The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-23 00:00:00

TERRIFIC FIRE IN THE CI7 Y.

Yesterday morning shortly after 2 o'clock one of
he most disastrous fires, although happily unat-
tended by loss of life, with which the city has for

many years past been visited, and which was ac-

companied by a destruction of property to a large
amount, broke out on the premises in the occupa-
tion of Messrs. Johnson and Co., boot and shoe

warehousemen, 2, Red Cross-street, Barbican, and

•
spread with extraordinary rapidity to the adjoin-
ing houses, ending in the total destruction of the

premises in question, of the four build;ngs adjoining
and in damage to a less extent to property ad-

jacent.

The entire range of buildings are of a very
ancient date, and to the fact of a large proportion
of woodwork having been used in their construc-
tion may be attributed the disastrous nature of the
calamity.
Shortly before four o'clock the roof of No. 2
(Messrs. Johnson's) fell in, and about four the house
in which Mr. Hoare had carried on business (No.
1), suddenly and almost without the slightest
warning, fell to the ground, or rather did not so
much fall as entirely collapse with a tremendous
crash, the entire fabric crumbling instantaneously
to pieces, a chaos of burning ruins alone marking
the spot where it stood. The manner in which th•
firemen and others who were within a few feet of
where the front of the house had been escaped in-
jury appeared perfectly miraculous, but fortunately
no one was injured. _

The exertions of the firemen to save the distil-
lery were renewed, and the hose having been pre-
viously carried through the premises and so up to
the roof, a plentiful supply of water was poured on
the upper part of the d welling house, which was
more immediately in danger. These efforts, to
.which the falling of the next house contributed,
were happily successful in saving the warehouse,
the upper part of the dwelling having sustained
some damage from water. In the meantime the
remainder of the house on fire continued to burn
furiously, the flames attacking the dry materials
with resistless energy, and roof and ceiling, beam
and rafter fell in rapid succession, the sparks fall-
ing in showers around.
At the time of the sudden disappearance of Mr.
Hoare's premises, a portion of the wall appertain-
ing to No. 2, and , surmounted by a tall stack of
chimneys, had remained standing alone without any
support, and for some time it was momentarily ex-
pected to fall. Finally, about five o'clock, it top-
pled over, carrying with it what little remained of
the next house. These accumulations of fragments
tended in a great measure to choke the flames, and
from this time they gradually decreased in intensity,
succumbing to the increasing power of the antago-
nistic element ; and about seven o'clock all further
danger was over, the engines, however, continuing
to play upon the smoking ruins for a considerable
time. The houses numbered respectively. 1,2, 3,4,
and 5 are completely destroyed, in addition to a por-
tion of the back part of No. 6. Mr. Hoare, the tobac-
conist, states that he was roused from sleep about
three o'clock by the cry of "Fire!" and, in company
with his servant, at once made his escape, without,
however, having time to save any of his books or
papers, and, in fact, losing everything. It is under-
stood that Mr. Hoare's stock was insured. Great
excitement was manifested in the immediate neigh-
bourhood in consequence of the imminent peril in
which Messrs. Harmer's distillery was for some time
placed, and of the danger to the other adjacent
warehouses arising therefrom.
Had the efforts of the firemen been unsuccessful
in saving the distillery, the warehouse of Messrs;
Sale, Pollard, and Co., situated immediately oppo-
site, containing an enormous stock of materials and
valuable machinery, would have been in a very
dangerous position.
It is difficult at present to form an accurate esti-
mate of the value of the property destroyed, but
the loss will no doubt be very serious ; the greater
portion, however, is covered by insurance.

UIVTRY MARICBTB.

NORTHAMPTON-APRIL 21.

At this corn-market wheat was ix fair supply, and witk •
tolerable sale, at fully over the rates of this day sex-
night, prices ranging from 50s to 54s for white, and 48s ti
52s for red. There was a good business passing in barleft
malting 38s to 445, grinding 36s to 40s per qr. Oats is
fair sale, the turn in seller's favour, quoted at 30. to 35s
per 24 stone. Beans, old, 42s to 52s ; peas, 38e to 446.
Rye, 36s to 40s ; malt, 68s to 72s ; flour, 33s to 375 Per
sack.

NORWICH—APRIL 21.
At our market to-day there was a limited supply of wheat,
and the demand being brisk, prices were well mintained.
There was only a small supply of barley, and little doing,
but late rates wore obtained.
White wheat. 46s to 49s I Red wheat 40s to 451
Malting barley.... 42s to 46s I Chevalier barley 34s to 40s
Distilling do.. ....2os to 27s I Oats.. 24s to 285
Flour, 29s 6d to 32s per sack from the miller.