The Sun.
London, England, 1829-05-28 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF OXFORD-s 1 RUT

BAZAAR.

A little before four o'clock in the afternoon of
yesterday, an alarm of fire was given from the Dio-
rama picture gallery, which is only divided from the
stands by a thin partition, and immediately after-
wards the whole of the company rushed out. The
scene of confusion and terror that subsequently took
place it is impossible to describe. The company
which were promenading the walks having only
themselves to attend to, soon gained egress to the
street ; not so the proprietors of the different stands,
who strove to save their property. In this, how-
ever, they could not succeed, owing to the rapidity
of the flames, which soon gained such an acen-
daney, that all idea of preserving the building be.
came hopeless. On the first alarm, the parish en-
gine was sent for, which arrived very shortly, ac-
companied by a number of constables. A detach-
ment of Coldstream Guards was sent from Portman-
street barracks, for the purpose of assisting the con-
stables in preserving order, the thoroughfare being
so great, and such vast multitudes having assem-
bled, that the firemen found great difficulty in play-
ing their engines. A party of the patrol also W.-
tended from Bow-street office. About twenty
minutes after the fire broke out, the building was
one mass of flame, which is not surprising consider-
ing the inflammable materials composing it. For-
tunately, a plentiful supply of water being obtained,
the engines, amounting to 10 or 12, were enabled
to play upon the destructive element with such
effect, as to prevent it communicating to the ad-
joining houses. Before five o'clock the Bazaar tray
reduced to a heap of ruins, not 201. worth of pro-
perty being preserved. The fire originated, as
supposed, from some spirits of turpentine commum*
eating to a beautiful transparency in the Diorama,
representing "The Destructiim of York Minster by
Fire." The Bazaar was the property of 'Nlr. Ham-
let, the jeweller, who let it out to the proprietors of
the stands at so much a foot. The property de,
stroyed consisted of the paintings in the Diorama,
of which there was a choice collection belonging tts
different individuals, who placed them in the gallery
of the• Bazaar for exhibition; fancy metchandize of
every description composed the rest. We uml:r-
-stand the building was insured in the Sun Fire-
office, but we believe no part of the goods which it
contained was insured. The building cost, we be-
lieve, above 10,0001.; and it is said that the pro-
perty therein, which is all reduced to rubbish, was
of the value of 10,0001. more. The houses in the
close vicinity of the building are damaged more or
less. Vast numbers of pickpockets were at the
scene of devastation, and notwithstanding the vigi-
lance of the officers several petty robberies took
place.

(LATEST PARTICULARS.)
Although the probability of the tire f!xtendhig
self beyond the site of the vast building in uhich
..; commenced had ceased at an early how'. Yet it
was found necessary up to midnight to keep th'o Ott
three engines constantly playing upon the smoulder--
ing heaps of inflammable materials contained therein.
The property destroyed was formerly a workshop
and carriage depository, in trite occupation of the
well-known coach-builder, Mr. Leader, at II", hie!!
time it had entrances from Oxford-street, 01511 e,
street, Winsley-street, and Wells-street. Havins
been bought by Mr. Hamlet, the entire area was
cleared, and a bazaar and exhibition rooms erected en
its site. Fortunately for the owners of the surround-
ing property the walls were built of a thickness pro-
portionate to the large area they enclosed, and the
roof having fallen in soon after the fire commenced,
the flame was left without a vent, and wus easily
kept tinder by occasional exertions of the firemen.
Mr. Rawliason, the magistrate, vas on the spot till
a late hour. At his suggestion a fresh body or
soldiers were ordered to protect the premises, in the
place of the party which had previously retired,