The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-30 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THIS GREAT FIRE T►V' THE LONDON DQCK'S.
WEEK.

(Prom the Report of the Registrar General.)

The dea,ha in Landon in the week ending Satur-
day, June 26., were 1,092. In the ten yeare 1848-57
the average number of deaths was 984 ;.,but as the
deaths of last week occurred in an increased popp-
lation, the average' sbould be "raised in proportion
to the :inarease, when the comparison will show
tbat the- mortality of last week approiimated very
closely to the calcul:►ted
Di=trrl'ee•i was fa•al last week in 54 cases, which
is double the average for corresponding weeks ; tor
recent increase is evident, the numhers of the two.
previous weeks having been 18 and 31. There were
also 8 deaths from cholera or "choleraic diarrha.'

The actual rate of mortality in London during
the last ten years exceeded 24 (it was exactly 24.46)
in 1,000, which implies 1;275 weekly deaths, or
476 alassve the healthy average.
In the last week 1;092 persons died in London,
or 293 poisons in excess of the healthy average.
That 293 persons died unnatural deaths during the
week is the finding of this great inquest.
What were the causes of these unnatural deaths?
The pimple of London live as well as the people of
the sixty-three districts ; and they now suffer no-
thing from cold. Many drink. spirits to excess.
Too many sleep in the same rooms ; and, as in our
barracks, this destroys large numbers. wding
in ball-rooms, in theatres, in churches ind
to hear popular preachers, where no adequate ven-
tilation is carried On, propagates zymotie diseases.
Impure water is the cause of several deaths ; but
the companies have of late years supplied water
infinitely superior in quality to the water which
they drew previously from the parts of the Thames
now admitted by everybody, even their retained
chemists, to :he. offeusive.. The. impurity of the
air was unquestio'aab'y the cause of a large number
of the 293 deaths. This impurity is most noxious
in the houses where the people sleep. The cesspools
are still numerous; half a million waterclosets and
sinks discharge large quantities of impure air into
the 353,326 inhabited 'hbuses. This incommodity
is lessened in L'o'ndon by the system of di ains, which
however are badly constructed, and emit their vola-
tile impui ides under the fares of the people. The
drains again pens, their contents into the Thames,
frOm which in its course thiough London in ordi-
nary times more than four million gallons of water
are evapot wed daily, carrying with the vapour, and
diffusing all over the town impurities which are-
breathed by the whale population.
The mort,lity of London has been already re-
duced by the. purification of the water ; cholera
will be less fatal than it has been ; and if the air
the people breath be cleansed the happy results will
soon appear, and the registers will less frequently
record the untimely deaths of husbands, wives,
children, and "youths intombed before their
father's eyee."
..,The deaths of two centenarians were registered
in the week. Three children in a family in Glou-
cester-terrace, B4grave sub-district, died within
three days of typhoid diph"herie, all after six days'
•illness.
Last week the births of 823 boys and 839 girls,
irfall 1,662 childrer, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1848-57
the average number was 1,525.
At the Royal 05Servatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of ;-1-es barometer in the week was 30.91
inehea. The highest reading was 30.21 inches, and
occurred on Wedeesday. The mean temperature
of the, weak was 64 deg. 50 min., which is 4.3 deg.
above, the average of the same week in 43 years (as
determined by Mr. Glaisher). The thermometers
in the sun- .arid the shade attained their highest
points on Tuesday, which were 112 4 deg. and 86
de. respeitively. The lowest temperature was
48-9 deg. on Friday. The mean daily range was
27.2. The differenee between the mean due-point
temperature a:id dr temperature, showing the dry-
ness of the air, was so much 3311.5 deg. The mean
degree of humidity was only 65. The mean tem-
perature of the water of the Thames was 69.7 deg.
The rain meriaured was only o.'s6 inch.
Cistern of bar. 159 fr. above mean level of Reg.
Readings coincident with those of R. S.'e ...„10S
standard bar. Ohs. taken at Wa. A.M. ; noolk• 311.
reetei P.M. !Ifite:memm of retyalings.inct4ls. .1,
8,9, observed at these times, stand as corrEasedliy-
Mr. Glaisher from obs. of 5 yrs. ending Dec.. 31,
1845 (Phil. Trans., Pt. 1, 1848). Front values
thus obtained, Cols. 14 uud 18 are derived. Col.
8 includes results deduced from max. and min.
(self-registering) thermorn. with corrections. Its-qv-t-
-inge, in Cols. 10, 11. 12 13 arr. pl opeosite the
day w''ich ruC:;I.IJ6 tii).6 ou wilieh the thermometers
are read. The numbers in Cole. 15 and 16 are de-
termined by the use of maximum and minimum
thermometers with wettened bulbs. Col. 17 is
determined by Mr. Glaisher from all the theme-
metrical observations made at the Royal Observa-
tory, Greenwich, in the 43 years en ling • 1856.
In Col. 17, + means higher, lower than averaee
Whewell's anemometer (Col. 24) is read at laTh.
A.M. The result is for 24 hours previous, and is
placed opposite the day preceding that on which
the reading is taken.
The temperature of the water of the Thames is
ascertained by the use of self-registering thermo-
meters, suspended from the side of the Dread-
nought Haspiial Ship, at the depth of about 2 fr.
below the surface. The readings of these instru-
ments are registered under.the superintendence 'of
the medical officers of the ship.
The reading of the barometer increased from
29.99 in. at the beginning of the week to 3021 in.
on the 23d at 9h. A.M., with the exception of a
slight check on the 22,1, between the hours of 9b.
A.M. and 3h. P.M., during which interval the read-
ings decreased slightly ; decreased to 30.04iu. by
Oh. A.M. on the 24th ; increased to 30'18 in. by
9h. P.M. on the same day ; remained nearly sta-
tionary for some hours ; and decreased to 29.85
in. by the end of the week.

DESTRUCTION OF THREE WAREHOUSES.

About noon yesterday a terrific fire took place
in the London bock, and.following so closely upaa
the remarkable outbreak at the St. Katherine Dock
and Fresh Wharf, created great consternation
throughout the shipping and mercantile interest of
the mArono}i.S. The fire raged for several hours,
accompanied by tumenclous explosio'ns, and fears
are entertained that there has been some serious
loss of life.

. _
The London Dock,- as probably most of our
readers aro aware,: is one, of the larget4 on the
banks of the ,river. It almost adjoins. St. Kathe-
rine's, and extends through Wapping, Shad well,
to Rateliff4 On the south side of the principal
basin, between the Hermitage and Wapping river
entrances, Stands what are known as the South
,Stack Warehouses, a range of brick buildings, of
considerable length and depth,. five stories high.

_ .
Although termed- one warehouse, it has numerous
divisions, 'each being sepaiated by 3ft. parti-walls,
with a comrnuniiiAtionithrough everyfloor, by door-
ways potected by irrei gates. The whole of them
were crammed with merchandise of various de-

scriptions to the value Of between two and three
millions, and: the property of various brokers and
merchants. -

It was about tenaninutee to twelve when the dis-
cortuy We.; made, Stnit at a time ivlienpro`6ably the
largest amount -of business is done in the dock.
The waerhotze.es -and leepheles were ()pais; and
gangs of labourers were busily empleyed on the
d.ifferent floors, when a cry was raised that the-top
floor of the division-warehouse, between what were
called the 36 and 32 loop-holes, in the centre of
the south stack, was on lire. On looking up some
smoke was seen faintly issuing from the windows;
and a number of labourers ran up :with butkets
of water, conceiving that they would have Vale
difficulty its quenching if. On reaching the foprth
floor, they found to •their astoni4tinent • that
the floor above them was completely in flames,and the fire rapidly descending. Intelligence
of the 'fact instantly spiead through the crocks,
and the dobk police and fire .brigade immediately
repaire I to .the spot 'with their land.and two, float-
ing engines, but some. delay was occasioned by the
crowded state of the quay and roadway between the
warehouse. and biSim and the shipping that Were.
lying alongside the south quay. Seven lengths of
hose and branches were laid on to different fire-
cocks, and the firemen and labdurers; 'of whom
there were a vast number, 'exerted themselves to
their utmost in endeavouring to check the progress
of the conflagration. In the meant me it had gained
most prodi:jously. Descending to the lower floors
(each of which wer&l2o by 51 'feet), and where
were st,:red hundred 4 of tons of jute, hemp, oil,
tallow, rice, sugar in bags, chests, and hogsheads ;
spices, dyes, saltpetre, and many other articles.
Its progress was fierce and terrific, and the heavy
el... Aids of black smoke which rose from all parts,
completely darkened the river and neighbourhood.
Mr. Braidwood, the director of the London Fire
Brigade, reached the dock very promptly with his
powerful force of men and land engines, his chief
officers Fogo, Henderson, and Bridges, accompany-
ing him. On reachine, the scene they experienced
almost :the same difficulty as the dock people iu
approaching the warehouse. The powerful steam
floating engines of the brigade, stationed in the
Thames, now very opportunely arrived. They were
hauled into theAVapping Basin and brought to the
edge of the South Quay, along which the hes,3 was
laid, and by ni ens -of conneettng joints additional
hose were added—some taken-on to the roof of the
adjoining divieiena, others} elute the
.11-)or, while
the main jets
.were directed into the burning
division. Although an immense Mass of water was
being thrown from some 20 branches—those of the
dock and brigade floating engines alone tinowiaw
from 15 to 16 tons per minute—the flames ad!
vanued and spread. By one o'clock the whole, of
the floors of the division were involved in one,
general blaze, each window and loophole emitting
clouds of the densest black smoke. Slight rumbling
explosions within the building were now heard.
As already staled, among tee goods m the build-
ing was saltpetre, said to be in bags, the exact
quantity, however, no onp seemedlo know, or the
exact place where it was towed, That there must
Lave been a iaggii .atocticAvis evident, to bave. pi e-
duced such a ftarful result. _ _

At about 20 ininutcs past ono a very loud ex-
plosion:took place, succeeded by another, if :Inv-
thing, of a heavier character. IL wa., apparent
from the excital staLe or ttie dock workpeople, that
greater explosion was dreaded. A cry was raised,
" Run, it's the saltpetre." The sudden expansion
of a vivid white flime from the division which pre-
ceded the shock confirmed in a measure their fears.
A general movement of all near the quays bad just
c.mimenced, when three tremendous explosions
occurred. The effect was appalling. An immense
sheet of fire shot almost half way across the-- basin,
and the heavy concussion that shook the earth led
to a belief that the whole range of the south stack
was coining down. The centre division was blown
to atoms. The front and back walls,
,of great
thickness, w..re thrown outwards and fell, that at
ihe rear on to some shod stores near the Wapping
basin. Every one was pauic-stricken for the mo-
ment, and the rush to escape was almost beyond
description. Comidering the hundreds of persons
who were assembled on the'south quay and at the
rear, and the desperate struggle to get out of dan-
ger, itlis marvellous that there was not a sad loss
of life. It i 3 asserted that one or more labourems
perished beneath the walls as they were blownoir;_
the truth of which is yet to be 'elicited, for it will
be impossible to make a search for some time. A
number of men were injured by falling bricks, but
none, we are happy to say, seriously. The conster-
nation amongst the shipping ou the explosions
taking place was almost as great as on land. Those
alongside the quay were hauled into the basin, and
we did not hear of any of them sustaining material
damage.

As soon as the excitement consequent on the ex-
plosion had somewhat subsided, and the men were
reassured that no further danger was to be appre-
hended, they resumed working at the engines. It
was thought that the shock might have had some
effect in aiding them in checking the fire, at least
in decreasing it ; it however had a contrary ten-
dency, fer the explosion had &reed in the division
walls, and the goods on the different floors of the
adjoinining warehouses were quickly in flames.
For hours the firemen workee with unflagging
energy, ably directed by their superintendent, Mr.
Braidwoed, Mr. Chandler, the Secretary of the
London Dock Company ; Mr. Randall, the super-
icteudeut ; Mr. Pace, °Apt. Maitland, dockrnaster ;
and Mr. Clements, superintendent of police ; all
being present, and tendering their best advice and
services.
It was not till near six o'clock that the fire could
be said to have been arrested. The brigade had
succeeded in preventing it penetrating to the re-
maining divisions of the warehouses. The fire had
got hold of a fourth division, and the upper floors
and roof were destroyed. but hopes were entertained
that the lower part might be saved. The hotly of
fire that still remained was very great, the smoke
that poured forth from the division on the other
side of the gap leading to an impression that the
flames had reached that portion of the range. Tha',
however, was erroneous.
As regards the extent of the fire, it is far greater
than that which recently took place at St. Kathe-
rine's. We were informed by Mr. Chandler, the
secretery, that three divisions of the warehouses
were destroyed. In addition to that th,-re was
damage to the fourth, and considerable injury by
water to the contents of the floors of the adjoining
division. The company's officers took every precau-
tion to lessen the destruction of property, and
numerous gangs of labourers were employed in re-
moving hundreds of tons of merchandise from the
floors of warehouses near, and which at one period
had every appearance of being destroyed. The ,
total loss must, however, be very great, some
accounts computing it at 150,0001. The warehouses
are covered by several large insurances effected in
almost every fire-office in the kingdom, and the
merchandise lost was protected by floating policies.
The origin of this disastrous outbreak has occa-
sioned considerable curiosity. Many reports are
current. Amongst other surmise a, it is thought
that it might have arisen from labourers smoking,
although this is stlietly forbidden, or from lucifers,
which it is known they carry about them, falling
out of their pockets and igniting through being
trod on. The whole affair, however, will undergo
the strictest investigation by the Board of Directors.
An immense concourse of persons was attracted
to the vicinity of the dock by the fire. The gates,
, however, were prudently closed, and every possible
care taken to protect the goods in the establish-
ment.

-- -
The readcrs of the "Life of Charlotte Bronte" will be
glad to learn that the Rev. P. Bronte ia etill living at
Haworth. The rev. gentleman is in his 82d year, and
preaches once every Sunday. Mr. Nicholls (Charlotte's
husband) resides with him as his curate. The servant,
Martha, who is often mentioned in the work, still lives
II the parsonage, and is a comfort to her aged and vene-
[ rated master.