Star.
London, England, 1827-12-26 00:00:00

TERRIFIC FIRE AT YORK HOUSE, BATH.

•
CHRISTMAS -DAT...A little before three o'clock this
morning a cry of w fire I" from set end voices artnised
the neighbourhood of York House. The writer of this
was among the first persons attracted to the spot. The
fire first made its appearance from a window or aper-
ture under the lofty gateway of York House yard. It
is supposed to bare originated in the upper room of Mr.
Simpkins, the sadler, who occupies the house fronting
Broad street, on the right hand side of the gateway.
The strength of the fian!e from this aperture was evi-
dently very powerful—as if the fire had been stifled
for some time until it had gained a current which en-
abled it to burst forth with terrific fury. The highly
respected proprietor of York House, Mr. Reilly, with
his sons, were immediately aroused, and were with
the utmost promptitude on the spot. The inmates of
the bedchambers were also quickly down stairs, with
their luggage: The giestest consternation soon spread
throughout the establishment. The fire spread itself
apace, and soon forced its way through the floor of the
great ball room fronting. Broad-street. Here the de-
structive element appeared to riot in the liberty which
the very large area of this room afforded. The room
was soon in a blaze, which issued with awful grandeur
through the five large windows looking intoßroad-street.
One engine was under the gateway before the fire pene-
trated the floor of this room; but it had a much too
powerful enemy to contend with—it was at this time
nearly useless—owing partly to the confined situation
which it had to play in, and partly from a very scanty
supply of water. Three other engines were shortly
afterwards brought, and the various reservoirs of water
in the neighbourhood were soon opened; but the engines
were nearly wholly supplied by buckets, the firemen not
being enabled to convey the pipes of the engines to the
reservoirs. The fire still increased, until the whole of,
the immense pile of buildings (including the shops of
Mr. Simpkins, and Mr. Knight, the broker, which are
under the ball room), were in one devouring blaze !
We indeed deeply sympathise with Mr. Reilly. He
was seen amongst the.' vast concourse of people who
were soon attracted to the spot, exciting their aid by
the example of his own efforts. The company ranged
themselves in two double lines from the reservoir at
the top of Broad-street, for the purpose of handing
the supply of water in buckets to the engines. One
double line reached to the gateway in Broad-street ;
the other to the York House front entrance. The
engine was at play within,the entrance. It being soon
discovered that it would be useless to attempt to pre-
♦ent the destruction of anything in the rooms above
and also in the ball-room, the whole power of the
water was directed to prevent the fire forcing itself
beyond a party wall that very fortunately diviJed the
large building, which was now one mass of flame, from
the rest of the hotel. It was at one time gieatly feared
that the whole pile must inevitably have fallen a sa-
crifice ; and under this impression every article of fur-
niture, as well as doors, partitions, lac. were with all
expedition ejected, and placed on the pavement on the
opposite side of York Houseftonting Princes-buildings.
This party wall formed a grand barrier to the progress
of the fire; and we are in great hopes that it will still
arrest it, although the fire is yet burning at this spot.--
It was a matter of great anxiety for two hours le►t the
intensity of the heat from the fife large ball-room win-
dows should cause the old houses opposite in Broad-street
to take fire; had this been the case, the awfulness and
distress of the conflagration would have been materially
heightened, as most probably Gracious-court and some
of the first houses in Bliadutfs.buildings, with the inter-
vening property, frontal hive been destroyed: bur, thank
PROVIDENCI, the dam pink of the fronts of the old houses
by the play of the engines upon them prevented this
fearfol catastrophe. .We hope ere long the fire in the
whole of the house will be completely quenched, although
we understand it is still burning internally..
We have not leatut if the spirits in Mr. Reilly's cel-
lars in Broad-street were ignited. but the fire, from its
fierceness at one particular period. appeared to have
reached them. We omitted to state, that soon after
the fire in the gateway was discovered, the carriages
were taken out into the street, and the horses to neigh-
bour ing stables.
Mr. Rei.ly's plate was all saved; and we sincerely
hope that be is amply insured, although the loss to
him, even in that case, must be very great: We hear
that the stock and furniture were insured to the extent
of SPABOL

Great praise is due to the Bath troop of the N. S.
Yeomanry Cavalry, who, with their Captain (Mr.
Wilkins), and their Adjutant (Mr. B. L. Lye), kindly
and promptly attended to keep order ; and to those
many Iziends who lest a helping hand in such a sad
time of need: there were also numerous constables on
the spot, protecting the furniture, &c.
We andeistand that one or two accidents occurred
to the firemen; one of whom was attended on the spot
by a medical Gentleman, and sent home. We do not
hear that any life was lost.