The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-25 00:00:00

stairs, and have saved the lives of some of the in-
mites. -JSensation.)

Mr. Thomas, a draper living nearly opposite,
stated that almost immediately after the fire broke
out he, in company with another person, obtained
an entrance into the house, a policeman being at
the door. With great difficulty they ascended to
the drawing-room landing, but it was impossible,
from the denseness of the smoke, to advance'a step
further. They accordingly retreated, and, on get-
ting out again, he told the policeman that it was
impossible for any one to get in that way.
By the Jury—Although a strong, bold, and re-
solute man might have got up, I feel certain he
never would have got down again alive.
By the Coroner—l think the policeman exercised
a proper discretion in refusing any entrance after
that.

Joseph Golwell, the proprietor of the public kit-
chen in the Queen's Bench Prison, stated that he
lived in the rear of the burning premises. His at-
tention was first called by a woman screaming. He
went out to his back yard, when he saw a woman
standing screaming at the window of the stair-case.
She said, " For God's sake come to me, for I am
choking with the smoke ; the place is all on fire."
He called to her to make off to the top of the house
to the trap. She said there was no trap-door when
he said, "Go to the top of the house in the front."
At this time he was getting over the wall, and fell
down. On rising, he found that some one had got
into the yard, and broken open the back door, when
he saw the flames. He immediately rushed into
the passage, and pulled to the parlour door, from
whence the flames came, and called for a clothes-
prop to keep the door to, which was brought, and
he held it to as well as he could. It would not
shut quite close. He then called for some assist-
ance in holding the door to while he mounted the
stairs, but no one came ; and at that ttme he said
he heard a voice in the front of the house say, "For
God's sake let me in ; I will venture up to save
life ;" but the front door was not opened. (Sensa-
tion) He then attempted to go up him-elf, there
being then no smoke, but the moment he let go the
pole the parlour door swung open, and a she it of
flame darted out on the stairs, which caught him,
and burnt his hair, so that he was obliged to jump
over the banisters and escape. This witness swore
positively that he believed that at that time, which
was after the other attempts had been made, he
could have gone up to the top of the house and out
through the attic in safety.
James Wakelin, a police constable, who heard of
the fire, and hurried to the spot, was examined as
to his instructions in case of fire, which he said
were, first of all, to save life, and afterwards pro-
perty. After Mr. Thomas had made the ineffectual
attempt to go up stairs, the witness being convinced
that no one could make another without imminent
danger of sacrificing his own life, kept the door
shut to keep people out, and to stop the draft.
At the satne time the engine was sent for, and also
the turncock, and every possible endeavour was
made to sae life. Ou his oath he did not think
that any one could have ventured up with any
success.

By Mr. Baddeley—There was a card of instruc-
tions approved by the commissioners of police in
the station-house. The instructions were—" It is
very useful, in preventing the spread of fire, to
keep shut the doors and windows of the premises,
after the escape of the inmates, until the water is
ready to be thrown, as nothing c tuxes the fire to
burn so rapidly as the admission of air."
Mr. Baddeley stated that although the fire-
escape had been stationed some years at the Ele-
phant and Castle, the officers there had never re-
ceived a call from the police iu the cane of fire.
The notice was always brought by other persons.
Unfortunately the routine was to send for the en-
gine first, and next for the turncock. (Sensation.)
A great deal of mischief was done by the insurance
companies making an allowance to the policemen
for keeping ph e door.

Mr. Lund said that he could prove that the po-
lice did call at the fire-escape offices in case of fire.
Thomas Simmons, an officer connected with the
fire-escape, stated that in this case a civilian
brought the notice, and P. C. 315 stated that as he
was going down to warn the engine, be met the fire-
escape going to the fire, and therefore there was no
necessity for giving them no.ic,. It also turned
out that 2s. 6d. was the sum given to persons
bringing the first notice of a fire at the escape-
office, and only Is. at the engine-office. In this
case the police-officer had to pass the escape-office,
but a person had driven before him a greangrocer's
cart for the escape.
After a great deal of discussion, the jury came to
the following verdict :—" That Emily Rayner and
her four children wereaccidentallyburnt to death,"
adding thereto, " We, the jury, are of opinion that
it is desirable in all cases of fire where lives are en-
dangered, that the police should not prevent the
entrance of any person or persons who may volun-
teer their aid to rescue the inmates in such house
on fire. And we further strongly recommend that
the police, on their way for the fire-engines, should
under no circumstances luso time in obtaining the
fire-escape, whether persons be known to be in the
premises on fire or not."

The Coroner read over the verdict f• Mr. Sup -
rintendent Lund, and at the same time stated that
it did not appear to the jury that there was any
reflection upon the conduct of the police, but they
recommended the precaution in ques ion as a
means of preventing further loss of life. The me•in-
ing of the latter clause was, that in case the fire-
escape was kept in one direction and the engine in
another, both should be sent for immediately.
Mr. Lund stated that attention should be paid to
the recommendation, and expressed a hope that the
strong feeling entertained in the neighbourhood
with respect to the police would no longer continue
to exist.

The Foreman of the Jury—lt is in our opinion
that in this case no blame can be attached to the
police. •
The proceedings then terminated.

THE LATE FIRES IN, THE METROPOLIS.

TEMPLE-BAL.—The damage done to property near
Temple-bar, on Monday night, is thus officially reported :
—"No. 227, Strand, Mr. Wm. Watkinson, upholsterer;
warehouse behind the front premises and the contents
destroyed ; back front of house and contents damaged
by fire, &c. ; the contents were insured in the Anchor
Fire- office, and the buildings 'were insured in the Law
Office. No. 226, Strand, Mr. Lane, grocer ; back front
of premises extensively damaged by fire, and the stock in
trade, furniture, &a., injured by water, &o. ; contents in-
sured in the Norwich Union Fire office; building supposed
to beinsured in the Law. No 228, Strand, Mr. J. Brown,
eating-house keeper : back front severely damaged by
fire, and contents by water and removal ; the building
and contents were insured in the Law Office. No. 5,
Palsgrave-place, Mr. A. Haughton (private) : back of
house seriously damaged by fire, and contents injured by
water and removal ; insurance unknown at present. No.
6, Palsgrave-place, Mr. E. W. M. Glasgow (private) :
upper floor or building burned out, and roof destroyed ;
contents insured in the Sun Fire-office ; building un-
known. No. 7, Palsgrave-place, Mr. J. Miller (private) ;
premises nearly burned out ; insurance unknown. No.
8; Palsgrave-place, Mr. W. Lane : back front of house
damaged by fire, and contents by water ; the contents
and also the building were insured in the Norwich
Union Fire-office. No. 7, Thanet-place, Mrs. J. Chande
back of house damaged by fire, and contents by water ;
insured in. the Norwich Union Office. No. 8, Thanet-
place, Mr. E. Cox : contents damaged by water and re-
moval ; insurance unknown. No. 9, Thanet-place,
J. Wilkins : back windows burned oat and contents da-
maged by, water; insured in the Sun Office."
Smusti.—A. fire broke out yesterday morning on the
premises of Mr; Wilson, naturalist, of 391, Strand, and
destroyed nearly the whole of the premises, as well as
the furniture and stock in trade. The adjoining pro-
perty on either side was but slightly damaged.

PROROGATION OP CONVOCATION. -- Frig Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury, attended by the Vicar-
.
General, Dr. Twiss, and the Principal Registrar of
the province, Mr. F.. Hart Dyke, arrived at the Jeru-
salem Chamber, Westminster, yesterday at half-past 10
o'clock, when his Grade, in pursuance of her Majesty's
writ, dissolved the Convocation of the prelates and
clergy of the province of Canterbury. The writs for
the ensuing Convocation are returnable on the Ist of
May.
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