The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-17 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed
from the Returns made in the Week ending Dec. 13, 1842, is
345. 4}d. per cwt., exclusive of the Duties of Customs paid or
payable thereon on the importation thereof into Great Britain.

THE LATE DREADFUL FIRE.
ADJOURNED INQUEST.
The inquest was resumed before Mr. Baker, yes-
terday, at two o'clock.
Charlotte Summers, wife of John Simmons, of 17,
Little Prescott-street, said, her husband was a
labourer, and lived in the back attic of the said
house. She, her husband, and three children were
there on 'Wednesday night, when two children, were
burnt, the youngest being saved by her husband.
The age of Charles was five, John was seven. She
heard a dreadful scream proceeding from Mrs. Hol-
land's baby, in the adjoining room. She was un-
dressing and going to bed, and opened the door imme-
diately, but the smoke was so dense that she could
not see out. Her husband was gone to bed, but he
opened the window and got out, dragging her after
him. He went to the next house by the tiles, while
she remained there. The gutter broke at last, and
her clothes were on fire. A ladder was brought, and
she was rescued by a man there. Her husband, after
saving the one child, made every effOrt to save the
others, but could not. Had not seen the bodies of
the children, but her husband had. Knew nothing of
Younker, and had not seen him since the fire.
John Summers, husband of the last witness, was
next called, but he merely confirmed the statement
of his wife.
Phoebe Moss, wife of Abraham Moss, said that she
lived on the first floor of No. 17, Little Prescott-
street. Her husband was a general dealer. The other
room on the same floor was occupied by the Dutchman,
Younker. Witness was out when the fire happened,
and did not return till the worst was over. Found
her children in the streets, two young men having
saved their lives.
Ann Moss, last witness's daughter, said that about
a quarter past ten she heard a sudden explosion, and
her sister said—" Oh, the Dutchman's Dutch drops
have boiled over ;" and the candle looked all manner
of colours. She rushed to the door, which a young
man forced open, and he dragged witness down
stairs ; another young man doing the same to her
sister. She could not account for the fire in any other
way than, judging by the explosion, supposing
that " the drops" had boiled over. The smell was
of a sulphurous nature, such as she had often
smelt before from Younker's room. The Dutchman's
room was on fire before witness and her sister got
out, and he was down stairs.
John Younker, or Vandyke, was then sworn, and
was told, by the Coroner that he was not bound in
law to say anything to criminate himself, if he should
have been engaged in any illicit occupation.
A Juror, of Dutch extraction, acted as interpreter,
and explained the preceding remark to the witness,
adding, that what lie said would be taken down.
The witness said he was a licensed hawker, and a
dealer in Dutch drops and shawls. He had occupied
the premises in Little Prescott-street for about twelve
months. He could not state how the fire originated.
He was sitting with four other persons, taking coffee.
Ile supposes a dog which was in the room had gone
near the fire, and, a spark filling upon him, lie ran
to the corner where the straw and glass was, and in
an instant the whole pl.ace was on fire. He had,
about an hour before, put some labels on the Dutch
drop bottles, which were not then packed in straw.
He found the dog this morning in the same corner,
burnt to death. The materials of which the drops
are composed would not ignite without flame being
brought in contact with them. There were none of
the party in the room smoking, and the smoke came
all at once from where the bottles and straw were
lying. The drops are composed of oil, saffron, and
turpentine. He had gold, silver, and diamonds in his
room at the time.
Mr. BAKER suggested that it was possible some of
the parties calling upon him might have set the place
on fire, with a view to secrete some of these valuables
in the confusion.
Examination continued—The people who called
upon him were customers, and from his own country.
He found yesterday five small diamonds, and some
silver clasps, used for Dutch pockets. He had about
300 bottles of the drops in his room at the time. He
lost about 00/. in money and 2001. in valuables. The