vestige was saved, the
c° building
being either melted or shattered.
'Was The erecting-shop had been recently formed, and
;4, a brick building, 100 feet by 40, and 30 feet high,
tenor
a glass kind of transept roof, the whole of the in-
"or being open up to the roof. It contained a new
eatent punching-machine, for punching three holes at
many There were three sets of engines completed for as
-18'"Y screw-colliers, intended to run between Lowestoft
and the Tyne, and another, with oscillating cylinders, of
250 horse-power, for one of her Majesty's steamers, which
Was also finished. Some large machinery ready for !s-
-r.rtation to the West Indies, for a sugar-crushing mill,
;vas also in the building, together with probably the
hugest rolling-machine in the kingdo-n, numerous)
!Anders, propellers, &c., besides three havellers(cra (cranes)
lor shifting machinery. The bulk of this valuable mass
is broken and otherwise damaged.
ho" Another brick building, intended for an erecting-,
use; but used as carpenters', painters', and joiners
Workshops, 50 feet by 25 feet, was entirely destroyed,
With contents.
"The coal-store in a shed, with 80 tons of coal, was
Partly consumed, and the timber-yard adjoining, and
stretching nearly down to the water's edge, burnt out.
It contained one unbroken line of stacked timber, a
knownats
1.!8 deck planting, the computed quantity being b
1,000 tons.
" The two iron steamers, for the North ofL Europe
t
Steam Navigation Company to run between owes
and Denmark and other northern ports, which were
building on the slips on the west side of the factory,
were all but completed.
It is the practice at this yard
to launch steamers almost fit for immediate sea service,
with engines, masts, and stores in them—as was the case
with the Adelaide Royal
Australian mail steam-ship.
Such was the case with the two in this instance, and,
considering the quantity of timber which surrounded
them, and the great body of fire that they were exposed
to, it is almost a miracle how they escaped. Their pre-
servation is entirely owing to the important aid ren-
dered by the floating engine from the Dockyard at
Deptford, and the Royal Marines who worked it. As
it is, one of them is so damaged that nearly the whole
of her bow will have to be removed."
In addition to this serious mischief must be mentioned
the damage to the works of Messrs. Napier, which
abutted on the western wall of Scott Russell's factory.
They were some 160 feet long and 40 feet broad, con-
taining a number of punching, drilling, and other ma-
chines. All were destroyed.
The above forms one-half of Messrs. Scott Russell's
Yard, the other portion, although exposed to much peril,
having escaped injury. This, fortunately, will enable
the firm to continue labour, as the works, although
somewhat reduced as compared with previous operations,
On the eastern or preserved bide of the establishment,
Where other vessels which were building were not hurt.
Never, perhaps, did a fire rage with such violence, as
tlllitY be inferred from the fact, that within two hours it
ad awent over the entire portion of the works destroyed.
Jmotwitlistanding the most searching investigation by the
*ins the origin of the fire remains a complete mystery.
has been mentioned that the steam floating fire-
-"gine, belonging to the brigade, was brought into re-
quisition during the fire. It was the first outbreak of
bias moment that the capabilities of the machine were
„Tight to bear upon, and it certainly proved a most
listnable auxiliary. Upon whatever point it was
Zeught into play, it succeeded in stopping the progress
ltbe destructive element. It possesbes the power of
early eight ordinary land engines, and when in full
°Pera.tion the force of the water was tremendous, lite-
lally
weeping before it walls and whatever obstacles
pro
pented itself. Owing to its not being supplied with
ng power, in the shape of screw or paddle, con-
>n able loss of time occurred in conveying it from its
as°°ringa, at Southwark-bridge, to Mill-wall, a circissi-
-4-;" much to be deplored. It appears that it was e
steam in accordance with the regulation, and would,
11::,17 it been provided with efficient propelling power,
Coeined the scene long before the land engines, and
Yalil:ll,llently have preserved, in all probability, much
"
tee iO3 Property. Through the mistake which most of
rtßade fell into, in supposing the fire to be on the
1,44 t side of the Thames, more than an hour elapsed
ittiore many of the engines reached Mill-wall ; some,
St isV, travelled 12 miles before they gained it. When
eusr,senwn that these errors are not of infrequent oc-
telet,,,,-"ee: it is somewhat surprising that the electric
euraTeaPniligneonteme.ade the source of communicating ac-
ilstel
berrrhe total loss has not been overrated; and, what is to
attri egretted, we understand that Messrs. Scott Russell
o.
Preen,,t__,are not insured to the extent that has been re-
Dose -`'n• A meeting is about to be held for the put.-
% 's..°l affor
Sufferers by the loss of their tools.

25
25
18
20
St.

50
40
25
25

8/28

6
25
50
20

St.
St.
St.
St.

261
13A
20
20
50

°lnn ge
hne t,..
tt. --.ISTOCRATIO VisironsToinAAlTuSsTtßraAlLialAn.--7-layAblne
tr recent fa,hionable arrivals
:rirle.,.(l Lord Henry Scott, son of the Duke of Buccleuc .
Hugh Stobart, and
thi4.4.,ord Schoinberg Kerr, son of the Marquis of Lo
i„. with their chaplain, the Rev. ;4velling companion, the Rev. Thomas days in
,:;euglit:oblenaen stayed about
intercourse,
ms
mle rdli i ltl
om Copperorto
tnercourse, and partly
other
. Bowles.B These
uvill t.hey spent partly in social
1 ling the few sights worths
aces they have inspected the u
4tett theu
whence they p
Probe . started for
the Turon, seeing. Amonagthivluirnset,'
Morton bay,
war s
ding to Newcastle, and afterwards With ti, .
/1,12te e intention of spending
4-41 maproved sign of the winter
i 2, e• 2 A visit from gentlemen of thdeiifrurnandkeratankdesntawiith
Zet,Practical purpose of making
advantages
Ao
the the wants, iiecessities,
andnaturalproductive of good.
and
little°lllltrY, may ultimately be .
atnhemselves acquaintedf
de e More time devoted to travelling in ththeoceoelown
t 0,,, Pendencies of the British crown, by .
da t b - would
to mitigateY obecome legislators of the empire,
4ct
the evils arising out of an ignoranceblunders in
Rove n, and would
f disaf-
Ual
P°siti° often prevent
eeetirhrneAt which have first planted the seeds o hiewho are
tendar
e
the
e of their.
4lest°l/' and afterwards ripened them into rebellion.—
t„, Tian and New Zealand Gazette.
Port of TO AIISTRALIA.—The departures from the
1),.8t er London for the Australian colonies during the
Wl2,,,N"ek have greatly increased, and are calculated,
Zips-."' e°oPled With the accounts of the departures from
arPuol and elsewhere, to create the most. serious
• 'ioet3' as to their results. They have comprised alto-
tether 15 vessels—six to Port Philip, with an aggregate
iiirdae;rodfesn,2ls tons ; two to Sydney, with an aggregatere.
_ rtitzlea of 1,593 tons; four to Adelaide, with an aogg
of 1,515 tons • one to Hobart Towdnonfe2Bl
t'ore °ee to Portland Bay of 659 tons ;an t
is Pairey of 367 tons. Their total capacity was
aencteriatl,y 9,930 tong con-
The shipments of manufacturesd
the °l.`"earY merchandise continue very extensive, an
rates of freight have been supported with steadiness.
of t(1)11 SEA. STOCK.—The act to extend the provisions
tile the TB
(16 Viet., c. 28) for redeeming or commuting
se
Huth Sea stock, was nearly the last act of the late
aseeir,°,°• . The South Sea Company had not signified any
act. ,::",within the period allowed, and the object of the
atottliut_, :olrieirettentdhethe same and to give proprietors of cer-
laao Stock the right of ;oting. The South Sea Corn-
present act, may commute on. their
gou aLjel"ging to proorietors disabled from voting at
talter—,e°llrts. we company,' if authorised to under-
foerrieiriPfrvate trusts may commute for the. purpose of
Decveg 4 guarantee fund. The Treasury is now em-
mat Within before the 25th December next, to appoint the
Mete within Which the assents of the company to corn-
eortirn4re to be signified, and are to fix the terms of thed
Flareall,t,tien• 06n the Exchequer bonds given, it
tis
eset-
ii, to b that
~, :on their becoming redeemable, the in er l reclonaraeLA'cl on the half-yearly days until the actua
riglout