The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-05 00:00:00

ozrArrxiNT.

2 p

dis.
19.74
61A

ESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN THE
WESTMINSTER ROAD.
This morning, shortly after one o'clock, a fire of the
most alarming and destructive characrer broke out on
the extensive premises of Messrs. Maudslay and Field,
the well-known engineers, in the Westminster-road.
Messrs. Mendslay's premises, as will be recollected by
most persons familiar with the district, occupy an exten•
sive frontage in the Westminster-road, exactly opposite
the Female Orphan Asylum. The workshops extend
several hundred feet in the rear, and are bounded by a
narrow thoroughfare known as Gloucester-street, which
latter has an outlet into Oakley-street.
The fire, which was first discovered by a police-con-
stable, appears to have originated in an extensive range
of workshops recently erected, immediately abutting on
Glocester-street. But a very few moments elapsed after
its outbreak before the horizon was brilliantly illumi-
nated for miles in every direction, and in a very short
time a number of engines arrived with a body of fire-
men, who set to work at once to stay the progress of
the flames. Unfortunately, however, the fire had ob-
tained so firm a hold, that their endeavours, thwarted
by a miserable lack of water, were of small avail, and at
three o'clock the fire was still burning, though with
little fear of its advance beyond the premises on which
it originated.
The loss of Messrs. Maudslay must of course be fear-
ful. All the valuable machinery contained in workshops
covering nearly an acre of ground was destroyed, and as
the fire appeared to be nearly expiring for want of
further material, it was impossible to imagine that any-
thing had escaped.
The reflection caused by the fire was so great, that
thousands of spectators congregated from all parts of
the metropolis, and the Westminster-road and its im-
mediate vicinity were for some time perfectly im-
passable.
Mr. Superintendent Rutt, with a large body of con-
stables, and Mr. Inspector Otway, with a corps of men
of the A division, were present; but while some of them
doubtless rendered essential service to the operations of
the firernee, a large number were occupied in a fruitless
warfare with the innocuous spectators who thronged the
walls to witness the progress of the fire.

.. 232

33n
53.74
177
12%
CG

• • dis

26%
6N
128 y,
31%

214
3i dis.
' • 7j

1
% dis
34 P

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

SATURDAY, 10 A.M.
Notwithstanding that ten hours have elapsed since the
fire commenced, a considerable body of flame still con-
tinues burning amidst the immense heap of ruins, and.
several engines are kept at work pouring torrents of
water upon the same. The property that has been de-
stroyed by this disastrous event will reach to several
thousand pounds, at the lowest estimate. As to the cause
of the outbreak, nothing that can be depended upon
could be learned. It appeaks that none of the workmen
were engaged in any of the factories after nine o'clock
last evening, and when the premises were closed they
seemed perfectly fn e from fire. From inquiries made
of the heads of the establishment, nu doubt is entertained
that the outbreak be, an in the carpenters' workshops.
Police constable Colville, 95 L, is also of the same opi
nion; he stated that he was on duty in the immediate
vicinity of the premises, and whilst passing along his
beat he was astonished at seeing an immense sheet of
flame issuing from the carpenters' compartments. Be
tore he had time to make known to any one on the pro-
perty what hail taken place the whole range of car-
penters' workshops became fired from end to end. As
soon as any of the hands could be summoned together,
the hose belonging to the firm was carried to the fire-
cocks, but, although an instant supply of water was ob-
tained, the fire extended in 4 directions at once, so that in
less than 15 minutes after the first discovery was made the
conflagration had forced itself ilia) sundry adjacent erec-
tions. These buildings were of considerable extent,
occupying a space of upwards of one hundred square
feet. Property of great worth was deposited in every
part of the premises, and from the first every endeavour
was made to cut the flames off before they had attacked
the pattern loft. Unfortunately the exertions of the
firemen were for some time of little avail, and from the
carpenters' shops the fire extended to the boiler-makers'
houses, and from thence to the pattern-loft and the
spac;ous foundry. At two o'clock the scene presented
was one of indescribable brilliancy—the whole of the
metropolitan steeples were illuminated, and the public
thoroughfares were rendered as light as at noon day.
The firemen kept to their posts, they entered the blazing
floor with the branches in band, and were engaged dis-
charging water upon the flames until they were com-
pletely hedged in with the fire. On several occasions
the scaling ladders were forced to be brought into requi-
sition. So rapidly did the flames progress, that they
were forced to retreat down the ladders to escape being
burnt to death. At one time the whole of Oakley.
street, Burdett-street, Francis-street, and the Westwin.
ster-road, for some distance on either side of Messrs.
Maudslay's were rendered impassable by the immense
crowd of persons who had been drawn together
to witness the progress of the confleagproaltiicoe of the
n. To
keep the crowd out of the way of the firemen, it was
found necessary to employ not merely the
division, but a large number of constables from the A.
and M divisions. Under the directions of Mr. Super-
intendent Rutt and Inspectors Carter, Cowling, Arnold,
and Otway, the men conducted themselves with great'
propriety, and which was evidenced by the orderly man.
ner in which the congregated multitude conducted them-
selves. Great as the destruction of property has been,
it would doubtless have been far more extensive had
there been a scanty supply of water.
The following is the officialreport:—"Patternsh destroyed, carpenters' shops consumed, boilermakers
workshops burned down, about one-half of pattern-lofts
ihlop l extensively
burned, foundry desturnocyhedh,lgo.swiesie.m
-s
injured by fire, the p
the roof of smith's shop and new
buialdri g dam
severelysevereage
burned. Cause of fire unknown. Insured in the Royal
Exchange and other fire-offices."
'he fo" •

T ..lowing is another, and the latest, account sent
us by a correspondent:—
Shortly after one o'clock this morning, a fire of a very
alarming and destructive character, broke out at the 'us-

Government securi-
ties (including Dead tns
Weight Annuity) • • 11,0..•9.°
,
Other securities .• .. 17,041,
4,628,0°1
Notes . • • • • • • • 30
Gold and silver coin•• 879•3

£34,201,5111
. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.

ACCIDENT AT HER. AscOT MAJESTY'S STAND AT ies,,,
RACES.—A tootman in the establishment of her Afsbass-
named Shackell, met with an unfortunate accident, on s
ssr,
day, just at the conclusion of the race for the Eine!rnd
Cup. He was standing on the roof of the royal stana,:.',
his foot slipping he fell, and dislocated his shoulder. _ mrs
Majesty, upon being informed of the accident which in
occurred, immediately commanded that the sufferer shout
be conveyed without loss of time to his residence at Wiel7d
(in one of the royal carriages), where the best medicale ,siai
was obtained. Yesterday afternoon previously to tb ‘i'lles
leaving Windsor br town, the Hon. and Rev. C. Is lid
nay, the Queen's Domestic Chaplain, called upon thew
e ..
by command of her Majesty, to ascertain the state of foe
health
SUICIDES IN THE SEEPENTINE.—ThIIThday 111°111.:
ing, between four and five, Thomas Cox, one of the icemen
of the Royal Humane ociety, while passing along the
s
banks of the Serpentine River, discovered, lying near z.,1!
water, a man's hat and coat, and also a female's bonnet. Pe:
informed Mr. Superintendant Williams, who instantly gs"
orders that the river should be searched. After some time
the men found the.body of a man under the first arch of
the bridge which divides Hyde Park and Kensington Gar;
dens. the men continued to drag it, and about four feet
from the same spot they found the body of a female. Both
were removed to the receiving-house in Hyde Park, when,
upon examination, it was ascertained that they had been
in the water several hours. The water where the bodies were
found was only 4 feet 6 inches deep.—Last evening el"
Bedford, the Coroner, held an inquest at the Rose and Crown'
Knightsbridge, on the bodies--Joseph Blackman, aged 3'
and Eliza Hollis, aged 24. Mary Abn Hollis, of No. 10'
Richmond-street, Maida-hill, identified the bodies of the de:
ceased. Blackman was by trade a painter and glazier, see
her sister, Eliza Hollis, was a servant. recently out of place,
and resided with her (witness). Her sister first became ac-
quainted with Blackman while in service at No. 24, Port-
man-street, Portman-square, and though the latter was
married, they bad lived upon terms too intimate ever sleet
Her sister was near her confinement, and latterly had bets
in exceedingly low spirits, frequently declaring she we'l;
drown herself. Blackman had told her sister he was single
and it was not until December that she found be was
married man. Her deceased sister went out on Tuesday s,•
and did not return, but on the next day she received the e
fol-
lowing letter :—" Dear Mary. you will receive this from
world.
My the last. I hope I shall be in trouble no more in this if_
My dear mother has all my thoughts, and now farevrel
Eliza Hollis." The jury returned a verdict of "Fenn
drowned," but how the deceased got into the water the
re
was no sufficient evidence to show.
fa
THE 4TH OF JUNE AT ETON.—This annual reb-rret
Clifton, Castlereagh,
Lad y Lord
Bruce,pWilton,,4rDiKdE ta yrt and
yßdrmolcvor
1 edLlsai
tevtlratt,,hed
took place yesterday, and was attended by the followinCt
tinguished visitors :—Viscountess Exmouth, Lord B. t''' T.
Lord Bateman, Mr. W. Miles, M.P., Sir H. Wilmot, Sir. J•
Wygram, Sir R. Sheffield, Mr. S. Davies, Sir E. Legh, olr,
E. P. Turner, the Hon. Mr. Russell, Sir R. and Lady HowaruP
the Hon. 11fr. and Mrs. Ashley, Lord Burghley, the Rom
Mr. Lysaght, Captain Lempriere, Viscount and Viscountess
Strathmore,Guernsey,y
Granville,i,
the Earl
ioErnoßdar
edri
Major
hu.aAeoiffi.
Gofi
Viscount
Boyle,
Vice-Provost
Munster,dF.
D i
ut zpL ciars e
ri
vnL e,.OG.
Lord
Viscount
LordPepet
Etonnoe
al
...
laftsujoenn3xrr:g4ddi
:tnfaroaesi and Lady, i
Rev.e:RcyL ,a. aLdLtyci
Captain
Lord
Pigott,
i rLt
th e Sirie a
nJ.ofanvird
oLreaesdy.
Sir W. W. Wynn, Hon. J. M4Don.ald, Canterbury,
Rev. J. Hawtrey, Hon. and Rev. H. C. Cast and Lady
Maria Cnst and family, and the Rev. S. H Anna
awtrey. Shortly
before seven
captains in full naval costume, and the crews in fancy
uniforms, started from the Brocas amidst the cheers of the
assembled spectators, preceded in two large shallops by the
splendid hand of the Ist Life Guards, for "Old Sur y le. "
The splendid cold collation, of which a large
friends of party of the
the captains of the boats and their crews were in-
vited to partake, having been speedily dispatched, the boats
returned to Windsor-bridge, where they arrived shortly
before nine o'clock. A grand pyrotechnic display then took
place from the eyot opposite the Brocas, the bands of the lit
Life Guards and the Scots Fusileer Guards performing during
the fete, which terminated at ten o'clock.
SUICIDE OF A STEAM-BOAT CAPTAlN.—Yester-
day morning Mr. Thomas Green, the master of the Era, a
Richmond steam-boat, was missed from his berth in the
ves,el, where he usually slept. Search was made for him,
and two letters were found on tha cabin table in his hand-
writing. One was addressed to Mr. Hancock, of the Corn-
wall-road, Lambeth, the owner of the steamer, and the other
to his mother. The contents showed that he was much dis-
turbed in his mind, and declared his intention of committing
suicide. The drags were procured, and search was made forre-
covered.
the body of the unfortunate man, which has not yet been
He was appointed master of the steamer only a
fortnight ago, and his appointment seems to have caused
some jealousy among the steam-boat people on the river, in
consequence of his not having been a mate previously.
THE LATE CASES OF POISONING AT RENS•
New Tower.—The funeral of the five children and their
father Thomas Hickman, took place yesterday morning.
From an early hour, a considerable number of persons 1,.!•;
sembled in front of the cottage to witness the mournful
scene. The six bodies, which had been placed in separate
coffins, were deposited in a one-horse hearse and conveyed
to the burial-ground of Chelsea New Church. Ml's. Hick-
man's mother, her two sisters, including the unfortunate
Caroline Bonamy, and one or two friends, followed the
re-
mains to the grave. They were conveyed to the ground 7
two horses and carts, lent by the neighbours for that pur-
pose. Mrs. Hickman not having sufficiently recovered from
shock, did not follow. The service having been read in
a very impressive manner by the Rev. Mr. Ridge, the whole
of the coffins were placed in one grave. Mrs. Hickman con-
tinues to progress most favourably.
COVERED STREET ARCADES AT PARIS.--A huge
company, with a capital of 50,000,000 f., has just been
formed, for constructing a series of passages converts from
the Boulevard St. Denis to the Place du Chatelet. The
company to be called C. des Galeries du Commerce.-7'115
Builder.
WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET, FRIDAT.—The sup-
plies this week are moderate. To-day there is a complete
revival in the demand for wheat, which is met by much
firmness on the part of holders, who require an advance of 55.
per quarter; a good amount of business is done at this im-
provement. Beans are fully as dear. Oats and shelling are _
sold at better prices. Barley is not much inquired for, yet
quite maintains its late value.
MEETING OF THE MANCHESTER CHAMBER
COMMERCE.—A special general meeting of this body was
held yesterday, at the rooms of the association, King-streets
both Houses
" to consider the propriety of petitioning of the
or
Legislature for the immediate and final removal of all duty
en the importation of corn, and of the restrictions which the_
navigation laws offered to its introduction into this country."
Thomas Bazley, Esq., president, took the chair. Mr. Lewis
Williams moved the following resolution :—" That in the
opinion of this meeting the distress which has
so
long pre-
. •
vailed, and still continues in this district, arising from stag-
nant trade and the consequent stoppage of the employment
of the people, and the deplorable condition to which thousamine
sands of our townsmen have been reduced, through famine
sail pestilence, which have been widely spread amongst us
dearness of food, demand
f the scarcity and
in consequence o
petition both House of Pesinno
rlis.
that this chamber forthwith s _
mil
lea
permanent adoption, during the pr t
[Went for a
rts which wait granted by the'
of that total freedom of imports
" Mr. William Ross Ha
sitting.
Legislature in its present
conded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. The
• to Parliament, embodying the
semi'
adoption of a petition
mente of the meeting, concluded the proceedings.

.
..4(...,11P1'