The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-29 00:00:00

MONDAY EVENING; MARCH 29, 1858

MARK Ki W —Rim Day,)

LAW IZITELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

CITY SHERIFFS' COURT.
(B,fore Mr. Prendergant, Q C )

THE DOCTOR'S BILL-.-A NEW INVENTION-DOUGLASS ♦,

EnfITEL

Mr. Buchanan appeased f r the defendant.
Plaintiff is a surgeon, and sought to recover the ruin
of 2/. 2s. for medical attendance upon a little boy,
nephew of defendant. From the evidenceof the plaintiff
it appeared that the sufferer was stopping at defendant's
house, and having met with an injury there, viz., a
fracture of the arm, was taken to the child's father's
chambers. At that place the plaintiff saw the child and
placed its arm in gutty percha splints.
Mr. Buchanan—Plaintiff must prove employment on
the part of defendant, who is only uncle to the child.

His Honour—The work was well and properly done,
I suppose?

Mr. Buchanan—Oh 1 yee. The child was well cured

Plaintiff—l saw the child four times. One of the small
bones of the arm was broken. As the accident was re-
ceived at defendant's house I thought_l could charge
him.

His Honour—The work has been done, and plaintiff
ought to be paid.

Defendant's sister said she went to plaintiff's with the
child, and that plaintiff said to the father of the child,
who was present, "If it were any one but you, Bill, I
should make a job of this."
His Honour—lt seems a strange thing. Why didn't
you raiee a subscription amongst yourselves, and pay
the defendant ; it is admitted that he did the work, and
did it well.

Mr. Buchanan proposed to call defendant, but
His Honour said he was afraid plaintiff must be non
suited, though it was very strange that in a family mat
ter plaintiff could not get his money.
Mr. Buchanan—l have now to ask for costs.
His Honour— Certainly not.

Mr. Buchanan—l am not disappointed.
Plaintiff said though gutta percha was very flexible,
yet a great deal was used for splints, and found to an-
swer every purpose.

Hereford
Ipswich 1
Pontefract
Odihain
Newmarket July 6
Worcester Summer 8
AUG.
Ripon...
Belford
North Staffordshire 3
Brighton
Brighton Club
Lewes
Wolverhampton
Reading ll

SEPTE:
Derby
Cardiff .
Warwick
Doncaster 14
Leicester

OCTI

Chester Autumn 5
Richmond 7
Wrexham 7
Newmarket S 0 ll
NONE:

•Worcester Autumn
Liverpool Autumn

Liverpool
Nottingham 2O
Stamford
Marlborough 03
Goodwood 27

..14

UST.
York 18
Radcliffe 93
Egharn
Hereford O6
Stockton 26
I Lichfield 3O
Greet Yarmouth 3l

MBER.
Monmouth . 93
MancheaterAutumn 24
Newmarket F 0 28
Wals4ll 99
Northallerton 3O

BER.
Royal. Caledonian Hunt
and Kelso 19
Newmarket H 25

IBER.
Shrewsbury Autumn ...16

Irish Racing Fixtures for 1858.

APRIL.

llowth and Baldoyl• I Curragh o 0
Spring

DREADFUL FIRE--FIFTELY T.

The most fatal fire that has occurred for many
years past el tee metropolis took piece yes' erday
morning, which, we regret to staee, was attend -d
ci h the sacrifice of net less than 15 hntnan beings.
The scene of his ealetni!y is Giliert-street,
Bloomsbury, a narrow thoroughfare running nut of
Museum-street into Bury-street, where the houses
in Great Russell-street, opposite the British Mu-
seum, flank the house on the northern extremity.
It appears that in the middle of Gilbert-street,
on the north-east side, stood a house containing
not more than eight upper rooms, while the ground
floor was occupied by a carpenter and builder,
named Taylor, there being no basement floor to
the place. The second-floor was occupied by a man
and his wife, named Eastwood, and three children;
the back part of the same floor being in the tenure
of a Mr. Smith, his wife and seven children ; and
the premises of Mr. Sawbery, a mineral collector in
Great Russell-street, had a passage which touched
upon the burning property, the only sepatation be-
tween the two buildings being a wooden partition,
which was found inadequate to resist the fury of
the flames.
The discovery was made by police-constable Sul-
livan, 34 E, by seeing smoke issuing apparently
from the back part of the ground-floor of one of
the houses. After the lapse of a few minutes the
constable found out the exact locality of the fire,
and without a moment's delay he sounded an alarm,
knocked violently at the street door, and after
springing his rattle succeeded in making some of
the inmates aware of their danger, but not until
the fire had gained possession of the whole of the
lower part of the house, and, rushing up the stair-
case, soon cut off all means of egress by the regular
way. The affrighted occupants—or as many as were
awakened—made an attempt to descend by the
stairs, but the moment they reached the landing
they were met by such huge volumes of sparks and
hot smoke that they- were compelled to return
again to their respective rooms. The man
Eastwood, and his wife and three children
shortly afterwards made their appearance at the
second-floor window, screaming piteously for help.
Sullivan, the policeman, and another officer, at
the risk of losing their own lives, did all that was
possible to rescue this family, and fortunately they
were successful ; but in an adjoining room on the
same floor, were Mr. Smith, his wife, and seven
children, and to get to these persons was found im-
possible. Another man and his son, named
Hedger, also lived is some portion of the building,
who have likewise perished.
Almost facing the burning property was a newly
erected house, and there being a ladder against the
scaffolding it was carried to the spot, and every
endeavour was made to get the inmates out pend-
ing the arrival of the Royal Society's fire escape,
which was stationed at Bloomsbury Church. Un-
fortunately, all the police and others were unable to
make the remainder of the occupants aware how
they could reach the ladder, and a young man, a
son of Mr. Smith, finding the fire spreading so
fearfully, as a last resource jumped out of window,
and falling upon a policeman, was so frightfully
injured that he was removed to the hospital, where
he shortly afterwards expired. His father and mo-
ther and children being overcome by the heated
smoke were unable to get to the window, and they
fell beneath the action of the flames and perished.
Conductor Christian at last arrived with the fire es-

cape, but unfortunately when he got to the end of
the street he was unable to take his machine for some
few minutes to the place, owing to some barriers
that crossed the road to shore up the houses on
either side. After lowering his machine he was at
length enabliicl to pass it under the struts and hav-
ing placed it against the Bloomsbury Dispensary,
next door, he got upon the roof, thinking there
were windows at the back of the burning house
from which he might be able to rescue those who
were known to be in the place. The flames at that
period were rushing out of the first and second floor
front windows. Unfortunately, it proved that there
was not one window at the back of the house, con-
squently the conductor was unable to enter from
that part, and the flames rushing out furiously
from the front windows also prevented him from
rendering any assistance in that quarter.
Information of the outbreak having been sent to
the engine stations with as little delay as possible,
numerous engines of the London Brigade, ut der
the direction of Mr. Colf, the foreman of the B
district, and Engineers Wilkinson, Flemming,
Giraud, and other officers, as well as the West of
England firemen and engine, arrived. An abun-
dant supply of the New River Company's water
was procured, with which the engines were imme-
diately set to work, but before the men had time to

tbrow-a drop of water upon the fire it had extended
across the row!, and was attacking the front of the
manufactory belonging to the Messrs. Harding,
the fringe makers, and strong apprehensions existed
for the safety of the Bloomsbury DispensAry and
the houses in Great Rusioll-street. The moment

the hose of the different engines could be clia7gTd
with water the firemen, under the direction of their
superior officers, exerted themselves in a moat in-
trepid manner, and by conveying the lea-
thern piping round the adjoining housts and
into the one on fire they were enabled to cut off
the further extension of the flames in the direction
of the dispensary, the piano-forte factory, and the
fringe warehouses, but it had already seized upon
the back part of the premises belonging to Mr.
Sawbery, the mineral dealer, in Great Russell-
street. The whole of the firemen then tried all
they could to save this last mentioned property,
but at first there seemed not the least chance, for
the flames were rushing out of every window (Attie
houee in which they commenced, and were rising
high into the air ; the inhabitants on either side of
the blazing property were removing their goods.
Fortunately the firemen, by great perseverance,
managed to get the fire extinguished in Mr. Saw-
bery's premises, but not till the owner had sus-

tained serious damage, not only to his house, but
to the valuable contents. The firemen having
acl ieved this point next directed all the force of
water at their command upon the premises iu which
the misfortune commenced, and while so employed
the roof suddenly fell in, and forced the two floors
down, as well as the front wall. By keeping to their
posts the firemen eventually succeeded in getting the
tire entirely subdued, and as soon as the ruins wer e
sufficiently cooled for any one with safety to enter
they commenced removing the fragments to search
for the unfortunate persons missing. This task de-
volved upon Wilkinson and Flemming, of the Bri-
gade, and Wing and Hemmings, of the West of
England office. After digging for some time the
firemen found in the ruins the body of a man ter-
ribly burnt ; and after proceeding further with
their search they found the bodies of two women,
and after that the bodies of two male children.
These were at once placed in shells and removed to
St. Giles's workhouse. Two lads were next dug
out of the ruins, also dead, who from the position
they were found in are supposed to have fallen from
the upper floor when the roof fell in. These re-
mains were likewise taken to the workhouse. Upon
further search a woman and two children were

found, they having to all appearance been suffo-
cated before the fire seized their bodies. The total

number, therefore, found burnt in the ruins is 14,
and the man who jumped out of the window and
has since perished makes the number 15.

To give the names and ages of the deceased per-
sons would be at present impossible, but the fol-
lowing are known to have perished :—Mr. Hedger
and son, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and seven children.

Mr. Smith, it is stated, had nine children, but is
hoped that two were sleeping from home. Out of
20 persons who I,,dged in the house only 5 escaped,
namely, Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood and their three
children.

As to the origin of the calamity not the least re-
liable information can be obtained. It seems, from
the inspection since made of the ruins. that there
was a dustbin at the further end of the shop, and it
is not improbable that some heated cinders might

ol,;a,ni, n nlimne of theruins,was robbed
of a vile
which was dexterously
wienehed hot') his guard, and with which the
thief got clear off.
The build t•g where the fire took place and the
dre dful loss of life we have to chronicle occurred,
appews t hive kern of a very dilapidatAl charac-
from the appe r:nce of the party
tt r. Judgi ~
' i walls, tne bearings of the beams and rafters were of
the most meagre character. Looking at them from
the street and at a distance, the wonder is that the'
floors Er) long sustained the living weight that
nightly accumulated upon them, and that they
had not given way and killed as many if not
more than have been deprived of life by this great
c 'lamity.
The area within which this frightful destrnotion
of human life occurred is another exemplification
of the manner which stern necessity compels the
huddling together of human beings in the metro-
polis. In a close confined spot of about 20 feet by
36 feet stood a house inhabited by about twenty-
one persons Lthe first and second floors being
divided into eight rooms, which must have been of
the most close and unhealthylcharacter possible, for
in the house abutting on the back of Mr. Saw brey's
house in Great Russell-street the'occupants had no
means of obtaining air except through the windows
of the front, and no light for the back rooms except
from a skylight, with a borrowed light over the
doors. It was to this circumstance. that in a great
measure is to be attributed the great loss of life,
the wretched creatures having no means of escape
from the fire but from the front of the house.
The appearance of the ruins was of the most
heart-rending description, even without the con-
nection of the lamentable and frightful loss of life
with which it is associated. The floors and roof
are entirely down—not even the vestige of arafter,
beam, or j .ist remains to give any idea of strength,
or indentation in the walls to show that provision
had been made for such useful arid necessary
articles in the construction of a house to be in-
habited by human brings. • Amongst the ruins are mixed articles of furni-
ture of the plainest character, denoting too clearly
the class of the occupants. Bedsteads, pans, kettles,
bottles, crockery, books, wearing apparel, bedding,
loam of bread, and articles of that kind are strewed
about in the utmost confusion, whilst the walls dis-
play the rapidity of theitainaes'-mid Th-eseddeniiian-
ner in which they Borst upon them., • Tn the stoviit
are the remains of the previous night's family fire,
and on the hob of one of them stande a tea kettle.
The chimney-pieces / retain their ornaments,
blackened with the devouring element, whilst over
another is to be seen the remains of a looking-glass.
In the further corner of the top room hangs two
bird cages divested of their occupants or who pro-
bably shared the same fate as the unhappy owners,
and on the shelves are to be seen numerous
culinary and domestic Petioles with, in one
or two cases, loaves of bread intermixed, and burnt
to a cinder.

The family of the Eastwoods, as soon as they
were extricated from the ruins, were kindly con-
veyed by Mr.:Fowler, master of St. Giles's work-
house, to that establi-hment, where they were re-
ceived and treated with every kindness. A ward
is specially devoted to them, and everything is be-
ing done to mitigate, as much as possible, their
sufferings. This family consists of the following
persons—John Eastwood, the father, aged 50 ;
Elizabeth, the wife, 32 ; Mary Ann, 12 ; Elizabeth,
10 ; Maria Anne, 14 ; and Thomas, 3 years of age.
The unfortunate persons who met their death,
and were taken out of the ruins principally by
Wilkinson of the fire brigade, who exerted himself
to the utmost, both to prevent the loss of life,' and
afterwards to recover the bodies from the ruins, for
which he is deserving of the highest praise, were
removed to the dead house of St. Giles's work-
house, where they have since been identified. They
are Richard Smith, aged 52, Harriett, his wife, 51,
and the following children—Alfred, 14 ; Henry,
17 ; William, 12 ; Harriett, 16 ; Teresa, 7 ; George,
11 ; and twins, Maria and Albert, 3 years of age.
The mother, and Harriett, her daughter, are dread-
fully burnt, and the whole present a sad, sickening,
and harrowing spectacle. Most of tha bodies are
placed in shells, but those who are aot present
much of the appearance and position they were in
when death put an end to their existence,
especially the three youngest children (includ-
ing the twins) who appeared to have
died from suffocation, and without a struggle, their
arms being over their heads as it in sleep. The
other persons at the dead-house are James Hedger,
53, Mrs. Hedger, his wife, 50, William. Henry,
their son, and a young man, supposed to have been
in the employ of a butcher in Drury-lane, but
whose remains have not yet been identified.
The young man who jumped out of the window
was Richard Smith, 19 years of age, son of Richard
Smith, mentioned above. After jumping out of the
window he was taken to University Hoqpital, where
he died about three hours after his admission. His
body presents a shocking mutilated appearance. In
adduicii to being much burnt, his legs are broken,
and collar bone and head fractured.
The inquest will be held at the Fox, Doke-street,
but the day and hour bas not yet bean fixed. It
iv expected it will be opened by Afr. Wakley to-
morrow morning, to enable the bodies to be in-
terred, and afterwards the proceedings will, it is
believed, be adjourned, in order to get up the evi-
dence necessary for a searching investigation both
as to the origin of the fire and the nature and cha-
racter of the building. •