The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-10 00:00:00

WE-DNESDA

FIRE AT NEWCASTLE.

An alarming fire broke out yesterday evening, be.
ween eight and nine o'clock, on the premises of
Messrs. Hudson, marine-store-dealers, New-road.
The precise origin of the fire we have not been able
to ascertain, but the warehouses being filled with
highly combustible materials, such as rags, oakum,
and tarred rope, the conflagration soon assumed a
formidable appearance, and the reflection of the light
was visible from all parts of the town. It being the
fair time, a great number of persons were in the
streets, particularly in the neighbourhood of the gaol
and Carliol-square, where the fair is held, and on
ob-
serving
the glare they started off simultaneously in
the direction of the fire. Parties were attracted from
other places, and every street leading to the spot was
soon thronged with people hastening towards the
scene. Our reporter reached the place just before
the roof of the building fell in, and none of the en-
gines had then arrived, so rapid had been the progress
of the devouring element. Fortunately, the warehouse,
which had been formerly a brewery, was detached from
the other buildings, by which, indeed, it was almost sur-
rounded, so that the wind, which blew sharply, had
comparatively little effect in causing the flames to
extend. To this may be attributed the safety of the
im
mediately
behind property. The warehouse was
behind Gibson-street, in the angle of the houses
forming that street and the New-road, and was ap-
proached on the rear by Bedford-street, where the
North British engine, on its arrival, was stationed, two
of the Newcastle engines having previously taken up a
position in the front. The fire had, however, by this
time exhausted its fury; the roof and all the floors
had fallen ; and the materials were blazing within the
ruined walls of the building like an immense bonfire.
The streams of water, which were thrown upon it after
the engines began to play, soon dispelled all danger of
its proceeding further, though the embers continued
burning for some hours afterwards. The consterna-
tion created in the immediate neighbourhood of
the conflagration was great, and many parties hastily
removed their furniture, throwing it out of the
windows, while thieves and pickpockets, who swarm
at fairs, followed their occupation with extraordinary
assiduity. Notwithstanding the immense crowd of
persons assembled, the greatest degree of order pre-
vailed, owing to the promptitude and activity of the
police, who were directed by Mr. Stephens in person,
and who, by judicious regulations, prevented that
wanton destruction of property which would other
wise have taken place during the panic that prevailed
among the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The
fire was extremely rapid in its progress ; but it was
fortunately confined to the building in which it ori-
ginated, which is, however, entirely destroyed, toge-
ther with the stock it contained, the gables and a
portion of the side walls being all that remain. The
supply of water was insufficient, and some was pro-
cured from a pond in the vicinity. The injury will
amount to some thousands of pounds, which, it is
understood, is partially covered by insurance in one
of the Scottish offices.—Newcastle.fournal of Saturday

ASHTON.-- THE GENERAL TURN-OUT. - There
appears no probability of this turn-out coming to a ter-
mination, notwithstanding it is pauperizing the town.
Yesterday morning the whole of the mills remained
closed, none of the masters appearing at all anxious to
give the operatives a chance of resuming work, were
they inclined to go in. The spinners appointed a depu-
tation to wait upon the mayor, Joseph Fletcher, Esq.,
with a requisition from the inhabitant householders, on
Saturday, praying him to convene a meeting in the
Town-hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration
the best means to be adopted under the present unfortu-
nate differences which exist between the employers and
the employed. The mayor having refused to accede to
the requisition, the requisitionists have called it on their
own account. Such is the state of distress in this town
and neighbourhood, owing to the strike now existing,
that the parish office is crowded from morning to night.
—Liverpool Mercury.
THE NEW DEEMSTER FOR THE NORTHERN Dis-
' TRICT OF THE ISLE OF MAN.—W. L Drinkwater, Esq.,
barrister, of the Northern Circuit, and well known in this
town, has been appointed deemster, or judge, of the
northern division of the Isle of Man, vacant by the re-
signation of John Christian, Esq. The Manx Sun
of Saturday says, " The members of the Manx bar feel
so much disatisfied at the late appointment of deemster
to the northern district of the island, in the room of
1)e ulster Christian, retired, that they have got up a pe-
tition or protest to the Home-office against ithe said ap-
pointment."—Liverpool Albion.