The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-01 00:00:00

MONTHLY MILITARY OBITUARY-.

General. —Sir Thos. Hawker, K. C. H., Colonel
6th Dragoon Guards.
Major-General.—D. Baby, unattached.
Lieutenant-Colonel.—Hon. A. Hope, C. 8.,
93d Foot, killed in action.
Major.—W. T. St. Clair, late 9th Foot.
Captains.—A. J. Le Grand, 35th Foot, killed in
action ; L. H. Bedford, 37th Foot, ditto ; A.
Nixon, 89th Foot ; E. Bazalgette, 95th Foot,
killed by the explosion of one of the enemy's ma-
gazines • E. E. R. Dyneley, Royal Artillery ; E.
Coxwell, half-pay ditto ; T. Dewell, ditto ; H.
Forster, ditto ; J. T. Fuller, ditto ; Richard
Heaviside, unattached.
Lieutenants.—J. Little, 20th .Foot •, N. T.
Crane, 32d Foot • J. W. B. O'L)ghlin, 34th Foot ;
W. G. Massey, 35th Foot ; E. %Volley, 51st Foot ;
S. H. Swailield, 51st Foot - F. J. S. Brockhurst,
53d Foot ; W. H. L. Carleton, 90th Foot ; A. R.
Robinson, Royal Artillery ; W. Harris, retired
full pay, Bth Veteran Battalion ; R. D. Franklin,
half-pay, 26th Foot ; B. Slattery, half-pay, 27th
Foot ; G. Roch, half-pay, 96th Foot ; C. R. Bal•
dock, half-pay, Royal Artillery.
Second Lieutenant.—Richard Sargent, half-pay,
Royal Marines.
Ensign.—F. W. Markby, 18th Foot, drowned.
Paymaster.—G. H. Eddy, 81th Foot.
Quartermaster.—lsaac Bagshaw, half-pay, 81th
Foot.

Surgeon..—Thomas Stack, M.D., 86th Foot
S. Smith, Staff. _ _ _

Assistaut-Surgeons.—W. H. Phippl, Coldstream
Guards ; T. Harvey, 6th Foot ; W. G. Clarke,
35th Foot.

Purveyor.-11. A. Acheson.

THE GREAT FIRE AT THE LONDON
DOCK.-LOSS OF NICA.ELY 300,0001.

The destructive fire which destroyed•several of the
divisions of the south (stack) warehouses of the London
Dock, on Tuesday afternoon, turns out to be more dis-
astrous, in respect of the amount of property destroyed,
than was at first anticipated, and exceeds any loss that
has taken place in London of recent years. It was past
midnight before there could be any cessation of the
working of the engines, and even at that time the dense
smoke which arose from the ruins indicated the existence
of a large body of fire beneath. The floating engines and
those of the Dock Company never relaxed playinc, ; they
continued yesterday throwing vast columns of water
into the gutted warehouses, but some days must neces-
sarily elapse before the fire can be wholly extinguished.
The great explosion of saltpetre which completed the
destruction of the centre division of warehouses, appears
to have been felt over the whole of the eastern portion
of the metropolis. Nothing like it has been experienced
in London si❑ce the formation of the Fire Brigade, and
considering the quantity of saltpetre (one report states
2,000 bags) stowed in piles on the first floor, which blew
up, it is truly wonderful that a catastrophe similar in its
melancholy results to that which took place at Gates-
head, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a few years ago did not
occur. Long before it happened the firemen were direct-

rig their branches both from back and front into) this
divisional warehouse, while a number of men were on
the roof of the adjoining warehouses. Happily a few
minor explosions had induced the firemen to shift their
position just clear of the building, and to that circum-
stance may be attributed the preservation of their hies,
for when the great explosion came, so terrific was it,
that every particle of the walls instantly came down.
Mr. Braidwood was standing within a few yards of the
building at the moment, and he states that nothing ap-
proaching it ever came under his observatien. He took
particular notice of the walls of the whole range, and
there was a visible vibration of the entire struc-
ture, and for a moment he was apprehensive that
the whole stack was coming down. The men who were
ee oe'j-;eire vnof, elzo describe that they felt the
wareeoueee Yel C a c hese eee ‘ed L., a, the-,
were on the eve of being uplifted. Several were exposed
to the full force of the explosion ; they were thrown down
on their faces burnt, and for a time were in most painful
suspense, imagining every moment that they would be
hurled into the air, conscious as they were of stores of
saltpetre being in the other warehouses. Great as the
panic was on the quays, it was equally more so among
the fleet of shipping in the docks. The rigging and
yards of almost every vessel were crowded with sailors
and cohere, attentively watching the progress of the con-
flagration, and even some of the decks were thronged.
Simultaneous with the explosion, a sheet of flames, with
lightning rapidity, swept over to the basin, followed by
a shower of brickbats, tiles, and burning fragments, and
falling on the vessels nearest the south quay. The con-
sternation of those aloft was something indescribable ;
there was a general shriek and scramble to get down,
and some were cut by the missiles which were falling
around, while others fell overboard, but were imme-
diately rescued. The rigging and sails of some of the
j ships were fired by the burning fragments which were
thrown on then, but, being timely discovered, very little
damage ensued. The surveyors who visited the ruins
yesterday, all expressed their surprise at the ts r 11 con-
sequences of the explosion. When it is stated teat the
walls were of solid brickwork, three feet thick, strongly
welded together with iron bolts and ties, and that they
were blown down into fragments, some idea may be
formed of the fearful character of the concussion.
The origin of the fire re,nains unascertaiaed. The
Beard of Directors instituted an inquiry yesterday with
a view of eliciting the whole of the circumstances
attending the outbreak, but they have not yet concluded
the investigation. There are many facts connected
with the fire which appear unaccountable. As reported
in this journal of yesterday, the fire is traced to have
commenced in what was known as 36 warehouse floor,
the uppermost story in the centre division. This was
open to the roof, and lighted by skylights. It was a
large area, 120 feet by 50 feet, and contained principally
jute, coire, and hemp, all in bales, and stacked in three
tiers along the whole breadth of the floor. It had been
open from eight o'clock in the morning, and probably
scores of men might have passed through it during the
day. The men who were on the floor an hour or so be-
fore the outbreak have been examined, and from their
statement it would appear that there was not the least
indication of combustion going on. When the fire was
discovered at 10 minutes to 12, the flames were sweep-
ing right roiled the piles ranged along the floor, and
raking into account that the goods were all in com-
pressed bales, piled one above the other in solid tiers,
and not so liable to ignite as if in a loose state, it does
seem somewhat straege that the fire should have at-
tained such an ascendancy in so short a time. Mr. Pace,
the assistant superintendent, was in the vicinity of the
warehouse at the time. He succeeded in getting up into
the floor, and found it in flames from one end to the
other. It is stated that jute has loeg been looked upon
with some anxiety as to its liability to combustion ;
and without expre2sing any opinion, it does appeer
remarkable, that in the cave of the fires at St.
Katharine's Dock, and that more recently at Fresh
Wharf, jute formed a large proportion cf the goods in
the floors were those fires commenced. Also with the
burning of the James Baines, clipper ship, at Liverpool
Dock, it was amonst the jute, it was alleged, in the
lower hold that the fire originated.
The extension of the fire from onedivieion te the other
has been clearly ascertained to have resulted from the
party wall not having been carried up sufficiently high to
protect one warehouse from the other in the event of fire.
The moment the flames had penetrated the roof of 36,
the intense heat quickly demolished the slates, and in a
very short time the adjoining diveion, wh re the salt-
petre was stowed, was on fire. To the same cause may
the de-truction of the warehouse on the other side be
attributed, and, if we remember correctly, Alderman
Hum phery's warehouses at London•bridge, a few years
ago, fell a sacrifice to a similar defect in the construc-
tion of the party walls.
It appears to be quite true that the brigade, and even
the company's own firemen, had the greatest difficulty in
getting the engines anywhere near the fire, in conse-
quence of the very crowded state of the roads flanking
the warehouse, and some of the brigade engines were
unable to get to work for nearly hal an hour. Had the
calamity occurred at night, it is difficult to conjecture
what would have been the result of the obstruction and
delay.
The report that the explosion had caused the loss of
many lives, and which was extensively circulated through-
out the East-end, led to the more painful anxiety among
the relatives of the many hundreds of labourers employed
in the docks. For hours the London Hospital was be-
sieged by a large crowd of women and children, making
eager inquiries, and the officials had great difficulty in
persuading the poor creatures that the reports were
erroneous. To add to the suspense the dock gates were
closed, and hundreds of the men were detained till near
midnight in wee-king the engines, &u., before they were
relieved.
The official report made by Mr. Braidwood to the in-
surance offices briefly describes the property destroyed
to be one divisional warehouse and walls blown out, two
warehouse roofs and upper floors destroyed, and the two
adjoining, warehouses damaged by fire and water.
The stack of warehouses are insured in the Sun, Royal
Exchange, Phoenix, and other offices.
Respecting the merchandise that the buildings con-
tained the dock authorities are unable as yet to furnish
any information to whom they belong, but they are now
preparing a list of the property for the information of
the merchants.