The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-04 00:00:00

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DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
FIRE AT THE " EXAMINER" PRINTING-OFFICE.--
Last night (Sunday), between nine and ten o'clock,
a fire broke out in the extensive range of premises
belonging to Messrs. Reynell and Co., the printers
of the Examiner newspaper and other publications,
situate in Little Pulteney-street, Golden-square.
The building, which stretched over Mary and Wil-
liam-yard, was three floors high, of considerable
depth, and contained a vast amount of property. The
inhabitants of one of the houses at the rear of the
printing-office had their attention directed to the first
floor, by perceiving an unusual glare of light shining
through the windows, but as it was generally be-
lieved that some of the men were at work on the
premises, no particular notice was taken of the cir-
cumstance for some time, when at la3t the fire told
its own tale, by breaking through the windows and
rushing up the back of the building. Messengers
were Lthen dispatched in sundry directions for assist-
ance. In the space of a few minutes afterwards, the
fire-escapes belonging to the St. James's Society
arrived, followed by the St. Ann's parochial engine,
and numerous others of the London brigade, with
Mr. Staples, the foreman of the district, and the
West of England engine, with Mr. Connorton, in
rapid succession. By that period the flames had ob
taint(' a fearful ascendancy, the whole of the first
floor being completely enveloped in flame, and the
staircase was also in a general blaze. The engines
were got to work with as little delay as possible, but
notwithstanding the vast torrent of water thrown into
the premises, the fire continued to progress, and very
speedily the two upper floors also became ignited.
The fire at length assumed such an alarming aspect
that the numerous residents at the rear of the print-
ing-office commenced removing their furniture to a
more distant part for protection. The firemen, no-
thing daunted, kept to their posts, and although the
steam and smoke were nearly overpowering, they
carried the hose of their engines up the stairs, and
mounted the roof, by which they were enabled to get
the fire out by twelve o'clock.
FIRE ON BOARD THE TRIDENT STEAM-SHIP.—
On Saturday night, at a few minutes before twelve
o'clock, great alarm was caused along the water-side,
in the immediate vicinity of St. Katherine's Dock, in
consequence of a fire breaking out in the Trident
steam-ship, the property of the General Steam Navi-
gation Company, lying alongside of St. Katherine's
Dock Steam-wharf. The vessel, which was one of
the Scotch traders, contained a general cargo, and
whilst some of the crew were packing goods in the
after-hold, a box about three or four feet square,
filled with fuzee?, fell into that compartment of the
ship,when the contents of the box exploded, and in an
instant the place became filled with sulphurous vapour
and flame, threatening destruction to the noble craft.
Two of the ship's crew, who were in the hold, became
surrounded with fire, and the fumes of sulphur were
of such a suffocating nature that before the unfortu-
nate men could be got out of the place they were both
most frightfully burned, so much so that they were
obliged to be rtrnoved to the hospital, where they at
present remain in a very precarious state. The
moment the disaster occurred messengers were dis-
patched for the engines, and in a very brief period
two belonging to the London Fire Establishment at-
tended. The ship's company and wharf labourers,
however, succeeded, during the interim, in getting
the fire extinguished. The damage done is thus offi•
cially reported by Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent
of the Fire Brigade :—" A. box of fuzees burned—
bulkhead and several chests of oranges damaged by
fire in after hold—two men seriously burned, and
taken to the hospital. Cause of fire—the box of
fuzees falling into the hold and exploding."
FIRE IN THE BOROUGH, AND Loss OF LlFE.—Last
night (Sunday), at a late hour, a fire, unfortunately
attended with loss of life, happened on the premises
belonging to Mr. A. Solomons, a furrier, carrying on
business at No. 11, Little Falcon-court, Redcross-
street, Borough. It was discovered by a person living
next door, who had his attention directed, while sit-
ting in his own house, to a strong smell of something
burning. He,
e, therefore, went into his back
yard to endeavour to ascertain the cause,
whentthhe
t a
window h efi rein as perceived
such
volumes smoke po pouring forthsatist.7 fromhiin
was burning within the building.
Having raised an alarm, he went to Southwark-
bridge-road station for the assistance of the firemen.
Two engines from that depot, with Mr. Henderson,
the chief officer of the D section of the Brigade, im-
mediately started for the scene, upon reaching which
the door was found to be fastened. The same having
been forced, the ground-floor was so full of smoke
w that it as with great difficulty any one could enter.
The neighbours and firemen, however, succeeded in
forcing their way through with buckets of water,
which they threw upon the flames. As soon as the
smoke had in some measure cleared away they beheld
a fearful scene ; for upon the floor was lying Mrs.
Solomons completely encircled with fire. Plenty of
water having been thrown into the building the fire
was eventually extinguished, when it was foundthat
Mrs. Solomons was so frightfully burnt that it was
feared she would not recover: a medical gentleman
was sent for, who arrived immediately and pro-
nounced life extinct. How the fire originated could
not be ascertained, the unfortunate female being the
only party in the house at the
insured.
FIRE Neither the
building nor the contents were
FIRE AT A LICENSED VICTUALLER'S.—Yesterday
morning, shortly before six o'clock, the Fox and
French Horn Tavern, the property of Mr. L. Gilling,
No. 29, Clerkenwell-green, was discovered to be on
fire. At that time the whole of the residents were
in their beds, and owing to the inflammable nature
iof the liquors n the bar, they were for some time
placed in great jeopardy. By knocking at the doors
dthaengvearriotuos iwnmhiaethesthweeyrewmeraedeexspenosseibdleaonfdthtehey great
danger to which they were exposed, and they allall
ae
been fe
retreatto t fhrec mo'ngthineepartaemtiiosness:
Isuozreinedaetdioinn
hma av
nin
n sent g
in the course of a few minutes the Brigade from
Farringdon-street and other stations attended, as well
as the West of England and parish engines. Upon
the arrival of the firemen they found the bar in a
blaze. The engines and firemen were immediately
calledinto operation, and there being an abundant
supply of water, the flames fortunately were confined
to that part of the tavern where they commenced,
but considerable damage was done not merely to the
building, but also to the stock in trade and fittings.
The whole of the liquor pipes were melted by the
heat, which caused the spirits to come in contact
with the flames. Some partially smoked tobacco, it
was believed, fell through a crack in the flooring and
caused the mischief. Unfortunately Mr. Gilling was
not insured.

THE SPEAKER'S LEVEE. - The Right. Hon. the
Speaker held his first sessional levee on Saturday night ,
at his temporary official mantrion in Eatca•aguardc

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vvith the above surplus, the interest due'ea-ealfs. -' cable t) the revenue of the former half-year.._44,tl" '.,•
, dends duo to Mr. Hudson, which by the '''' s•--i
with him have become the property Sat,'llifsso4444i;.-4-'7A,
Againq this latter sum has been set *)ll:ilais ams,pefiuii,
rb
ircuriel by the Committee of IDly : 41*. ntakt.........„.',1
by the preliminary committee, as fovfas4g ::::::)
cl,arge tiganst the sum recovered. A sum ftlltlyalt
ie.; apart to meet iscianc-tax claimed for fmmer i.--,%,1 still unsettled, and 1,474/. for law expenses, apph cable to tOe revenue of former years. It will be se
from the account referred to that there will be funds to
earnm o e ti
nagl
sl tohrestehe
It is highly h
desirable that the proportion of debt on
which the company is paying interest at 5 per cent.
should he reduced as early as practicable end y
r (s our dis
orb will seek to effect this as the existing debertares
fall due. The value of this company's debentures is
undoubtedly equal to that of any other railway in the
kingdom, inasmuch as by the arrangement with-the
Great North of England Com; any, the, debt of this
eetupany, up to 1,300,000/. (of which only about
1,000.000/. has been raised) is to take priority over the
s,curity to be issued to the Great North of Eugland
prepr etors. For this reason, }our iiiiectoru feel justi-
Eed in looking to a gradual diminution under the head of
interest upon debenture debt.
The board are anxious that the capital account should
tie closed with the least possible de:ay; and they hope
this may be accomplished for all practical purposes on
the 30th of June next.
The directors are not sufficiently convinced of the
necessity fir the Tyne l)ocks to recommend their for-
mation ac present, believing that the pressure of ship_
in, nt at South Shields may be relieved to a considerable
ext nt by the erection of additional staiths at that har-
bour; and as the contract for these docks was entered
isto at a time when materials and wages were very high,
they deemed it advisable to determine that arrangement
by an amicable compromise with the contractor.
The directors think it right to mention, that in a few
wicks the connexion between the. Great Northern and
York and North Midland Railways will be so far com-
pleted as to give a new route from London and the
eastern districts to the north cf. England and Scotland;
and in the course of the summer this route will be still
further improved. This must have the effect of causing
an accession of new traffic over the line of this company.
The completion of the high level bridge and station at .
Newcastle, and the permanent bridge at Berwick, will
also facilitate traffic by the eastern line. The Sunder-
land deck is expected to be open in about two months,
arld the: increased quantity of coals for export, which
will, in consequence, be brought over this company's
Lucy, will be highly beneficial. A settlement of all
questions in dispute, between this company and the di-
rectors of th,, Sunder!and Dock Company, has been
effected on terms which are expected to prove mutually
advantageous.
Tice directors have given much consideration to the
position of those shareholders who have paid up in full
their Great North of England purchase shares; and
they have come to the conclusion, that although those
parties have no strictly legal claim to any preferable
dividend, yet, taking all the circumstances into account .
it would be fair to them, and not unjust to the other
shareholders, to allow them interest at the same rate as
will be payable to the Great North of England Com.
pany, viz., 4 per cent: per annum on so much of the
shares as shall continue to be paid in advance; and the
ordinary rate of dividend on the amount called up from
time to time, until the whole amount of the calls be paid