The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-04 00:00:00

TOTAL DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF

DUXBUBY HALL.

About two o'clock on Wednesday morning, Dux-
bury Hall, situate about one mile and a half from
Chorley, and the seat of Mr. Wm. Standish Stand-
ish, was discovered to be on fire. The flames ori-
ginated in the butler's pantry, and the circumstance
which led to their discovery is a very remarkable
one. It seems that on Tuesday night, when the
family retired to rest, the butler left a moderately-
sized-fire in his apartment, before which he placed
some wet Clothes to dry. Nothing transpired until
2 o'clock, when Mr. Standish, jun., whose bedroom
was situate over the pantry, was awoke by the bark of
a little favourite dog, which usually remained in his
room during the night. The noise occasioned by
the breaking. of the glass in some windows below
at first led him to the conclusion that robbers
is bed t
hado
effected an entrance, but on rising from
procure his pistols, he found the floor so much
heated that he almost burned himself, and he then
ascertained that the apartment below was in flames.
He instantly alarmed the whole house, but the
flames spread with such fearful rapidity that various
alternatives had to be resorted to before all the
inmates
ctoouli‘airb.e
rescued.A
M'Naughton of powerfulßirkaeonrgo ine,
be-
longing
print-
works, with about 20 workmen, reached the scene
of conflagration, and it being placed on the banks
of a large lake which fortunately adjoins the hall,
a good supply of water was obtained, and it was
worked throughout the morning with evident suc-
cess. About six o'clock a second engine of four-
horse power, arrived in charge of 24 men, from Mr.
Ridgway's printworks at Horwioh, about four miles
distant; and this was attached to a plug in front of
the hall, and was worked very vigorously. A small
engine belonging to the hall was next put into
operation. In a remarkably short space of time the
greatest portion of the furniture, including paint-
ings, books, plate, &e., were conveyed to the yard
and outbuildings, though they were somewhat seri-
ously injured in the removal. Notwithstanding
the exertions used, the magnificent and elegant
structure is now but a smouldering mass. The
south front of the hall is left entire, excepting seine
damage which was done by the water to the walls
and ceilings. The library and picture rooms have
also sustained no material injury ; but there can be
no doubt that at least two-thirds of the building is
destroyed. There is scarcely the fragment of a
window left. The roof has also fallen in, and the
whole of the splendidly-carved woodwork is reduced
to mere embers. During the day numerous bodies of
labourers from the surrounding neighbourhood for
l
many miles were sent for, and on their arrival
they were kept busily employed, either at the Nean-
gines or in the interior of the building
four o'clock in the afternoon one of thea
and two of the labourers sustained injury, one of
whom, named John Yates, a blacksmith, had his
head seriously cut. No estimate has as yet been
formed of the amount of damage done. The mass
continued
tosmouldei•ing during the whole of Wed-
nesday, rendering the attendance of the engines
preventnecessary any further outbreak.—Mon-
chester Guardian.

THE MAIL SERVICE.—SOUTHAMPTON, Wednes-
day.---The steamship La Plata, Capt. Weller, left this day
with the usual West India mails, 93 passengers, among
whom were Mr. A. Kerr, Chief Justice of Dominica, Lieut.
Stewart, &c., £76o.in specie, and jewellery of the value of
£15,500. Te steamship Ellora left this day for Marseilles,
to take the place of the Euxine.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT
GARDEN, under the sole Management of Miss Louisa
l'yne and Mr. W. Harrison
THIS EVENING will be presented an entirely nev; and
romantic Opera, by Mr. W. Ralfe, entitled SAT :.LNELLA ;
or, THE POWER OF LOVE.
Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon.
To conclude with the new Pantomime of LITTLE RED
RIDING HOOD ; or, Harlequin and the Wolf in Granny's
Clothing.