The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-23 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The Intrepid, sister screw stem-vessel to the Pioneer,
was taken into dock at Woolwich yesterday, and all
hands that could find room to work put upon her, to
take out and re-adjust her engines and boilers. The
shipwrights, under the directions of Mr. Laing, are also
most actively at work, as if the getting the vessel resdy
depended upon the individual exertion of every person
employed upon her. The Commodore-Superintendent
has ordered that the greatest exertions should be made
in all the departments to expedite the vessels fitting for
the expedition, and Captain Austin and Captain Om-
manrey have been in constant attendance at Woolwich
fir several days past in personally superintending the
preparations fur their voyage.
A numtm. of convicts were brought down the river
to-day in a roamer to be put on board the Blenheim,
hired convict-ship, Mr. Molison master. The vessel is
moored opposite the Royal Arsenal, and will be under
the charge of Sargeon-Superintendent C. li. Fuller.
The destination of the convicts is Van Diemen's Land.

GREAT FIRE AT MANCHESTER.
DESTRUCTION OF UPWARDS OF £lOO,OOO
WORM OF PROPERTY AND LOSS OF LIFE.

MANCHESTER, MARCH 22.—At midnight last night
one of those disastrous and destructive fires which have
frequently visited this manufacturing town, broke out
in the warehouse of Messrs. Wood and Westhead, small-
ware manufacturers and general dealers. Tho premises
were situate in Piccadilly, ono of the groat thorough-
fares in Manchester, and precisely opposite the Royal
Infirmary. The flames were first discovered about a
quarter before twelve o'clock, issuing from the packing-
room, which is on the ground floor. Very few mi-
nut .s had elapsed before the fire was seen isming
from the top of the building, which was six stories
higb. The alarm was soon given, and the firemen
with the engines were soon on the spot, but the de-
vouring element raged with such fury and rapidity
that before any effective resistance could be made
to its progress, the whole of the building and its valuable
contents were totally destroyed. The activity of the
firemen, aided by an abundant supply of water, pre-
vented the flames from extending beyond the warehouse
itself, and, therefore, the only thmage done to the
adjoining property was confined to the blistering of the
wa'ls and the charring of the window-frames and doors,
occasioned by the intensity of the heat. The stock con-
sisted of small wares, hardwares, silks, satins, ribbons,
lace, and hosiery of every description, and was of great
value, amounting to neatly 100,000 L, the whole of which
was entirely consumed. So rapid was the fire, that the
whole contents of the building, together with every floor,
roof, &c., were totally destroyed in about an hour and
a half. In fact, by half•past one the fire had so com-
pletei the work of devastation, that there was nothing
lid, for further destruction.

The workpeople were ut work in some part of the
wa-ehouse till half-past eleven, when the doors were
closed and all appeared safe. The stock was insured for
84,000/. The building was insured to near its value, but
in what offices did not transpire.
From the time the fire was gut under, at about two
o'clock, the men were engaged in clearing away the
fallen ruins, and 'preparing fur the recovery of the sal-
vage; which work went on with great spirit till about
one o'clock at noon to-day, when the eastern gable came
down with a tremendous crash, burying six of the fire-
men beneath the ruins. The shrieks of the crowd were
at this moment heart-rending, but after a short pause all
hands were at work, to reJover the unfortunate men,
whose lives were despaired of, and by the most praise-
worthy exertions of the people and the firemen, five were
taken out alive, but ono of them so severely injured as
to leave but little hope of his recovery; his name is J.
Naylor. The sixth was taken out dreadfully mutilated,
but died shortly after; his name was Charles M'Ciary.
The other four were not so seriously injured as to render
their recovery a matter of any doubt. They were all
taken to the Infirmary, where every attention is being
paid to their respective cases. This disaster will throw
at least 150 young men out of work for a time.
The walls that are still standing appear in a dangerous
state.