The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-12-01 00:00:00

DREADFUL FIRE AT PLYMOUTH

(From the Plymouth Times of Nov. 28, 1846.)
It is with considerable regret we record the occurrence,
on Monday evening last, of an alarming and destructive
tire, originating on the premises of Messrs. Plimsaul
Brothers, ironmongers, in Buckwell-street, and which
extended to several adjoining houses, and from which at
one time far more serious consequences were anticipated.
It appears that Mr. Plimsaul, at about eight o'clock, not
residing at the establishment in Buckwell-street, turned
off the gas and locked the door, and left the premises, as
was believed, all safe. At about half-past nine, however,
some of the neighbours and a policeman perceived smoke
proceeding from some part of the premises. An alarm
was immediately given, and Lieutenant Holman, the
superintendent, with his usual alacrity, attended by a
numerous body of the borough police, was speedily on
the spot, with a view of rendering whatever assistance
might be required. On the arrival of the Messrs.
Piimsaul, attempts were made by Mr. B. Plimsaul
to enter the premises to go down into a cellar with the
view of ascertaining if means could be there taken to ex-
tinguish the fire, which appeared to have originated in
that part of the premises, but so dense were the volumes
of smoke that he was obliged to desist. There being on
the premises camphine. oil, candles, turpentine, &c., and
in the shop about half a dozen pounds of gunpowder,
serious fears were entertained as to the possibility of pre-
venting the devouring element assuming its most fearful
and destructive power; fortunately, however, engines and
plenty of help were soon put in requisition. The County,
the West of England fire engines and their respective
brigades, and the engines of the Royal Marines, the
Dockyard, the Citadel, the Custom-house, and the Royal
Navy Hospital, were also brought to the scene of the
conflagration with the u'inost de patch. The County
engine, under the direction of Mr. Carkeet, the agent,
and Mr. Parsons, the engine director was the first to ar-
rive, and took up its position so as to ply through the
doorway into the shop, and was the first to commence
working. The West of England engine hose was con-
ducted down the back lane, and James Bailey, the daunt-.
less foreman of the brigade, ascended the roof of the
house of Mr. Watts, tailor, and from thence continued
to ply with considerable effect upon the back part of the
premises. The Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough,
accompanied by Mr. Coryndon, one of the Borough ma-
gistrates, was early in attendance and by his direction
and influence rendered important service on the alarming
occasion. Amongst the officers present were Col. Old.,
field, R.E., Col. Edwards, R at., Cap. Blundell and Lieuts.-
Drew, and Hall, of the 14th Regiment, Adjutant Wright,
Capt. Clarke, Lieut. Simpson, and Stevens of the Royal
Marines, and Lieut. Williams, R.N., the Director of the
Dockyard Police. Order was admirably preserved by a
detachment of the sth Fusileers, under the command of

Dec. 1, 1846.

Major Symons and Lieut. Carter. Notwithstanding the
efforts of the engines, the flames rose to a fearful height',
and the greatest apprehensions prevailed. It was states
by our contemporary on Wednesday that 14 barrels of
gunpowder were taken from the premises. This was not
the case. There were, however, 91 lbs. of powder la'
an adjoining linbay, but that was removed to a place.
of safety before the flames were visible.
continued to play until three o'clock on '
when the fury of the flames so far aly

is of its extending
- however. was i

the apprehen
buildings. The fir

y forenoon. TI

to the r

throughout the
ground, behaved- in the
dered important service by their exerttop.._
done is very considerable ; probably not less t
or £BOOO worth of property, however, have beei

e engineS

o relieve
'bowing
y ext in-

soldiery'
3 on the

and ren-

The damaze

a £7OOO

jured or consumed. Before
Plimsauls' shop, goods to the vales of
this was all destroyed. The Messrs Plim
sured on their stock in the Norwich Co ce at
premises, the property of Mr. Thy- rater,
'tely gutted ; Mr. Cater is insured In 0 in thk
Exchange Office. The house of Mr. Watts and Mr. Tux
kett adjoining, were also considerably damaged. Mr.
Watts' house and stock were both insured ; the damage
to Mr. Tuckett's property has been estimated at £1500;
he is insured in the County Office. The more remote
neighbours, Mr. Wilton, tailor, Mr. Brooking's straw
bonnet manufactory, Messrs. Woolf, pawnbrokers, and
Weeks, milliner, were also sufferers by damage of their
property in its hurried removal, &c. Io estimating the
loss of Messrs. Plimsaul, the loss sustained by the in-
terruption of their business must be taken into account
as an important item. This disastrous fire has furnished
a practical test of the value of Milner's Patent Safety
Chest. About one o'clock it was discovered that the
books of amount, and other important documents of the
house, which were kept in one of these Chests, were pre-
served uninjured,by fire or water; while a large iron safe
of the old construction, which had been surrounded with
Had

ut £3OOO

:omple-
London

rick wal

its door forced by