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

The Fatal Fire in Hoxton.

INQUEST ON THE SHOPMAN—(THIS DAY).
This forenoon Mr. Wm. Payne, the coroner for the city
of London and borough of Southwark, opened an inquest
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, Hoxton. 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, Pitfield-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. He 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 shopextends 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 books 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 wore gas lights in the
shop, and alsoin the first floor.
In answer to further questions by the coroner, Mr. Fugle
added that ho 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, como up,"
and he tried to reach her, but the heat was so groat 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 3U 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 he lived in the adjoin-
ing house to the one burnt. About 3 o'clock on Sunday
morning 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 Mr.
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 afe w 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.

MARK-LANE.

Fresh up to our markets to-day 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.

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.
Fair average supplies of meat are on sale at these mar-
kets, the trade for which is steady, at our quotations:—

Per 81b by the carcase.
d e d
Inferior beef 3 6 3 10
?diddling do. 4 0 4 4
Prime large do 4 6 4
Prime small do 4 10 5 o
Veal 4 0 5 2
Lamb. Is 8

ed e d
Inferior mutton 3 8 4 4
Middling mutton 4 6 5 2
Prime do 5 4 5 8
Large pork 4 0 4 6
Small pork. 4 8 5 0
id to is
.od.

BOROUGH HOP.

The accounts from the plantations continue satisfactory.
Fine parcels are firm in price, but the demand for inferior
qualities is heavy, at barely late rates.

COLONIAL.

TEA.—The public sales of China were continued yester-
day, and prices generally were well maintained ; 6,676
packages were offered, of which 6,143 were sold, all being
without roserve.

SUGAR.—Only a moderate amount of business has been
done, and quotations remain without change of importance.
Refined goods continue very scarce, and common lumps are
quoted 455. per cwt.
COFFEE.—Tho market has continued moderately activa,
both Plantation and Native Ceylon having sold readily at
tull rates.

RlCE.—There has been a very limited inquiry, and no
material change can be reported in values.

TALLOW.—The market a dull. P.YC. on the spot is
quoted 445, and for last three months' delivery 46s to 46 3d
per cwt.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

BIRMINGHAM-THURSDAY.

At this day's market there was a short supply of English
wheat, which sold slowly, at a reduction of is to 2s per
qr. Barley maintained its value. For oats there was a
fair retail sale. Beans firm. Peas rather cheaper. The
millers have lately reduced the retail price of flour 3s 4d
per sack.

BURY ST. EDMUND'S—WEDNESDAY.
There was only a moderate show of wheat here to-day ;
trade was not brisk, and a decline of fully 2s per qr. had
to be submitted to. There was scarcely any business doing
in any other kind of grain.
White wheat, 56s to 625; old red, 49s to 51s; new red.
41s to 4Ss ; grinding barley, 35s to 38s; Page's prolific bar-
ley, 39s to 40s per qr.
Averages :—Wheat, 540 quarters, at 50s Od ; barley, 191
qrs., at 37s Od ; oats, qrs, at Os Od.