The Sun.
London, England, 1818-08-11 00:00:00

MOST biIAbFUL

Yesterday morning, about half-past one o'clock,
an alarming fire broke ant in the house of Mr.
Eeuiker, the sign of the Duke of York public-
house, Ratcliff-highway. A Man who was pass-
ing by the house at the time, observing a great
body of smoke issuing from the windOws, ran to
the watchmen, some of whom, it is Said, refused
their aid, On a plea'that there was no danger; but
in a moment the flames burst from the sinclows
with the most terrible rapidity, and the sky ap-
peared all in a blaze for a distance round. The
cry of " file !'' soon echoed in every ditection,
and the neighbourhood was thrown into the
greatest consternation ; heads from windows were
seen from most of the opposite houses; a vast con -
course of spectators soon • assembled ; and many
persons ran for engines. At the time of the fire,Mr.
Heniker was in the country, having left his house
in the care of a man and two women servants,
who had retired to rest, and were buried in sleep.
Every effort was tried to roese theni, but in vain,
till the windows were broken by the watchmen
heaving their rattles and sticks at them ; at length
they broke open the doors, and awoke them.—
They then escaped the back way, some naked,
and others half dressed. • By this ttme, the con-
flagration had much increased, the fire melting
the solder of the gas pipes, and the great quail-
cty of st,irituoos liquors in the cellar, where it is
supposed the fire commenced, adding to its rage.
The fire had now reached the aojoining house,
and Some old wooden hr.oses at die back, and
the wind blowing in that direction, it threaten-
ed destruction to the whole neigh!loorhood.—
The houses at the back were chiefly inha-
bited by women of the town and the lower order
(if persons. The lii:cenist, Iland-in-hand, the
Globe Life Insurance, and several other engines,
shortly arrived ; but there being a short supply
of water, it was expected that the whole street
would have been consumed. The htinses of Mr.
Heniker and Mrs. Hntne tell in with a tremend-
ous crash, and the adjoining houses were burning
rapidly. It was an awful sight to witness parents
ith their offspriug in their arms nearly naked,
running for shelter, and the streets adjacent filled
with persons in their shirts and shifts. A poor
woman was observed from her apartment window,
surrounded with flames, screaming and calling
for assistance to her helpless children ; but those
who- wished to assist her were fearful they should
lose their own lives; when, finding no person
canning, she rushed in, and brought three naked
children out in her arms. She let them tall, return-
ed, and brought out another ; she still ran about
distracted, thinking she had not got theni ail ;
but on their being placed before her she fainted, •'
and lay on the ground as if dead. The engines
played rapidly on the devouring element for many
boors, both at the back and front. One family,
who were buried'in•ileepavbeit the fire had nearly
arrived at their apartment, were awoke by the
intense heat ; the father' let the whole of them
out by ropes, while the firemen played the water
about them ; utter Which let-himself out, and
fell before he reached 'the ground. Several per-
sons ventured-into sonic of the old houses at the
back, to try to save some of the property ; and
while they were in, the roofs fell, and they nar-
rowly escaped with their lives. A woman and
her child, burned very much it) escaping., ' took
shelter at a Mr. Cohen's, brat were shortly- after
obliged to escape, that house having canglit.fire.
The fire continued burning till nine o'clock yester-
day morning, and at four in the afternoon was not
quite out. It is impossible to say what fives were
lost. Mr.'Heniker, who was at Margate at the
time of the fire, arrived 'yesterday morning at eight
o'clock ; and we - are happy to- learn that he is
insured for upwards of ten thousand pounds,-the
houses being chiefly his property.' - Mrs. Home,
hatter, is also insured. Several thieves were active
doring the time, under pretence of assisting the
unfortunate persons in Moving their goods. The
houses of Mr. Heniker,
.Messrs. Marshall, butcher;
Mrs. Hume, hatter ; Mr. Donald, hairdresser;
Mr. Dudley. butcher ; ;Mr. Cohen, lodging-house-
keeper, and Owen, ayere burned in Ratcliffe-
high way ; and upwards of twelve others were
burned to the ground.

THR FUNNY ans.—Yesterday the annual
Prize Wherry from the Gentlemen of the above
Cleh was gained by WILLiAM WATFORD, of the
Temple, and CHARLES WESTWOOD, of Mackfriars.
They rowed first in the list; and the sei,ofid heat
displayed a trial of skill, there being but'little
more than a boat's length between each.of them
during the greater part of the way.' Unt'ortimately,
a boy, who was observing the contest frOm oil:
some craft on .the Surrey side, fell intO'the river,
and was drowned.
G.IG RACE.—A Gentleman, natned Vorn—p, has
undertaken to trot a horse in a 'gig, 12 mileS in
three starts, in 40 minutes. The match was to be
done on the Newtnark,ct road early this morning..

CAUTION TO -BATHIIII,Si--.Sunday 1110111(Igi as
Mr. Thomas Russell,; of .the Edgware.road, was
undressing to bathe in tine. Serpentine-River, he
was accosted by a gentlemanly dressed yiinng
man,' who joined. him- incbathing., :At, tote, same
time, another' madebis :appearance! (supposed to
he his accomplice), who Threed.himself near the
clothes of the bathers, apparently .nnilressing ;
After, ho:teever; a short pause, he re-dressed-him-
self, and decamped with a .valnable silver watch,
gold seal and key. 'The watch was erigraeed.on
the outside with the cyphers T. R. encircled with
a tarter and crest of a goat.
"Last Monday Vickery. iittended by, another Po.:
lice Officer,,arrived here•from London, in' search
of a young man nobly connected, who has, for
the fourth time, absconded from his friends., and
has found his way to Leeds. Ever since their ar-
rival the most. diligent search has been made in
the town and neighbourhood, but hitherto without
success._ The young• fugitive, whais:doseribcd to
be six feet two niches high, and dressed in a blue
coat, nankeen:trowsers, and White. stockings,
called, it scents, at the 'Post-office cm. Saturday of

ternoon, where he received two• letters,. but since
ti'm time he has not been heard of. Morives,of
ildicacy towards his distressed Connections indr.l.e
Its to withhole. Is name for 'be present. Ave
"'ar(l of 20 guineas ie offered for appreller6l;,m
(Leeds Mercury.)