The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-29 00:00:00

NUMEROUS FIRES AND PROBABLE
LOSS OF LIFE.

Late on Saturday night the inhabitants of Watling-
street, City, were greatly alarmed in consequence of the
sudden outbreak of a fire in the extensive premises oc-
cupied conjointly by Messrs Strachan, and the anti-
corrosion paint manufacturers, and Messrs. Boatwright
and Brown, sealing wax manufacturers, situate at 54, in
the before-mentioned thoroughfare, and within a few
feet of the parish church. The flames originated from
the spontaneous ignition of a cask of lamp black, which
set fire to a number of vessels filled with turpentine and
varnishes. Owing to the combustible nature of the stock
in trade, the flames spread rouud the store with amazing
fierceness, so that at one time the church opposite and
every house near appeared doomed to destruction; mes-
sengers were therefore dispatched in sundry directions
to call the engines. Several engines of the Brigade,
parish, and West of England Company quickly attended,
and plenty of water being procured, the flames were
prevented from reaching the wax stores of Messrs. Boat-
wright and Brown, but they were not extinguished until
the side stores on the first floor were very seriously
burned, and much of the contents consumed. It could
not be ascertained whether the firm was insured or not.

While the engines were engaged at the above fire, in-
formation was received that another had occurred in the
neighbourhood of the City-road. The Whitecross-street
and Jeffrey-square brigade, together with the West of
England engines, proceeded to the spot, when the fire-
men found that the outbreak had taken place in the pri-
vate residence of Mr. J. Cage, No. 9, Mason's-place,
York street. Fortunately the fire was confined to that
portion of the building in which it commenced.
Before the firemen had time to return to their stations
another call was received for St. Saviour's-alley. The
firemen attended from Southwark Bridge-road station,
when it was ascertained that the flames had originated
in the premises of Mr. J. Herring, No. 6, Duke's-court,
a narrow alley running out of St. Saviour's-court. It
appears that the neighbours had their attention attracted
to the premises by loud cries of " Help," and upon en-
tering they perceived Mrs. Herring completely enveloped
in flames. By a desperate effort the fire was subdued,
but not until the unfortunate woman was frightfully
burnt, so much so that she was removed to the hospital,
where she remains in a very precarious state. The dis-
aster is supposed to have been caused from a spark fly-
ing out of the grate, and coming in contact with some
wearing apparel.
About an hour later the firemen were called to attend
a fire at 32, Clifton-street, Finsbury, in the premises
of Mr. Wagstaff, flock, list, and rug-merchant. Fortu•
tunately it was extinguished before mach damage was
done.

As the firemen were leaving this fire, they were sent
for to another, which had occurred in the lamp-black
manufactory of Mr. J. Huggins, in Queen-street, Mile-
end New Town. Owing to the activity of the stran-
gers, this fire was extinguished before the engines had
time to arrive.

Between four and five A.M. the same day a fire hap.
poned in the premises of Mr. C. Hawkins, British wine
manufacturer, No. 2, Bedford-street, Somers Town,
which was caused from a defect in an adjoinicg flue.
The engines were quickly on the spot, but the fire was
not extinguished until mach damage was done to the
premises.
A few hours previous to the above outbreak another
fire, and attended with a considerable loss of property,
broke out in the wadding manufactery of Mr. J. Davies,
No. 5, John-street, Curtain-road, Shoreditch. The
flames originated in the carding-rooms, and at one time
threatened destruction to the whole factory. The en-
gines of the brigade, parish, and West of England
promptly attended, but in spite of an abundant supply
of water, and the most active working of the engines, the
firemen were unable to get the flames extinguished, until
a serious amount of property was destroyed, which is
thus returned by Mr. Superintendent Braidwood:—
" The carding-rooms in Mr. Davies's factory burned
out, the contents destroyed, and roofs off. The engine-
house and store-rooms adjoining damaged by fire and
water. The premises end their contents were unin-
sured. No. 63, Charlotte-street, Mr. J. T. Parlour,
licensed victucter, and proprietor of the Bricklayers'
Arms. Roofs of back premises and skittleground da-
maged by breakage. Insured in the Royal Exchange
Fire-office."