The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-19 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AN]) GREAT LOSS

OF LIFE.

A fire, involving a serious amount of property,
and unfortunately the lives of five persons—a mo-
ther and four children—happened at a late hour on
Tuesday night, and was not extinguished until an
advanced hour yesterday.
The scene of this terrible catastrophe was No. 8,
St. Mary's-terrace, Walworth-road; four doors from
Camb.3r well-gate, on the premises belonging to Mr.
G. Rayner, termed the South London Bonnet,
Millinery, Mantle, and Fancy Depot.
From inquiries made by a witness of the out-
break it appears that shortly after the warehouse
had been closed the unfortunate proprietor left the
house to transact some private business in the
neighbourhood, and almost immediately afterwards
a man, who was putting up the shutters in the next
house, had his attention directed to an unusual
glare of light in Mr. Rayner's house. Se. imme-
diately raised an alarm. Assistance arriving some
one injudiciouslybroke open the door, which caused
the fire—which was then confined to one portion
of the warehouse—to spread in every direction
round the place, lighting and seizing the staircase,
rolled up the same, igniting room after room in
rapid succession, and cutting off all escape for Mrs.
Rayner and the four unfortunate children ; the
former having previously succeeded in bringing
down ono of her children and handing it to the ser-
vant, and she then returned, regardless of losing
her own life, to endeavour to save the other four
children.

The scene at this period became of a fearful charac-
ter. The people in the street, knowing that at least
five human beings were in the house, cried most pite-
ously for help ; but unfortunately the .nearest fire
escape belonging to the Royal Society was at the
corner of the London-road, about one mile and a
half distant. The moment the news reached the'
station the conductor started with the fire escape,
and arrived before an engine. He then found the
flames belching forth from several of the windows ;
but being told that persons hail been seen at the
attic-window, he at once pitched his machine be-
tween the burning premise 3 and the adjoining
house, ping to be able to ascend the fire escape
and rescue the persons whose lives were so greatly
endangered. Unfortunately, however, when he
had got half-way up the fire escape the flames
ruched through another window, and fired the es-
cape from the middle to the top ; but if this had
not taken place, the persons must have been burnt
to death, owing to the distance the fire escape had
to come.

The engines of the London Brigade, West of
England and parish, arrived as quickly as possible
when they found an abundant supply of water
flowing from the mains of the district ; the firemen
taking advantage of the same, set their engines to
work, under the able direction of Mr. R. Hender-
son, the district foreman, and Mr. Conuorton, of
the West of England, but it was not extinguished
until the prem;ses were nearly burnt out.
As soon as the ruins were doled, Engineers Flyn
and Holloway discovered the mother and four
children, burnt almost to cinders. The remains
were forthwith removed to the deadhouse, to await
an inquest.
The cause of the fire is unknown.

PORTSHOIITH, Welnesday.—Another stabbing case
has occurred at the Convict Prison, which, wd believe
will consummate another murder. The case will be
brought before a bench of magistrates, on Friday next, I
at the Guildhall.