The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 27, 1866.

The Fatal Fire in Heaton.

INQUEST ON THE SHOPMAN-(THIS DAY).

This forenoon Mr. Wm. Payne, the coroner for the city
of London and borough of Southwark, opened an impost
on the body cf Thomas Burnett Bales, who perished in
the fire that occurred on Sunday morning last in the pre-
mises of Mr. Fugle, general draper and silk mercer, Brad-
ford House, Pitfield-street, Holton. It will be remembered
that at the fire in question a young woman, who acted as
housemaid, was burnt to death, and that Mr. Humphreys
opened an inquest, but adjourned it for further evidence as
to the cause of the fire. The unfortunate deceased was
one of the shopmen, and was so terribly burnt that it was
found necessary to remove him to the hospital, where he
lingured and died from the mortal effects of the injuries
received. After the jury had been sworn they proceeded
with the coroner to view the body, which presented a
shocking appearance, and upon their return to the inquest
room the following evidence was taken, in addition to that
given before Mr. Humphreys :
Mr. James Fugle, of 28, Bitfield-street, Hoxton, said that
he was a draper, and about three or a quarter to 3 o'clock
the premises took fire. The premises consisted of a dwell-
ing house and shop. He went to bed at half-past one on
Sunday morning. Ho slept in the front room, second floor.
He first knew of the fire by his brother telling him that the
place was on fire. His brother slept on the second floor
back. Six persons in all slept in the house. The deceased
was one of his assistants. The servant girl slept on the
third floor, and she is dead. The shop extends further back
than the house. The fire seemed to him to have com-
menced in the basement. After repeating the evidence he
gave before the coroner, he said that his Woks were all
saved, they having been placed the over night intone of
the patent reliance fire-proof safes. A brick wall divided
the metre from the kitchen. Therr were gas lights in the
shop, and alsoin the first floor.
In answer to further questions by the coroner, Mr. Fugle
added that he called several times to the deceased to get
up, but he said that he could not, and he managed at last
to pull him out. He then called out, " Sarah, come up,''
and he tried to reach her, but the heat was so great that
his hands seem scalded, and the escape having arrived, and
the conductor not being able, on account of the smoke, to
descend, they were obliged to give up the attempt of sav-
ing her as fruitless. There were more than 30 gas jets on
the premises. The fire he believed commenced in the base-
ment, which was considerably burned, but the top of the
house more so, as there was a well staircase that acted as
a funnel to the flames.

By a Juror —He was obliged to increase the insurance on
account of his extra stock. He took stock in February,
when his stock amounted to about £1,600. His returns
were £3,000 per year.
Mr. F. Fugle having repeated the evidence he gave be-
fore the Middlesex coroner, added that he was awoke by
the smoke. He wet and called his brother and the other
inmates. The deceased then went back to his room,
opened the windows, and called for help, and the draught
sent the smoke to the trap door on the roof. He had
thrown some things on hurriedly before he got to the trap
door. They took their meals in the first floor.
Mr. Blackwall, surgeon, said that ho lived in the adjoin-
ing house to the ono burnt. About 3 o'clock on Sunday
mousing he was aroused and saw smoke coming from the
windows in front of the house. He got his family together,
and he found some of the inmates of the burning house on
the roof of his dwelling, and another on the roof of Ix.
Moon's. He attended upon deceased, and had him removed
to the hospital. At the former inquiry he had said that
Mr. Fugle was perfectly dressed and had his boots on,
which was wrong, as he had merely put on his trousers
and coat, and was barefooted, and he lent him a pair of
stockings. There were only a few buttons on his trousers
fastened.

Police-constable 251 N gave the same evidence as he
did before Mr. Humphreys.
Police-sergeant Burrow said that he was present at the
fire, and he brought the deceased to the hospital. He first
saw the fire coming from the top floor, but he saw none in
the basement.

The inquest was shortly afterwards adjourned to obtain
additional evidence.

MARKE TS. --This Day.

- .4. -

MARK-LANE.

Fresh up to our markets to7day the arrivals of home-
grown wheat wore but moderate. The trade for all quali-
ties was very slow, at fully the late decline in prices.
The market was well supplied with foreign wheat. In
all descriptions the trade was quiet in the extreme, at
drooping prices.
Floating cargoes of grain moved off slowly, at barely
late rates.

The supply of barley on sale was moderate. In all
descriptions sales progressed slowly, on rather easier terms.
Malt was in slow request, at late rates.
Oats were in good supply, and the trade ruled heavy, at
a decline in prices of 6d to is per quarter.
Beans and peas were very dull, on easier terms.
Flour sold slowly, at drooping currencies.
SHIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 380 960 840
Irish
Foreign 23,550 1,960 7,542 2,360 sks.
bls.