The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-16 00:00:00

SUN OFFICE, Six o'Clock.

TATTERSALL'S

(THIS EVENING.)

DERBY.
3to 1 agst West Australian.
Bto 1 agst Honeywood.
9to 1 agst SittingLourne (taken).
10 to 1 agst
11 to 1 agst Orestes.
11 to 1 agst Pharos.
12 to 1 agst
25 to 1 agst Ninnyharnmer.
25 to i agst Jerry Keat.
40 to 1 agst Ethellert.
40 to 1 agst Peggy.
50 to 1 agst Filbert.
100 to 1 wist Golden Plover.

OAKS,
4 to 1 agst Mistletoe.

SOMERSETSIIIRE STAKES.
7 to 4 agst Audubon (taken).
5 to 2 agst Diomedia (taken).
7 to 1 agst Red Lion (taken).

FEARFUL OCC&RRENCE NEAR OXFORD-

STREET.

On Saturday night last, between the hours of eleven
and twelve, the inhabitants of Wells-street, Oxford-
street, were greatly terrified in consequence of the fol-
lowing occurrence, which destroyed the household goods
of some seven or eight families, and was nearly attended
vitt). the loss of 17 human lives.

From the inquiries instituted it appeared that a
builder, named Baker, had for some time past been
engaged in laying the foundations of some premises
to extend from Wells-street to opposite the old
stage entrance of the Princess's Theatre, in Adam
and Eve-court. To protect the houses on either
side of the opening made, wooden struts were
placed across ; but all of a sudden one of these sup-
ports either fell or snapped asunder by the weight
bearing on it, for certain it is that one of the lengths
dropped, and almost instantaneously afterwards the side
wall opened, when a bedstead and chest of drawers, as
if by magic, fell to the ground. The entire side of the
building next fell, with a crash resembling the discharge
of a piece of ordnance, carrying with it chairs, tables, &c.
For some time the neighbourhood became covered with
dust, so that the inhabitants were ignorant of the nature
of the occurrence. Many imagined that the theatre had
taken fire, and they forthwith proceeded to call the en-
gines and fire-escape, which was exceedingly fortunate,
as the latter was the means of saving the lives of some
of the inmates.
As soon as the dust had in some measure cleared
away, it was found that in the building which had
partially fallen there not fewer than 17 or 18 persons,
some of whom were able to save their lives by
running down stairs, but all escape by that
means was quickly cut off by the centre flight
of stairs falling. What to do for the hest the re-
mainder of the affrighted occupants hardly knew, for the
building was rocking like a cradle with the wind, and
nothing short of death seemed to stare them in the face.
Fortunately at that conjuncture the Royal Society's
fire-escape arrived, and the conductor having taken the
machide down the court, and raised it in front of the
aemainidg walls, happily succeeded in rescuing all the
inmates. One person, named Joseph Smart, who was
in bed, was placed in such jeopardy that had he got out
of bed he must have fallen frm the upper story into the
ruins. He, therefore, remained where he was until ex-
tricated by tne escape-man.
The house was the property of Mr. Hutton, corn-
chandler, of Castle-street, Oxford-market, and was let
out in tenements. Amongst the parties whose furniture
has been damaged are Messrs. Murphy, Smart, Matthew-
son, Hicks, Gee, and Hicks, jun.
The fire•escape man and the police are deserving of
great praise for the manner they exerted themselves on
the occasion.