The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-29 00:00:00

A NEW MODE OF SWINDLING.

A correspondent of the Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette writes :—" I beg to report for ge-
neral information, through your valuable paper,
a novel style for procuring money by a person
who lived at. No. 9, George-street, Minories,
about 10 days ago. He is about five feet
seven inches in height, of slender build, sallow com-
plexion, light hair, moustache and beard, age, I
think, about 36, said he was a Canadian by birth,
and has a wooden ann. He represented himself to
be the nephew of and part-owner with an old gen-
tleman who resides in Liverpool, and under whose
care the said nephew had been brought up ; that
they had bought a vessel and wanted a commander
for her, for which purpose he had an advertisement
put in the Times. The vessel would sail principally
about the West Coast of America, and the induce.
ments were good, as is the case with vessels sailing
out of San Francisco. The barque would in all
probability load guano on their own account ; that
was also a reason for giving such good wages.
But, unfortunately, his uncle had engaged a person
with whom he was dissatisfied, and he could not
get quit of him without paying him £5O. As an
agreement was made between them he had offered
£25, but he would not take it, and his uncle, whom
he would not displease for the world, said that the
arrangements his nephew made would be entirely
on his own responsibility. His proposition was
this, that the party to whom he gave the command
should pay the other part. Now, being out of em-
ployment, and anxious to get a command, I re•
quested to see the vessel, when we both went to the
St. Katharine's Dock, and had a thorough exami-
nation of a vessel there. In the meantime other
applications for the command were made to him,
and eventually I agreed to give him part of the
money on the agreement being drawn out, which
was accomplished on the 12th of this month, but
since that time I have not seen him, nor is it likely
I ever shall again, if he can help it. On the fol-
lowing morning I called at his. hotel, according to
orders, and after waiting some time the greatest
consternation become visible in the countenances of
many besides myself, particularly when we found
that he he had not slept at his lodgings that night.
I then found that he had corresponded with other
commanders at different parts of Great Britain, and
put them to the trouble and expense of coming to
Londcn, which testimony I suppose they will bear
me out in. We gave his description to the Detec-
tive Police-office, and sincerely trust that such a
systematic swindler will be apprehended and
brought before the court. I enclose you a copy of
the agreement between Rowen Hardin and myself."

CALAMITOUS FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE.

At a late hour on Tuesday night a fearful con-
flagration, which was not entirely extinguished
!Intl eight o'clock yesterday morning, took place
in the premises belonging to Mr. W. T. Goodwin, a
picture-frame maker, situate at the rear of the
house numbered 20, John-street, Fitzroy-square.
The engines of the B and C districts, to the
number of seven, were quickly set to work, when,
all of a sudden, owing to the action of the fire upon
the beams in the lower part of the building, the
entire structure fell, burying beneath the blazing
timbers seven or eight of the firemen. The more
fortunate of the brigade, nothing daunted, rushed
into the middle of the burning property, and, by
removing the red-hot wood, they managed to pull
from underneath the beams Paul Jerrard, the engi-
neer; Johnson, the sub•engineer ; and Radford,
Stephen Martin, James Lee, and John Eilbeck, fire-
men. The poor men were all more or less injured
by burns dislocation, or contusions, and Eilbeck,
who was one of the senior firemen, was found
doubled up and quite dead.
The remaindei of the firemen, although exposed
to great danger, still kept to their work, and
eventually:succeededin gettingthe fire extinguished
'the damage done is thus officially reported by
Mr. Braidwood :—No. 20, John-street, Fitzt oy-
square, Mr. W. T. Goodwin, picture-frame maker,
timber and brick workshops of one and two stories
high, 40 feet by 20 feet burned and fallen down at
the back of the dwelling-house—cause of fire un-
known. The contents were uninsured and it is not
known whether the building was insured or not.
No. 21, in the same street, Mr J. Spender, picture-
liner, workshops and contents damaged by fire
water, and removal; insurance unknown. No. 68,
Tottenham-court-road, Messrs. Goddard, ironmon-
gers, contents damaged by fire, water, and removal ;
building and contents insured in the Sun Fire-office.
John Eilbeck, senior fireman, No. 59, killed by the
falling of the building.