The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-13 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, AUG US

THE FIRE AT GRAVESEND.

GRAVESEND, AUGUST 12.—Tne bench of magis-
trates were this day chiAy occupied in hearing cases
connected wi'h the disastrous fire of yesterday morn-
ing. Among them was one of a charge against a
fellow named William Belcher, for obstructing the
soldiers and police in the preservation of property
from plunder by a gang of young scoundrels wIL)
were in company with him, and for assaulting
Corporal Daly of the 25th Regiment. The corporal
stated that he was on duty at the fire about three
o'clock yesterday morning, when he was told by a
gentleman that a gang of persons were breaking the
windows of several of the houses on fire, and other-
wise misconducting themselves. Witness observed
the prisoner as one of the most prominent of the
gang, and told him to " get out of the way." He
refused, saying he had as good a right to be there as
a soldier. He then pushed up against wit-
ness, who again told
.him to go off, but he persisting
in attempting to force a way through the place where
witness was stationed, the latter put the butt end of
his musket towards him and drove him a pace or two
back. Witness then turned round to call on his men
for ass stance, as the mob were forcing him from his
position, when he received a blow of a stone on the
left temple which knocked him down. On recovering
his legs he saw the prisoner within about four yards
of him, in the custody of a soldier. He had observed
previously to being knocked down that the prisoner
had a stone in his hand.

Private Binney, of the 58th Regiment, saw Cor-
poral Daly knocked down by a blow of a stone, but
did not see the prisoner throw it. Observed before
that the prisoner took up a stone. He was then try •
ing to push past the corporal with a number of others
in the mob, who were with the utmost difficulty kept
from the place ordered to be kept clear. A gentleman
came up to witness as soon as the corporal was
knocked down, and told him to take the prisoner into
custody, which he did,
Private Brown, of the 58th Regiment, saw the pri-
soner throw a stone, but could not say that it was that
stone which felled the corporal. Saw him have three
stones in his hand immediately before the corporal fell.
Mr. Oakes, one of the Magistrates, said that,
though he did not see the stone thrown at the com-
plainant, he had observed him fall, and on turning
saw the prisoner close behind him. He had no doubt
whatever that the prisoner had thrown the stone, and
be directed the soldier to take him into custody.
Here he (Mr. Oakes) would take the opportunity to
say that nothing could equal the forbearance and
moderation of the military in the performance of their
onerous duties, except their indefatigable exertions in
keeping order, and in aiding in the efforts to preserve
property and to subdue this most disastrous and de •
structive fire.

The mayor and the other magistrates fully con-
curred in the justice of Mr. Oakes' observations upon
'the conduct of the military. Mr. Oakes further
added that a most disgracefully ill-conducted mob had
assembled and obstructed the authorities in their
duties, and instead of feeling sympathy for the suf-
ferers in this terrible calamity actually appeared to
be rejoiced at it. It was in his opinion—and he was
sure his fellow...magistrates would agree with him—
a disgrace to the town that suck a degraded set
should form a portion of its inhabitants.
The prisoner was fined 40s. and costs, but being
unable to pay was sentenced to one month's impri-
sonment and hard labour.

After the business of the court was over Mr.
Oakes stated to the other magistrates that it had been
intimated to him that the fire had originated in the
house of Read (a cigar shop), and not in that of Mr.
Adlington (a grocer's shop), next door to it. Now,
he wished to know where this Read could be found.

The Mayor said that he had also been told, and on
what he believed to be good authority, that smoke
was seen to issue from Read's house before fire was
discovered in the weather boarding of Adlington's
house. It was therefore necessary, in order to ascer-
tab the origin of the fire, to have both Adlington and
Read examined ; the former asserted from the begin-
ning that the fire broke through the wainscoting
into his house from Read's.
Every inquiry, by direction of the magistrates,
having been made for Read without effect, it was at
length intimated to them that he had left the town, or
at least had not been seen since the fire.

The superintendent of police (Mr. North) was then
directed by the bench to find him out.
There is so much suspicion, as it now seems, re-
specting the origin of the fire that it is said the Co-
roner will hold an inquest respecting it.
The loss, as estimated by the surveyors of the va-
rious London insurance companies, who were engaged
the whole of the day inquiring into the amount of
property, is 80,0001. The offices that will principally
suffer are the following, and the amounts are reported
thus :—Kent Fire-office 10,000/. ; Globe, 8,000/. ;
Royal Evchange, 8,000 i; Alliance, 8,000/. ' • Norwich
Union, 7,0001.; Pbcenix, 7,000/. ; Mutual, 6,000/. ;
West of England, 5,000/. ; Star, 3,000/. ; Commer-
cial, 2,000/.—total, 65,000/.
The general body of tradespeople and inhabitants
of the town are loud in their complaints against the
corporation in not having an efficient corps of firemen
and engines established after the warning they re-
ceived by the two previous fires, which it will he re-
collected consumed the greater part of the lower por-
tion of Gravesend.

The ruins still remain under the charge of the
London brigade. A great deal of fire remains in
various parts, but no further mischief is apprehended.
The largest building among the premises burnt
down was used as the London and County Bank. It
occupied much ground on the east side of High-
street, close to the Town-hall, and, with its contents,
was insured for 10,000/. The clerks succeeded in
saving the whole of the books, cash, and papers be-
lcnging to the bank.
It was supposed that a man named Valiance had
lost his life during the raging of the fire by the floors
of one of the houses in High-street falling on him.
We are happy to say it is not so ; the police yesterday
ascertained that he escaped.
It is the general opinion of the inhabitants of the
town, that had the corporation telegraphed for the
London engines when the fire was crossing High-
t, instead of waiting three hours, a very large
portion
property would have been preserved.
vtei n
of
and the Coroner of the district has
High-
street, tNe oe understand
theeeras
been called on to hold an inquiry into all the circum-
stances'connected with the fire.