The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-01 00:00:00

ALARMING AN]) DESTRUCTIVE

FIRE.

Between twelve and one o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing a fire broke out at the cotton factory of Messrs.
13iiins and Dean, Dukinfield, near Ashton-under-
Line, which was attended with the destruction of
property to a large amount. A fortnight ago last
Sunday morning a fire broke out in the same mill,
which completely destroyed one portion of it, extend-
ing to nine windows in length, the mill being five
stories high, which did damage to the extent of
about 8,0001. On the present occasion the fire was
first observed in the fourth story by three youths
who were passing at the time ; they gave an alarm,
and in about twenty minutfis the Ashton town fire-
engines, together with five private engines belonging
to various millowners and others, were brought to
play upon the flames. Owing to the floor in
the room above being formed of three-inch planks,
the fire was a considerable time before it
got into it, which gave the firemen an op-
portunity of getting to work before the flames
got much a•bead. The destructive element was con-
fined chiefly to the room in which it first commenced
its ravages, and one portion of the room above, Loth
of which were filled with spinning jennies. The
damage, however, will be very considerable, not only
from the fire, but from the quantity of water thrown
into the building amongst the machinery. At. present
it is impossible to calculate the amount, but it is sup-
posed to exceed several thousand pounds. Tie firmis insured in the Globe, Sun, Phcenix, and
.. Liverpool
Fire Insurance Companies. During the fire several
persons had hairbreadth escapes, one man, named .
Samuel Mason, an overlooker at the mill, ventured to
enter the attic, when he fell through the floor, and was
in
nauthght by his arms between the beams, the machinery
the room below being all on fire ; some men went
to his assistance and succeeded in releasing him from
his perilous situation. lie did not sustain much in•
jury beyond the fright occasioned by the fall. The
whole of the mill will now be stopped for some time,
throwing out of employment upwards of 300 work-
people. The origin of this, as well as the other fire,
remains as yet a mystery ; a strict investigation, how-
ever, is now likely to be made both by the police
authorities and the various insurance companies.
Several thousand persons left their beds to go and
witness the fire, and during the whole of Sunday
parties from a
_distance came to view the scene of
destruction.

THE POST-OFFICE AUTHORITIES AND THE MAIL
GUARDB.—Considerablo sensation has been excited
among the above body of public servants by the recep-
tion, by nine of them, under ten years' standing in the
service, of official letters, informing them that after
certain date they will no longer be called upon to per-
form duty on the establishment. The notice also states
that the Postmaster-General has agreed to allow to each
man a bonus of 501., to be paid when the term of servi-
tude is ordered to cease and determine. On Saturday
morning several of the guards met, upon their arrival by
the night mails, to take preliminary steps for the pur-
pose of representing the hardness of these eondittes to
the heads of her Majesty's Treasury, and exhibit to
their Lordships the injustice of the reduction to men
about to become entitled to the allowance to which they
consider they have a claim under the Act of William
IV., cap. 24.
REPEAL OF THE WINDOw-Tax.—A meeting was
held yesterday at the Guildhall, Bath, over which the
Mayor (Mr. N. Hunt). presided, for the purpose of
passing resolutions for the repeal of the tax upon win-
dows, and for petitioning the Legislature. The meeting
was well attended. There were present, besides other
influential persons, Lord Duncan, M.P., and Lord Ash-
ley, 31.13., both of whom addressed the meeting at con-
siderable length on the subject of the resolutions, and
expressed their concurrence in the view taken by those
present as to the repeal of the tax. The Mayor, having
explained the objects for which the meeting was con-
vened, the Rev. J. Newell, Admiral Gordon, Mr. T.
Barrett, Mr. Greene, Mr. C. Bolwell, and other gentle-
men moved and seconded the resolutions, which were
adopted unanimously, and the meeting broke up.
DESTRUCTION OF A CORNIIILL BY: FIRE, AT
BOOTLE.—On Sunday, about ten o'clock, a fire (pro-
duced, it is supposed, by friction, the wind being high at
the time) broke out at the windmill, situate in Bootle
village, belonging to the Earl of Derby, and occupied by
Mr. Smith. The mill was completely destroyed.—
Livirpool Mercury.