The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-16 00:00:00

FIRE AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S.

ST. KITTS, JUNE Q2.—Between the hours of
one and two o'clock on Sunday morning, the inhabitants of this
town and its vicinity were aroused by an alarm of tire, which
was discovered to proceed from the premises of Joseph Adlaut,
!lilisgt y repaired opposite
tothe
Baker's
se:l)z er.
where Hundreds
au nfidrreethi
as
do
commenced
personsmlnenee idmi inn e;
shop contiguous to the dwelling-house,
-house, to which it communi-
cated with such astonishing rapidity that the whole structure was
in a few MOM= tsone entire mass of flame, raging with a violence
that for a considerable time defied every effort toarrest itsprogress.
At thi:i dreadful moment, the whole town seemed devoted to de-
struen:m, front the immense volume of the devouring element
which issued front the buildings,and thesparkswhich ascended and
fell around. Most providentially, however, the wind was light, end
southerly ; had it been blowing front the northward, the houses
on the opposite side of the street must inevitably have taken fire,
and in all human probability this valuable town would have been
at the present moment one general heap of ruins. Front Mr.
Adlum's, the fire reached the next house, on the same line,
occupied by Mr. Benjamin Watson ; this was a brick build-
ing, and the flames therefore had not materials to feed upon
to such an extent as at Mr. Adlam's, whose buildings were of
wood, and in whose cellars a large quantity of runt and brandy
heightened the conflagration ; but the roof, windows, and every
consumable part of Mr. Watson's house were reduced to ashes.
The flames, yet unsubdued, it was feared, would extend to the
adjoining houses, and it was accordingly deemed necessary to
level them with the earth, which was effected, after great exer-
tion ; but, we regret to add, that this sacrifice to the general
safety has placed their late inmates in a state of painful des-
titution. One of the palish engines (one only we under-
stand, being in a condition to be used) was brought into
play at an early period ; but, though supplied and worked
with the utmost alacrity by several individuals, whose active
and indefatigable exertions claim the highest praise, it
availed but little on the great body of fire against which
it was directed. The conflagration did not extend beyond
Mr. 'Watson's, and about day-light the danger was at an end.
We are happy to say, that, notwithstanding the imminent
peril to which many respectable and worthy individuals fear.
lessly exposed themselves during the whole time, there was no
loss of life. Several, however, were bruised; and among
them Lieutenant Clarke, of the 4th regiment, who received a
severe contusion whilst exerting himself in a distinguished and
exemplary style. The Captains of some of the vessels lying in
the road, and gentlemen from the neighbouring estates, were
i also on the spot, contributing their assistance. It is mpos-
Bible to estimate the amount of loss sustained. Mr. Adlam has
suffered very considerably ; we understand that about 40 pun-
cheons of rum were consumed, with a quantity of brandy, bottled
liquor, and many valuable effects, which there was no possibi-
lity of rescuing from destruction, the flintily themselves being
obliged to abandon the premises with the utmost haste. Others
have been deprived of their all ; but the feeling of sympathy
generally entertained will, we are persuaded, benevolently en-
sure relief to the distressed. The grenadier company of militia
was placed on duty in the morning, for the preservation of
order, and to protect die property of the unfortunate sufferers
which lay exposed, and on which depredations had been corn-
mitted by wretches, who surrounded the scene of destruc-
tion for no other purpose than to plunder all that the flame&
hail spared. From the circumstance of the shop in which the
fire broke out having been closed in the evening, and the light.
carthilly extinguished, it is very strongly suspected that
the dreadful event which followed was the work of an incen-
diary, and the suspicion is strengthened by the fact of an at-
tempt having been made on Sunday night to set fire to a house
in Gallege-street, which was fortunately discovered before the
combustible matter, intended to accomplish the demoniac de-
sign, had burnt out. A militia guard (which has been nightly
mounted since) proceeded to the spot, and apprehended a negro
man slave to whom suspicion attached, and who has been judi-
cially examined and committed to jail. Another man has been
since taken into custody, and likewise committed. We are
happy to learn, that some regulations are in contemplation fur
securing the town from the recurrence of so dreadful a calamity.

SUDDEN DEATlL—Yesterday morning, about
half-past six o'clock, some workmen employed in repairing and
embellishing the church of St. Paul, Covent-garden, observed
a lad, seemingly about 17 years of age, walk with a tottering
step through the portico in front of the church to the burying.
ground, where he seated himself upon a tomb in a state of ap.
parent exhaustion. They took no particular notice of him,
supposing that he had perhaps been out all night, or was over-
fatigued front work. Shortly afterwards he left that part of the
ground and went to the portico, where he was seen staggering
about for a few minutes, and then he sank to the ground. Some
idle and unfeeling fellows immediately proclaimed him to be
drunk, and commenced pelting him with potatoes and filth.—
This being communicated to Mrs. Bartlett, the wife of the
watch-house-keeper, she sent for one of the beadles to pro-
tect the lad, whoever he might be; and finding that he-did not
come speedily, she called u her husband, who had just retired
from Ins night's duty, and 'he brought the boy into the watch.
house, where it was soon perceived that extreme illness was the
sole cause of his staggering and exhaustion. Medical assistance
was immediately sent for, anti meanwhile Mrs. Bartlett kind!y
gave bins some tea and warm brandy and water, which he too:
rather eagerly, and with great thankfulness. Ile seemed tole-
rably cheerful, hut excessively weak, and was suffering under
an extreme laxity of the bowels. Mr. Bampfylde, of Bedford-
street, surgeon, Dr. Broughton, and another medical man, were
successively sent to, and were prompt in their attendance. The
poor boy was put to bed, and medicine immediately adminis-
tered ; after which lie seemed somewhat better. Ile conversed
freely, but evaded all questions as to who and what he was, at
one time saying that he had no parents nor friends, and at ano-
ther that he did not know where his parents were. The medi-
cines, with small portions of brandy and water, were occasionally
administered to him during the morning ; and at half past 12
he expressed his gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett, and said
he felt better, and was able to take any thing that would do
him good. Nature, however, it would appear, was too much
exhausted to be benefited. by the humane exertions qf those
about bins ; for at a quarter past one he became suddenlyl,worse,
and in five minutes he was a corpse. Ile appeared about 17 or
18 years or age, rather tall, exceedingly thin, with lightish
brown hair, and a little freckled in the face. He had rather
strong hair on the upper lip. Ile had on a clean but rather
coarse shirt, a brown coat, buff and white mareella waistcoat,
and blue trousers. The medical Gentlemen were unanimously
of opinion that the death of the unfortunate lad was occasioned
by a want of proper sustenance. He was wasted almost to the
bone. The body lies at the watch-house to be owned, and to
await the result of a Coroner's inquest.
KIDNAPPED CIIII.D.—We have the pleasure of
informing our readers, that Charlotte Shaw was
taken at Swansea, in one of the potteries, in
Glamorganshire, on Friday last, the 10th inst.,
along with the child, and that she is now in con-
finement, and the child in the care of a respect-
able family in that place. The father was to
leave Leeds on Monday last, with a light heart,
to identify the delinquent, and restore the child
to the embraces of its mother, who has never
known 'a moment of happiness since it was lost,
till the news arrived in Leeds on Monday morn-
ing that it was found and iu safe keeping.