The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-20 00:00:00

NUMEROUS TIRES

ALARMING FIRE AND PROBABLE LOSS OF LIFE
Sunday evening, between the hours of sevut and eight,
a tire, attended with very seriou, V not fatal, conse-
quences, broke out in the private residence of Mr.
Thorne, situate at 1, Church-place, St. Mary, Newing-
ton, within a short distance of the parish church. The
disovery was made by some of the inmates, by hearing a
loud crackling noise proccedirg from the upper portion
of the premises. Cpou getting to the second floor, one
of the bed-rooms was found completely enveloped in
flame. An instant attempt was made to extinguish the
fire by pouring buckets of water upon it. Whilst the
parties were so engaged, they were horror-stricken by
hearing a sort of half-stifled cry, which, upon inspection,
was found to proceed from one of the beds in the rocm;
the flames at the same time were mounting most fear-
fully. A young man, however, at, great risk, rushed
forward, and succeeded in rescuing- a fine infant,
about four months old, much burnt abotit the head,
face, and arms. As soon as the fire was some-
what subdued, a distressing scene presented itself ;
in the farther end of the room was perceived an object
moving, which, at first, was imagined to be a cat
or dog, but upon getting up to the same it was found to
be a child, almost suffocated. It appears that the child,
on finding the place was on fire, had managed to crawl
out of the bed, and not being able to get out of the
room, succeeded in forcing its way to the place where it
was found.

During the morning of Saturday the metropolis was
visited by the outbreak of the following fires :
LI3IEHOUSE.—At an early hour, the premises in the
occupation cf Mr. W. Joel, known as the Coopers' Arms,
in the Old-road, Limehouse, were discovered to be on
fire. The police constable on the beat was the person
who made the alarming discovery. Having sprung his
rattle, he set about awaking its inmates. After consi-
derable trouble he accomplished his object ; and they
at length succeeded in effecting a safe retreat out of the
windows. Notwithstandieg that the firemen exerted
themselves to the utmost, they were unable to get the
flames subdued until the shop was burnt out, the stock
in trade, fixtures, and other effects consumed, and the
remainder of the premises severely damaged by fire and
water. The cause of the disaster c :uld not be learned.

CLERRENWELL.—Another fire took place the same
morning, upon the premises numbered 38, Red Lion-
street, Clerkenwell. It commenced in the apartment
occupied by Mr. J. Sheppard, newsvender. The whole
of the furniture and wearing apparel, with the window
glass in the apartment, were destroyed.
FIRE IN CHEAPSIDE CAUSED BY A BAT.—Between the
hours of eight and nine on Saturday morning, the resi-
dents of Cheapside perceived smoke issuing from the
premises of Mr. Joseph Baker, tobacconist, situate
opposite Bow Church. Feeling convinced that a fire
was burning within, intelligence was sent to the
Watling-street engine station. In the course of a few
minutes Mr. Superintendent Braidwood and three
engines arrived. Upon breaking open the front door it
was proved that about 5,000 fu:eei had become ignited,
and there is little doubt if the discovery had not been
so opportunely made, that the whole of the premises
would have been consumed. As it was the fire was
speedily extinguished, the damage not being very con-
siderable. After the fire was got out, an examination
was made to find out the cause, when it was found that a
rat had worked its way from the bottom of the flooring,
and had got amongst the fusees, when in nibbling them
the friction had caused them to explode, and hence the
disaster.

CURIOUS HOAX FACULTY AT FAULT.—
Last week, the utmost excitement was created at Strat-
fcrd-le-Bow, by the trick of a wag well known for his
successful practical jokes in that vicinity. Before the
formation of railroads, Stratford was a pace famous for
fattening geese, the tongues of which are considered a
great delicacy by those who have tried them as a culi-
nary article. To the extent of about three inches to-
wards the point, the tongue of the goose has a most
perfect resemblance to the finger of a delicate human
hand, with a nail most beautifully marked and defined.
Our wag, observing this, by a little paring and dressing,
took two tongues of an unequal siz a which he folded up
in a paper, and dropped in a cheesemonger's shop,
where they were shortly afterwards discover( d, and in-
formation was given to the police, that two human
fingers, apparently belonging to a young woman not
accustomed to labour, and about 15 or 16 years old, had
been found under circumstances of strong suspicion.
Almost all the medical men between Stratford and Bow
being consulted on the subject, decided that the tongues
were the fingers of a young woman, and information to
that effect being conveyed to the head office, the police
were employed to unravel the mystery. Inquiries were
made at the various railway stations in the neighbour-
hood, and also at a large silk factory in the vicinity of
Stratford, to ascertain whether any recent accident
had occurred which could lead to a conclusion as to
the mutilated members, but no information could be had.
At length, one of the constables questioned a postman
on the subject, and exhibited the supposed human mem-
bers, when the latter instantly pronounced them to be
nothing but the tongues of geese. The constable was
incredulous, but on seeing another veritable specimen
produced he became a believer. At first, the force were
much offended at having their ingenuity and activity put
to such a ridiculous test, but on remembering that the
doctors, who should be the best judges of the matter,
were all at fault, they joined in the laugh which the
joke occasioned. The proprietor of the King's Arms
was the greatest gainer by the jest, as thousands flocked
to his house to see the "mutilated members."
SAUTE AUSTRALIA.—We have the pleasure of an-
nouncing the arrival at Swansea of a second cargo of
copper ore from this important colony. The Malcolm
arrived here this week from Port Adelaide, laden with
a fall cargo of rich ore, consigned to Mr. Francis. We
anticipate an increasing trade in that branch, as several
large vessels have been recently chartered at the colony
direct for this port.--Cambria.
INCENDIARY FIRE.—DOVER, OCT. IL—Last night
intelligence reached the town that an extensive fire
had broken out, at six o'clock that evening, in the
farmstead of Mr. William Nethersole' farmer, at West-
street, a village, situated three miles from the town of
Sandwich, and seven from Dover. The fire is said to
have broken out in a barn, and in little more than a
quarter of an hour to have communicated itself to three
other barns, three outhouses, and some stacks, all of
which were totally consumed. Fortunately, its ravages
stopped, as the dwelling-house, stables, and several other
buildings, were in close proximity to the burning pro-
perty. Three fire-engines were dispatched to the spot
from Sandwich, but could not prevent the property
which had become ignited from totally falling a prey
to the devouring element. The conflagration presented
an imposing spectacle, and its reflection in the heavens
was distinctly discernible at Dover up to a late hour
last night. Mr. Nethersole is reported to be insured to
the full.
FLOODS IN TUE NEIGHIZOURIIOCD OF TUE iIIRTRO..
roam—The very heavy rain; of the last few days, par-
ticularly the almost incessant deluge which commenced
at a late hour on Saturday night, and continued with
unabated force till past mid-day on Sunday, have laid the
meadows near the Lea deep under water, and have- con-
verted that river into a mischievous brawler. In the
vicinity of Waltham, where legendary lure has immor-
talised it in connexion with the heroic times of our his-
tory, its turbulent manifestations on Sunday afternoon
bespoke for it something of the olden Danish spirit of
turbulence and invasion. Here the various channels
which tradition has assigned as the handiwork of our
great Alfred, were swollen to complete overflow, and the
water rushed down with the force of a mountain torrent.
The road at Waltham Holy Cross, which several times
passes across these channels, was in some parts flooded.
All along the stream the meadows, particularly in the
lower parts, bear evidence of the vast amount of rain
which has lately fallen. ConSiderable apprehension was
at one time entertained for the flocks pasturing there,
but it is stated that little or no damage has been sus-
tained in this respect. The Mole, the Wandle, the
Comae, the Brent, and other home rivers, have also lost
their (Diet pastoral character, and for the "cerulean"
aspect have acquired one resembling turbid pea soup. The
low grounds adjoining these streams are likewise flooded,