The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-02 00:00:00

DREADFUL FIRE.

This morning, bAween the hears of twelve and one,
a fire of a most fearful character, by which it is supposed
one or two person% 10,1 their lives, broke out at 31, Cal-
craft-terrace, New-cut, Lambeth, known as the Exhibi-
tion of Nature and Art, the property of a Mr. Fergus-
son. From inquiries made during the burning of the
fire, the reporter learned from the proprietor of the
establishment, that whilst he and one or two other per•
sons were sitting in the front kitchen, they were sud-
denly alarmed at hearing a loud crackling noise proceed-
ing. from the exhibition- room. Upon getting to the top
of the staircase, they found that the exhibition %T.'s
wrapp,4l in one sheet of flame. An instant cry of
" Fire" was raised by Mr. Fcrgusson, in order to arouse
the other inmates of the place, but whilst he was endea-
vouring to wake them the flames made such fearful
progress that it was wth the greatest difficulty that any
one could escape. As it was, the persons in the lower
floor were severely singed in getting out. Intelligence
having been sent to the engine stations, in the course of
a few minutes the brigade engine from Waterloo-road
was at the scene, followed immediately afterwards by
the West of England firemen and engine. At that pe-
riod the flames had broken through the front window
shutters, and they were rapidly extending themselves to
the upper floors. Without delay the engines were set
to work from an abundant supply of water furnished by
the Lambeth Company. The exhibition being of a very
inflammable character, the figurts being composed prin-
cipally of wax;the flames rose with such rapidity, that
before a drop of water could be discharged into the
place, the builling was fired from the ground to the
roof. Under the direction of Mr. ilambleton and Mr.
Connorton the engines were worked with full vigour, in
spite of which the fire still continued to burn most fu-
riously, and before one o'clock they had burnt through
the roof, when the inhabitants of the several surround-
ing houses became apprehensive that the conflagration
would prove of a most extensive character. Ocher en-
gines of the brigade, with Mr. Henderson, the foreman
LL TN • • , .3K• • vva, Lac a upet-itnenuenu,
; followed each other in rapid succession, with the County
engine. By strenuous exertions on the part of the fire-
men the filmes were got down by half-past one, but not
until the exhibition of wax-work figures, the living ser-
pents and monkey, were destroyed. The whole of the
furniture in the upper floors is likewise consumed, and
there is every ground to suppose that, at the least, one
or two human beings have been hurried into eternity by
this calamitous event. Mr. Fergusson assured the re-
porter that he was fearful a daughter of his housekeeper
had perished in the flames, but he was quite certain
that a female dwarf, named Robertson, had been burnt
to death. He stated that she was sleeping in the back
room third floor, and had not the least possibility of
effecting her escape. How the fire originated cannot be
ascertained. Mr. Fergusson estimates the loss of his
exhibition alone at upwards of 1,0001. Inspectors Horns-
by and Rogers, of the M and L divisions, with a strong
muster of police, were present, and rendered great ser-
vice to the firemen, by keeping the immense crowd out
of danger.