The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

NORWICH, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.—EarIy this morning this
city was thrown into the greatest consternation by a most
, disastrous fire, involving a serious sacrifice of property, break-
ing out on the premises forming the St. James's Factory. The
property is termed No. 2 of the Norwich Steam-power Com-
pany, the company having within the last few years raised
two immense factories near the city, which, though they have
excited considerable prejudice amongst the handloom weavers,
have led to the employment of from 1,000 to 1,500 persons, a
great majority of whom are women and children. These,
we are given to understand, are thrown out of employment
by this calamity, which must necessarily affect the trade of
IN'Orwich. According to information collected on the spot,
it appears the alarm was raised by a boy about four o'clock,
who perceiving fire and smoke issuing from that part of
the factory called the engine-house, instantly hastened for
assistance, at the same time loudly calling " Fire."
Within a few minutes many labourers hastened to
the factory and found, as before stated, the engine-house —a
large brick double-roofed building—in flames. The
police and firemen of the City were promptly aroused,
and while the engines were being conveyed to the
spot, the usual precautionary measures were adopted for the
preservation of the valuable property in the main building.
The engine belonging to St. George's, Colegate, was the
first to be got into operation, then followed by those of
the Corporation,. one from the barracks, with a strong de-
tachment of the Carbineers ; and lastly, that connected
with the Union Fire-office. Notwithstanding this powerful
force, the firemen working with the greatest ardour, the
devouring element continued to rage with much fury, and
many dovbts were entertained as to the safety of the entire
property. By seven o'clock the fire had reached its height,
and at this juncture thefiremen succeeded in what is termed a
` g
d‘
decline,
palna "
dy
in on the
hourthe floarmseos .t h
eTyh
wereey th
effectually
e teugaalni
y
subdued.to
The engine-house is gutted, and its valuable contents—
' eNnogritnveicl machinery
awnedreothhierresdb &c.—much injured. Departments in
Wright,thy nearly all the manufacturers of
Hinds, Blake, Towich,
sprireisneglennies or other ma-
chineryed in the building. 'These, e
Middleton,faet ofirxy
however, are chiefly
house and
untouched, the greater damage being to the e
rooms closely adjoining. That belonging to Mr. Wright
the most injured. There are various conjectures as to the
cause, but as yet it is involved in mystery. It is said that
it first broke out in a drying-house in the occupation of
Messrs. Fowler and Campin ; but by what means is not
known. It is remarkable that the watchman does not leave
till about 4 o'clock in the morning, when he goes to call up
some of the men who belong to the establishment; and
almost as soon as he had left the premises this morning the
fire was discovered. It is considered somewhat singular that
the master manufacturers against tradesmen for
fthehir makeare igneitnhgeireepossessiotnh, without.
this outbreak has occurred at a time when prosecutions pre-
ferred by
t em, before e
trates. Whether the fire can be connected with these pro-
secutions,thebuilding, though adjacent to the
The splendid shaft of
The
givinghav an a r
accountticl e s ofo
fire,iiasrecoerivetdranceodint
injury, nor has the main building• themn i.ne-house, engine, and machi-
n any way, we cannot state.
np re irnycliani p a ld dgaomo
da4g e
attachedis to th e elthereto.gl