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

THE GREAT FIRE AT THE LONDON

DOCK.-LOSS OF N&ARLY 300,000/.

The destructive fire which destroyed several of the
divisions of the south (stack) warehouses of the London
Duck, on Tuesday afternoon, turns out to be more die-
astroue, 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 playing ; they
contieued yesterday throwing vast columns of water
into the gutted warehonses, 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 educe the f nmation of the Fire Brigade, and •
consPeriog the quantity of saltpetre (one report states
2,000 bags) stowed in piles on the fiat fleet, which blew
up, it ix truly wonderful that a catastrophe similar in its
melancholy results to that which took place at Gates-
head, and Newca,,tle.epon-Tyne, a few years ago did not
occur. Long before it happened the firemen were direct-
4ng their brat chee both from back and front int t this
wareholee, while a number of men were on
the rof of the adjoining warehouses. ilappily a few
minor expiosions t:,,1 induced the firemen to shift their
poeit.on jii.t clear of the building, and to that circum-
stance may be attributed the preservation of their lives,
for when the great expkoion 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 observation. 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
on the adjoining roofs also describe that they felt the
warehouses vibrate from one end to the other, as they
were ou 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 el 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 tabors, attentively watching the progress of the con-
Ragration, 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 brickbat*, tiles, and burning fragments, an 4,
falling on the vessels nearest the south quay. The con-
sternation of these aloft was something indescribable ;
there was a general shriek and scramble to get down,
and seine were cut by the missiles which were falling
around, while others fell overboard. but were itntne-
diately rescued. The rigging and sails of some of the
ships were fired by the burning fragments which were
thrown on them, but, being timely discovered, very little
damage ensued. Tile surveyors who visited th'- ruins
yesterdayeall expressed their surprise at the to con-
sequences of the explosion. When it is stated that 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 remains una.certained. The
Board 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
cow rneeced 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 firo was
discovered at 10 minutes to 12, the flames were sweep-
ing right round the piles ranged along the fl nor, and
taking 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 strange that the fire should have at-
tained such an ascendancy in so short a time. Mr. Pee°,
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 lames from one end to the
other. It is stated that jute has long been looked upon
with some anxiety as to its liability to combustion ;
and without expressing any opinion, it does appear
remarkable, that in the case of the fires at St.
Katharine's Dock, and that more recently at Fresh
Wharf, jute formed a large proportion of the goods in
the floors were those fires commenced. Also with the
burning of the James Baines, clipper ship, at Liverpool
Dock, it was arnonst the jute, it was alleged, in the
lower hold that the fire originated.
The extension of the fire from onedivisionto the other
has beet; 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 divsion, where the salt-
petre was stowed, was on fire. To the same cause may
the destruction of the warehouse on the other side be
atrributed, and, if we remember correctly, Alderman
liumphery's warehouses at London-bridge, a few years
ago, fell a sacrifice to a similar defect in the construe.
Lion of the party walls.
It appears to be quite true that the brigade, and even
the company's own firemen, bad 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 half 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
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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 moroirante.