The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-10 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Last evening, about half-past saven o'clock, a con-
flagration, :nearly attended with fatal consequences
to two persons, broke out in the premises belonging
to Mr. Crawcour, a surgeon-dentist, carrying on
business in Addington-place, Camberwell-road. The
premises, which extended some considerable distance
backwards, were five stories high, including the
basement, the upper one being occupied as a manu-
factory. At the time of the outbreak the only per-
sons in the building were Mr. Crawcour and his
cook, and they were in the top story. The woman,
perceiving a strong smell of something burning, in-
formed her master of the circumstance, and they pro-
ceeded towards the lower portion of the house to as-
certain the cause. Having descended a few stairs,
they found the smoke' rolling upwards in such
clouds as to prevent their descending. further. Tbey
therefore retraced their steps as quickly as possible
towards the upper floor, and escaped by the roof to
one of the adjoining hou?es. In a very brief period
flames in huge bodies shot through the windows of
the ground floor both back and front. The parish
engines speedily arrived, and were closely followed
by numerous more powerful ones, belonging to the
London Brigade end West of England-office. The
Lambeth Company's mains having yielded an im-
mediate supply of water, the engines ;were at once
brought into operation, but, owing to the firm hold
the fire had previously obtained, it continued to spread
with great rapidity. By half-past nine o'clock the
fire was subdued, but not until the whole of Mr.
Crawcour's property was destroyed, and some da-
mage done to the premises on either si by fire and
water. Fortunately Mr. Crawcour was insured in
the Pi- mnix

On Tuesday morning feet, at about four o'cl*ek, an
extensive tire broke out on a farm belonging to the
Duke of Wellington, in the occupation of Mr. Luke
Goddard, situate in the parish of Strathfieldsaye, near
Reading. Owing to the early hour at which the out-
break occurred, when but little assistance could be
rendered, end the want of engines at hand, the fire
quickly gained a fearful ascendancy, the flames
spreading from one rick to the other, until at length
all were in a blaze. The conflagration lighted up the
country for many miles around during the darkness
that prevailed, and when daylight appeared volumes
of smoke were seen issuing forth from the burning
mass. The destruction of the entire farm homestead
was inevitable when the fire was at its height, as no-
thine. could arrest the progress of the flames, and only
the 'dwelling-house, at a little distance off, seemed
likely to escape from the burning wreck. The flames
gradually began to get under after awl.ile, until even-
tually nothing but a mouldering heap of ruins pre-
sented itself. The whole of the farm produce, con •
sisting of several new ricks, and other corn in store,
both thrashed and unthrashed, homestead, buildings,
.and erections, implements of husbandry, and other
property, were entirely consum, d. The fire, there is
every reason to believe, was the act of an incendiary,
and it is rumoured that suspicion rests on the carter
and boy about leaving the service, who are to undergo
an examination. The loss is very considerable ; but
the entire farm property destroyed is, we believe, in-
sured, partly in the Norwich Union, Fire-office.
INCENDIAB.Y Flan.--The quiet village of Frodes-
ley, in the county of Salop, has been thrown into the
utmost alarm by its having been the scene of one of
the most extensive and destructive incendiary fires
that ever occurred in this county. On Monday
morning, the 7th instant, at a quarter before two
o'clock, a barley and wheat stack belonging to Mr.
Meredith were discovered by James Rothero, a black-
smith, residing in an adjoining cottage, to have been
just fired, as the flames were then only running about
the loose straws beneath the thatch. Without dress-
ing himself he proceeded at once to arouse Mr. Mere-
dith, his family, and all the nearest villagers, who
quickly and readily responded to his summons. Mr.
Meredith's farm is an extensive one, and the buildings
attached to it were very complete, and on a large scale.
The stack-yard contiguous to the buildings was
plentifully filled. Though in the course of about a
quarter of an hour several persons had arrived it was
at once discovered that they could possibly do nothing
to save any portion either of the hay or grain. Most
unfortunately the morning was very windy, a strong
breeze blowing from the S.W. For some time past
the weather had been remarkably calm, and doubtless
this particular time had been carefully selected for
the perpetration of the diabolical deed. In a very
short time the whole stack-yard, containing 14 stacks,
and some of them very large, was enveloped in
flames, and all hopes of saving anything were given
up. The wind carrying the flames in the direction
of the buildings, they too very soon caught fire, and
the scene now presented was awfully grand. One
building after another became a prey to the devour-
ing element, and in about an hour and a half two
large barns, granary, waggon-shed, straw shed,
stables, and feeding stalls had fallen into ruins. The
farm-yard forms three sides of a quadrangle, the
house forming the fourth. At one time strong fears
were entertained that the house (a respectable resi-
dence) would take fire. This, however, most provi-
dentially, through the advice and exertions of the
rector, the Rev. T. L. Gleadowe, aided by the as-
sistance of some of his parishioners, was prevented.
The Rev. Gentleman was one of the first at the scene
of desolation, and immediately dispatched his servant
on horseback to Shrewsbury for the fire engines.
Though Frodesley is eight miles from that town, the
engines arrived within an hour and three-quarters
from the time of their being sent for. The fire-
men were active in the discharge of their duty, but
their exertions were principally confined to playing
the engines upon the mouldering stacks to prevent
the flakes of fire, row rising, from being blown into
the neighbouring and continuous premises of another
extensive farmyard, near to which were also the
church and rectory-house. About 11 o'clock the fire
was pretty well put out. The farm belongs to Sir E.
J. Smythe, Bart., of Acton Burnell ; and it is calcu-
lated that by the burning down of the buildings he
will sustain a loss of 1,0001, and that that of Mr.
Meredith will amount to 1,2001. Early in the morn-
ing Mr. Lewis, superintendent of the county con-
stabulary force, was in attendance with some of his
men. In the middle of the day Mr. E. W. Smythe
Oven, a magistrate for the county, and Captain
Mayne, the head of the police force, arrived at
ooidl whenter
Frodesley. A most searching investigation was set
on foot, but we reotet to add that nothing has been
elicited which is likely a: nresent to lead to the dis-
covery
crime, for
fi
onoref
etnthhdeeri
ner existswyr t ch
nlioasou lb-2;
trphe.:ittraitte
was
a the horrid
the
deed
l\re must
not
notice the admirable manner in whit!) the whole of
~ however,
throughout
the omit to
whole
,
PiThir. No measured praise the villagers who were
resent' men es well as
women, ronductsd themselves
have i
it
was supposed that it must from due
the
unavoidably
no a them
houselaeb fury been their
untiring exertions rendering ris
ing every assis+ance in
their power; and though the
whole of the valuables
and furniture were removed
burnt, on their b • eing replaced not
any kind was missing. a single article of

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—The further examination of
the parties suspected of the Frimley murder will take place i
on Saturday, which will enable the Observer of Sunday, Oc-
tober 13, to give the fullest particulars, and all other matters
connected with this atrocious affair. The Observer, of Octo-
ber 6, gave nearly four columns of. the murder, including edi-
torial remarks. The extensive publication of the Observer
commences on Sunday mornings at four o'clock, in time for
all the Sunday morning railways. Monday's edition at four
Monday Aftenacvnk - -