The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-16 00:00:00

ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE;

[From the Derby Mercury/of Wednesday.]
Yesterday morning, about.. three o'clock, the
inhabitants of this town were thrown into great terror and alarm
by the discovery that the Shot tower of Messrs. Cox and Po r-
SER was on fire. The alarm, which was first given by the
watchman, soon became general by the reiterated cries of
" tire," the springing of rattle, and the broken peals of the
bells of the different churches, and the scene of the destructive
element shortly became awfully conspicuous from the flames
which burst from the summit of thu tower. The inhabitants, and
the firemen, with their respective engines, hurried to the spot
with great alacrity. All Saints engine was the first to arrive,
and being in perfect order, and directed by Mr. Chatterton,
with his accustomed energy and ability (assisted by the engines
from St. Peter's and St. Alkniund's) did great execution;
whilst the engine from St. Werburgh's was most efficaciously
conducted by Mr. Hood in an opposite direction. The Tower
is one hundred and fifty feet in height, divided into seven sto-
ries by floors or stages, with a circular opening in the centre
from top to bottom for the manufacture of the shot, a spiral
atone staircase leading to the top, where the lead is melted
and the shot cast. The workmen had been in the manufactory
Cie preceding evening, and the fire is supposed to have been
occasioned by the caster having incautiously left some wood too
near the furnace, in consequence of which it was communicated
to the floor. The burning fragments falling down conveyed
the mischief to the stories below, and it descended with so
much rapidity, that notwithstanding the active and unremitt-
ing exertions used to stop its progress, five of the flours were
consumed before it could he overpowered. The weighty appa-
ratus and machinery used in the manufacture of the, shot and
the winding up of the lead, descended at intervals with great
violence, breaking in their course the massy and partly con-
sumed beams of the building, and forcing many of the stone
steps from the wall, and in consequence the two lower floors
were completely broken down and destroyed. 'The principal
sins of the firemen was to prevent the devastation from ex.:
tending beyond the tower, and by their unwearied and active
exertions for the space of about three hours, the whole of the
adjacent works and buildings have, under Providence, been
preserved from destruction. The appearance of this catas-
trophe was
particularly grand and awful when the flames
first issued from its summit, arising in a considerable ye-
hone, accompanied with innumerable fragments of ignited
matter, which formed in their descent showers of fire, and its
red and murky appearance presented a striking contrast to the
pure light of the moon, which shone at the time in an opposite
direction with unclouded brightness. As the fire descended,
the flames were confined to the interior of the building, and
the effect became less striking. The utmost terror and confa -
slots prevailed among the inhabitants in the immediate vicinity,
many of them flying precipitately with their families from the
apprehended danger, but we are happy to learn that no acci-
dent of any serious nature occurred on the occasion. Not-
withstanding the frequent and violent concussions occasioned
by the falling of the beams, and the breaking down of the
stone staircase, not a brick of this immense tower has been
displaced. L was built by our townsman Mr. Joseph (lascoyne,
during his apprenticeship with the late Mr. John Welch.—
Tl:o extent of the loss cannot at present be ascertained, but
consists chiefly in the injury sustained by the building. It is
thought that it will be necessary to take down and rebuild
the upper part of the tower, but its present stateis sou danger-
ous from the precarious situation of the impending fra;einents
which remain within, as to render any examination .ot int-
practicable.