The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-23 00:00:00

7 REMENDOUS FIRE-7 HIS MORNING.

The most extensive fire that has occurred for a
considerable time back in the vicinity of Drury-
lane, happened this (Monday) morning about seven
o'clock int he immense premises, occupied principally
by Messrs. Grieve, the c:ninent artists and scene
painters to most of the metropolitan theatres,
situate in Charles-street, a very narrow street,
running out of the above named thoroughfare.
The building was at least 100 feet deep, about 50
feet wide, and three floors high, and ran as far
back as the houses iu what is termed the coal yard,
which adjoined the Alms Houses of St. Giles' in
the Fields. The lower part of the premises were
used as stables, and at the time of the disaster
several horses were therein, and the whole
of the upper floors were used as carpenter's
shops, painting rooms, varnish stores, &c.
&c. A fire breaking out in such premises at this
time of the year is exceedingly unfortunate, as a
vast number of elaborate sceaes for the Christmas
pantomimes were being prepared, all of which have
been reduced to ruins. From all that can at
present be learned, it appears that some of
the neighbours had their attention called to
the stabling by seeing dense masses of smoke
pouring from the openings. The doors were
at once forced open to get the animals out.
Several were rescued, but two at least were quickly
burnt to death. The draught caused by opening
the doors caused the flames to spread, literally
speaking with lightning speed, and in the course of
a few minutes they seized upon the next floor, and
rushed through the openings used for lowering the
scenery, and then communicated with the car-
penters shops and the painting depots. High into
the air did the flames rise, but they could not
be seen from any great distance owing to the
immense volumes of smoke that arose from the
burning contents, and at one time half of High Hol-
born was darkened by the smoke. Paul Gerand,
the head engineer at Chandos-street station, was
the first to arrive with a powerful land steam fire
engine, and numerous others followed in rapid sue•
cession, bringing with them Capt. Shaw, the chief
officer, and Mr. Foreman Bridges. Plenty of water
was thrown into] the blazing pile, but in spite
of which the work of destruction continued, and
even at 10 o'clock a vast amount of fire remained
in the different floors, but all danger of any further
extension of mischief was over. The whole of the

premises and their contents may be said to be
totally destroyed. The origin of the fire is at pre-
sent unknown, and it could not be ascertained
whether the property was insured or not.

SHIPPING INTIaLIEIENCE.

PLYMoUTII, Monday.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Sphinx (6), Capt. Parish,
from the North American St►tion, having been ordered
home, arrived in the Sound this morning.
GRAVESEND, Monday Morning.

Arrived, Nov. 22.—Admiral Nelson, from Guernsey;
Amazon, from Jersey ; Redstart, from Jaen ; Trial, and
Elizabeth Cicely, from Guernsey; Squarrell, from St.
Michael's; Don Colino from Guernsey; M. M. Jones, from
East Loudon; Five Sisters, from Caen; Clara, from Gir-
genti ; Belle, from Angola Bay; Lavinia, from Guernsey ;
Jenne, Narcisse, from Barre-de-Mont; Wild Deer, from
Shanghai; Magnolia, from Mazatlan ; Ann, from Guernsey.
Arrived, Nov. 23.--131onde, steamer, from Dunkirk ;
Fyenoord, steamer, from Rotterdam; Maple Loaf, from
Sundswall ; Chloe, steamer, from Calais; Zeolite, from
Canaries; Orin, steamer, from Antwerp.

The Canonry at Westminster, vacant by the pro-
motion of Archdeacon Wordsworth, has been conferred on
the Rev. Canon Prothero, and the stall at St. Paul's
Cathedral on the Rev. Robert Gregory, Vicar of St. Mary
the Less, Lambeth.—Observer.
SWAMPING THE HOLTSE OF LORDS.—It is stated,
on unquestionable authority, that Mr. Gladstone con-
templates the creation of some fifty peers, in else of his
accession to the Premiership, to enable him to carry
through the House of Lords the maasurei required to
effect the subversion of the Church in Ireland. —lmperial
Review.

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