The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-02 00:00:00

THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

The strictest inquiries have failed in ascertaining- the ori-
gin of this frightful conflagration. All that is known with
certainty- is, that the flames were first seen from Tooley-
street, within the warehouse of Messrs. Wilson and Co.
Mead, a constable of St. Olave's parish, who was in 'rooky-
street before two o'clock, says he then saw the flames in
the warehouse alone, but in a few minutes after the flames,
rushing up the well opening, spread to the shop above, and
in an astonishing short space of time the whole building
was a mass of fire from top to bottom, and it was impos-
sible to approach near it from Tooley-street. The very
extensive dwelling and warehouses of Messrs. Wigan and
Co. were next behind in Tooley-street, into which they
projected about six feet beyond the line of Messrs. Wil-
son's house, and had windows from top to bottom with-
in this projection. Favoured by the wind, the flames
rushed with irresistible fury in at these openings, and
mlking their way through the front windows, were car-
ried across the street directly in a line with the loop-holes
and doors of five floors of the great warehouse on Fen-
ning's-wharf. These loop-holes and doors were entirely,
of wood, and ran perpendicularly up the side of the build-
ing, so that when the lower past caught fire it was impos-
sible, as the firemen were then situated, without any supply
of water, to prevent the flames extending themselves with
fearful rapidity into all these vast floors, where were accu-
mulated stores of miscellaneous property, mostly of an
easily,' combustible kind. As soon as water could he got,
the most extraordinary exertions were made by Mr. Braid-
wood to bring all his engines into full and serviceable ac-
tion. Besides 57 regular men belonging to the brigade,
each of the eleven engines had '2O extra men engaged in
working it, who were relieved from time to time ; and when
the floating engine was at last brought up, 40 men were
put on board her, so that at each stroke this engine alone
threw a ton of water upon the burning masses. By screw-
ing the hose of different engines together, the firemen were
able to carry the branches up to the tops of the houses of
Messrs. Wigan, Edgington, and Garnett and Co., in Duke-
street, and thence pour down a well-directed stream upon
the flames around and below them. It was by these means
that Topping's-wharf, which is next to Fenning's, and in
which was merchandise of the value of 50,0001., was saved
from the destruction which fearfully threatened it.
The great want of water, and the frightful consequences
thus caused, have produced a great sensation in the neigh-
bourhood, and are likely to be the subjects of inquiry at a
public meeting. It seems a similar want of water has been
experienced at several other fires lately within the range of
the service of the Southwark Company. The arrangements
of the mains of this Company is said to be defective ; so
that if a fire occurs in Tooley-street, or around, the turn-
cock has to go as far as St. George's Church in the Borough
to turn on the main, and thence to several other places, to
turn off the branch service.

The freehold of the ground on which most, if not all, the
property destroyed stood, belongs to the Corporation of
London, and forms part of the Bridge House Estates. It
was let on long building leases, and with all its improve-
menti; is mortgaged to Government for 35 years, on account
of money advanced for building the new bridge. Nearly
all the destroyed buildings on the south side of Toolcy-
street, and those in Duke-street, were built by Mr. Hum-
phery, and are insured in the Globe Office, but it is said
for an amount far below their value. The cellarage under
them is of vast extent, and was stored with property. the
full extent of mischief done to which cannot even yet be
ascertained.

Fennings'-wharf was partly built upon what was the
abutments and commencing piers of the old bridge, and the
warehouses occupy, as nearly as possible, the point of inter-
section of the ancient streets. Goods were received at this
wharf for all parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and
it is impossible to come at any certain knowledge of the
property here destroyed: The larger part is believed to be
uninsured ; and, according to custom, the wharfinger spe-
cially excepts himself against all risk from fire. One in-
stance has come to knowledge of provisions which were
lying at the wharf, which arc covered by a floating insu-
rance hi the Sun Office for 5,0001., and there may be a
few other such policies, but still there must be a vast num-
ber of total losses to parties resident in all parts of the
kingdom. The following is a list of the places for which
goods were shipped at this wharf :—Gainsborough, Nor-
wich, Yarmouth, Aldborough, Snape, Colchester, Bridling-
ton, Sheffield, Boroughbridge, Leeds, Goole, Halifax, New-
castle-upon-Tyne, Harwich, Hastings, Limerick, Dublin,
Cork, Waterford, Liverpool, Chester, Falmouth, Perron,
Truro, and Swansea.

Sir,—An incorrect statement having appeared in the
Papers, that in the late fire the whole of my premises were
burnt to the ground, and as such a statement is calculated
to be of serious injury to my business, as well as to cause
great anxiety to distant friends, I trust you will insert this
letter. Although at one time the house was on fire in
two places, yet, by the meritorious exertions of the fireman