The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-17 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION.

Yesterday evening a fire of a most destructive
character broke out in the storehouses of Messrs.
Hay, Anderson, and Sangster, nursery and seedsmen
of Kennington, and owing to the inflammable nature
of the buildings and their contents, in less than forty
minutes after the discovery of the fire, nearly the
whole range of buildings, together with their con-
tents, amounting to several thousand pounds in value,
were utterly destroyed. The storehouses in question
were situate in the centre of the nursery ground lying
in the open space between Brook-street, and Walcot-
square, and Kennington-lane; they were of con-
siderable extent and were constructed entirely of
wood. Closely adjoining them was a lower range of
building, also used for storing seeds, agricultural im-
plements, and the more valuable plants. Besides
these were a range of stables and a piggery, and a
number of hotbeds. About ten o'clock an alarm of
fire was raised by some persons passing down Ken-
nington-lane, and it was discovered that flames were
pouring out from the eastern end of one of the large
buildings. So rapid was the spread of the flames that
before any efficient assistance could be rendered the
whole was enveloped in fire, the flames rising to a great
height and rolling in huge volumes towards the se-
cond warehouse. The appearance they presented was so
alarming that messengers were immediately sent in cabs
to the ditierentfire stations. Long before they reached,
however, the fire had been seen, and the messengers
were met by those whom they went to seek. On the
arrival of the engines near the spot some time was lost
in consequence of the firemen not knowing the en-
trance to the grounds, and their approach by any
other road was rendered impossible by the numerous
fences which divide the adjacent fields. During this
time the fire rapidly spread, the second warehouse
was speedily ignited from end to end, and the flames
rushing out with a tremendous noise ignited the
western end of the smaller range of buildings. To
add to the terror of the scene the agonised cries of a
number of pigs who were unable to escape were heard
above the roar and crackling of the fire. These
cries soon ceased, and the poor animals were
speedily out of their misery. The engines
at length were introduced into the grounds,
but the efforts of the fireman were of no avail ; a soli-
tary shed at the eastern end of the smaller warehouses
was alone saved, and even this, with its contents, was
so much, damaged as to be of little consequence.
After burning for about twenty minutes with in-
credible fury the warehouses fell one by one with a
fearful crash, leaving only a confused pile of blazing
timber upon the ground. Upon these the jets of
water were at once directed, and a few minutes suf-
ficed to extinguish them totally. In the confusion
and alarm which prevailed it was impossible to obtain
an accurate estimate of the damage done; it is to be
feared, however, that it is very great, as not only were
many beds of very choice plants scorched in the hot-
beds near, but those which were removed were very
much damaged. A considerable quantity of glass was
also destroyed. It is not known whether the firm aro
Limed, but it is believed they are. Mich credit is