The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-20 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION.

Last night (Sunday) the neighbourhood of High-
Ntreet, Stoke Newington, was alarmed by the sudden
outbreak of one of the most disastrous fires that have
happened in that district for a considerable time past.
Tne fire was first perceived by the police-constable
on the beat, who in passing along appears to have
noticed an unusual glare of light in the premises belong-
ing to Mr. Todman, a chandler, carrying on business at
No. 7, in High-street. The officer having listened at
the door, distinctly heard the snapping of burning wood.
lie .sounded an alarm, and commenced knocking vio-
lently at the street-door. No one, however, appeared,
and it was feared that the residents, if at home, had
perished, for whilst the constable was knocking at the
door flames in huge sheets shot forth from the various
windows both at the rear and in the front.

Messecgcrs wcie as quickly as possible dispatched to
call the engines of the parish, and with all promptitude
they attended, and were set to work from an abundant
supply of water famished by the East London Company,
By that time, however, the whole of the rooms in Mr.
Todman's premises presented a blazing mass, and at
length the flames broke through the roof, and threatened
destruction to every house on that side of the street. The
parish engine, police, and inhabitants laboured inces-
santly to confine the flames to the premises in which
they originated, but without success, and in a compara-
tively short period the fire communicated to the premises
numbered 6 and 5 in the same street, occupied by Mr.
G. Parrott, a linendraper. A mounted police-officer
was dispatched to Jeffrey-square brigade-station, and
thence to the more distant det,dits.
When the firemen from London arrived the flames
had made tremendous progress, for besides enveloping
the premises numbered 7,6, and 5, in High-street, they
had likewise reached Nos. 4 and 8., The latter was in the
tenure of Mrs. Underwood, a dressmaker; and the for-
mer belonged to the same person as the two houses num-
bered 5 and 6. By half-past eleven o'clock, lour hours
after the commencement of the fire, the engines had
succeeded in extinguishing the conflagration, but not
until the following damage was done, which is officially
reported by Mr. Superintendent Braidwood:—
" No. 7, High-street—Mr. George Todman, chandler
and general dealer. Premises burnt down, and stock in
trade, with furniture, wearing apparel, and other effects,
consumed. Cause of fire not known.

" Nos. 5 and 6, Iligh-street—Mr. George Parrott,
linen-draper. Premises all but destroyed. The stock
in trade and furniture severely injured by fire, water,
mud hasty removal. Insured for contents in the Phoenix
Fire-office. The building unknown whether insured
or not.

"No. 4, High-street—Mr. George Parrott, ditto.
The side walls severely burnt. The first and second
fl mrs much injured by fire, water, and cutting away.
The contents also damaged by fire, water, and hasty re-
moval. Stock in trade and furniture insured in the
Phoenix- office.

No. 8, High-street. Mrs. Underwood, dress maker.
Side walls, floorings, and roof damaged by fire and
water, and contents by hasty removal. Insurance not
known at present."

THE SEWER ACCIDENT AT
ISLINGTON.

Onpaturday afternoon we visited the scene of the ac-
cident which occurred in the Lower-road, Islington, on
Friday last, and an account of which appeared in The
Sun of Saturday. Mr. Johnson, the contractor for the
sewer, was on the spot, and explained the method by
which the New River had been confined to its old
course, as well as the precautionary measures adopted by
him, both of which have for the present succeeded.
It must be premised that the New River tunnel crosses
the Lower-road very obliquely, and that the sewer in
course of construction runs straight down that street, so
that although it only actually crosses under it at one
point, near River-street, yet all the way down it is in
considerable proximity, though at a lower level. This
crossing, as was stated, was passed in safety, and the
sewer had been coatinued beyond the King's Head public
house, where Mr. Cox, the landlord, employed a brick-
layer to make a cross drain from his premises, who had
carried it on about 26 feet, till it was probably under
the bed of the New River tunnel. Water oozed in and
f
filled it. The necessity was then suggested to himt o
completing its junction with the sewer, in order tothe
water escape. Application was made at the conrinrailiec,gtor'osf
office, and refused. It appears that on themnoivoledge of
the accident the bricklayer, without the
n thehki s sewer,
drained
ln
either Mr. Cox or the men employed
foil
commenc to
o.lly only a brick
who were not working in that part
work inwards from the sewer
rtoobJ
doing so he tapped the invert
NewP
1,,.. been already described.
River tunnel, and
thick) of the bottom of the
:Possible, made a barrier above
of upright and horLontal
the accident occurred,
Mr. Johnson, as soon!' .
the first shaft, filled between with play, and
planks, driven down
' Riaver-streetandthen
also sunk a shaft in
therthe lower '
barrier, in case ‘ one should give way.
is, therefore, confined to its old course. lie-
consisntding
The river .
the barrier there is of couras still a communication
low
be weep the sewer and the New River, and this state
of things must remain till the bed of the tunnel can be
repaired.
sVe understand that it is the intention of the New
River Company to an sink i
Iron cylinder, so as to stretch
across the broken part of the brick bottom. This will
prevent the water having access to the sewer, and all the
damage can be then repaired. Some men were employed
yesterday afternoon in driving additional " shorings" of
plank between the sewer and the New River to prevent
further breakage, as it will readily be understood that as
long as the communication exists the soil between will
crumble away if not propped up, although the barriers
placed across the sower will prevent further mischief at
any point above them.

An inquest is to be held on tho body of the sufferer

which was found st/L<ndon-bridge, when, no doubt, th•
whole case will be fully investigated. The poor man,
we bEdieve, has left a wife and large family to deplore
his lo.s. The other has net yet been recovered.