The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-14 00:00:00

DISASTROUS FIRES.

From the hour of 6 A.M. of Saturday the engines
and firemen of the London Brigade were kept in
continued movement, there being during that period
not fewer than nine alarming fires in various parts of
the metropolitan district.
The most serious fire of the above number broke
out between three and four o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, and although numerous land engines, with one
of the powerful floats, were soon at the spot, and in
full operation, the flames were not entirely extin-
guished until the middle of the day. The scene of
devastation was the Thornley Coal Company's wharf,
in Brossi-street, Ratcliffe. The premises in which the
disaster commenced were of great magnitude, having
a frontage in Broad street, arid extending to the
water-side. They were fitted v.p with steam machinery
for the purpose of lifting and discharging coals from
the vessels in the River. That part in which the flames
were first perceived was nearly 140 feet long, and was
divided into two compartments—the lower being used
as stores, in which 00 tons of coals were depo-
sited ; the other was occupied as the sack warehouse.
On the western side of this property, and separated
only by a narrow court, five or six feet wide, stood
the extensive distillery belonging to Messrs. Goldie.
To add to the danger, and to increase the fears of the
inhabitants, several vessels were lying at the mouth of
the wharf. The instant the Thames police were
made aware of the outbreak, they started to School-
house-lane, Shadwell, for the engine kept there. The
machine was instantly dispatched to the spot, when
the firemen found that the fire was confined to that
part of the property near the river side. There being
an abundance of water flowing from the East London
mains, the engine was set to work; but no sooner
was the branch taken into the premises than the
flames shot forth with such fury as to drive the
man with the hose out, and in the space of a few
minutes they broke through the roof and rushed out
of the several windows, firing almost simultaneously
the lofty wooden lifting gear at the water side, and
the side front of Messrs. Goldie's distillery.
The lower floating engine from Rotherhithe was
dispatched to the spot, and so were numerous land
machines of the brigade. The fire, however, had in
the interim extended to the brig Adventure, of New-
castle, Captain Robinson, which was lying alongside
the wharf. The first object sought to be accomplished
when the float was set to work, was to extinguish the
flames about the vessel, which had already taken pos-
session of the bulwarks, mainmast, bomp boom, the
companion, deck, and topmast, so that as far as mid-
, ships the vessel was one body of fire. The immense
quantity of water thrown upon the vesse 1 soon extin-
guished the fire about it, when the whole force was
brought to bear upon the main body of the flames in
the stores, but it was not until the upper part was
burned out, and the lower_ portion extensively da-
maged, that they could be got under.
Inspector Gaskin, in rendering assistance, unfortu-
nately got his leg broken, and he was obliged to be
removed to the hospital.
Respecting the origin of the disaster, there seems
to be no doubt that the premises were wilfully set on
fire by some persons at present unknown.
The total loss is thus officially reported :
" The building used as coal stores, and sack lofts over,
with 2,000 sacks, destroyed, and 500 tons of coals
damaged by fire. Wood frame and steam lifting-gear on
wharf damaged by ditto. The brig Adventure, Capt. E.
Robinson, part of the deck, bulwarks, masts, and rigging
seriously damaged by fire. No. 28, Broad-street, Mr.
Robinson, smith, end of shed and roof burned off. No.
24, in the same street, Mr. W. Goldie, distiller, side win-
dow considerably damaged by fire, and glass broken.
The buildings of the Thornley Company were insured
in the Sun Fire-office, but unfortunately the contents
were not insured." .

About an hourprevious to the above fire, another
occurred at 74, Fore-street, Cripplegate, belonging to
Mr. P. J. Bruce, a baker. It was caused by a spark
from a candle which set a quantity of shavings in a
blase, from whence the fire spread fearfully, so that
the inmates had great difficulty in escaping. The
brigade promptly attended, and by setting the engines
to work the fire was extinguished, but not until con-
siderable damage was done.
On Saturday morning, about half-past five o'clock,
the pianoforte manufactory, in Chenies-mews, Tot-
tenham-court-road, belonging to Mr. Monktelow,
was discovered by the police-constable on the beat to
be on fire. The officer having given an alarm, he
sent for the engines and the Royal Society's fire
escapes. Before, however, an engine had time to
arrive the whole of the factory became wrapped in
flames, to the great alarm of the inhabitants. The
engines of the London Brigade and West of England
were early in their attendance, but in spite of the
exertions of the firemen and an abundance of water,
the factory and its contents were destroyed ere the
fire could be extinguished. The loss is very con-
siderable, and, unfortunately, Mr. Monktelow was
only insured for 500/. How the fire originated is
enveloped in mystery.
The same morning, as some parties were passing
the premises of Mr. Cooper, No. 38, Wynyatt-street,
Clerkenwell, they perceived an unusual glare of light
in one of the upper rooms, occupied by an aged and
invalid female named Wooler. The inmates having
been apprised of the circumstance, they found the
apartments occupied by the unfortunate female in
flames. By a desperate exertion they succeeded in
pulling the woman out of the fire, but she was so
much burnt as to be obliged to be taken to St. Bar-
tholomew's hospital, where she at present remains.
The firemen and inmates eventually got the fire in
the house extinguished, but not until considerable
damage was done.
The other fires were at Shoe-lane, Pleasant-place,
Kennington-lane ; in Caledonia-terrace, Pentonville ;
and Marchmont-street, Brunswick-square; but owing
to the timely aid afforded, the damage done at each
was not very considerable.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed the Rev. C.
Hume rector of St. Michael's, Wood-street; the Rev. D.
Campbell rector of Pentridge; the Rev. W. L. Palmer
vicar of Hornsea and Long Riston; the Rev. M. Sea-
tnan rector of Greenstead; the Rev. E. Rawnsley vicar
of Hundleby; the Rev. J. G. Beresford rector of Wy-
mondham ; the Rev. H. L. Bennett vicar of Thorpe; the
Rev. J. Mayo perpetual curate of Stokenchurch ; the
Rev. W. Williams vicar of Pyle and Kenfig; and the
Rev. T. Cottle vicar of Shalfleet, Isle of Wight.
THE CITY WARD SCELOOLS.—Yesterday the Lord
Mayor, Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, and their ladies attended
Divine service, iu full state, at the church of Allhallowes,
Barking, in the ward of Tower, to hear a sermon
preached by the Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of Loudon,
in aid of the funds of the charity schools of the said
ward, when the munificent sum of 1501. was collected.
In this school 120 children of both sexes are clothed
and educated, and within the last two years the directors
have added to this institution an infant school, wherein
60 children from three to seven years of age are received,
and prepared for the senior schools, and are thus pre-
vented trom swelling the number of poor children who
infest our streets, and increase the sad calendars of our
criminal courts. We hear it is the intention of the
directors to clothe as well as educate the entire number
of children under their care, and we cannot too highly
recommend our City Ward Schools to the liberality of
our fellow-citizens, which, from the residence of so many
in the suburbs of London, require to be brought more
prominently under their notice, in order to obtain the
support of former y ears.
DEATH OF LADY MARGARET SOMERS CoCKs.
This estimable lady, only daughter of the late Earl
Somers, expired on Thursday evening, after a short ill-
ness.