The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-05 00:00:00

DISASTROUS FIRE AT HUDDERSFIELD

We have, at the commencement of a new year, to record
one of the most calamitous fires that has taken place in the
township of Huddersfield for many years. On Friday night,
Dec. the 25th, the inhabitants of Huddersfield, were, at a lit-
tle after eight o'clock, disturbed by an alarm that a factory was
on fire, and the broad lurid glare which overspread the town
too surely verified the report. On proceeding in the direc-
tion, we found the flames to proceed from the mill of Messrs.
Roberts Brothers, situate at Bradley Spout, (a spring so
called,) near New Town. a short distance from the parish
church, on the north, and known as the Brick factory, from
the materials with which it had been built. On coming
within view of the conflagration, a few minutes after the
alarm, a singularly awful spectacle was presented to us.
The entire roof of slate had been blown off, and the interior
of the building of the three upper floors presented one com-
plete body of flame, shooting up in columns to a vast
height. So near to the time as a quarter of an hour before
the discovery took place, several persons had passed the
mill, some of whom remarked how very silent, dark, and
quiet, this usual scene of bustle and business appeared at
that moment. The flames were first discovered by a female
residing in a row of cottages opposite the north side or front
of the mill. In the upper floor, just below that of the attic.
occupied by Messrs. Learoyd, soribblers, carders, &c., so
uncommonly rapid was the progress of the flames, that be-
fore the alarm could reach the Pack Horse yard, where the
Leeds and Yorkshire fire-engine is kept, (about three
minutes' walk,) the interior of that floor and the one above
it, were one mass of flames, the fire working downwards.
At twenty minutes past eight, the engine above alluded to
made its appearance, and although, from the very first, it was
most evident that the building could not be saved, yet much
valuable property in the lower rooms and casement, and the
engine and its house might have been saved had the firemen
been in a fit state to perform their duty. Unfortunately we
have to regret such was not the case. Of the few who came
with the engine, most, if not all of them, were in a state of
nearly complete intoxication, havingbeenkeeping Christmas,
from which cause, and the vast extent of the fire, they were
bewildered and knew not how to act ; they either would
not or could not work their own engine, nor would they
suffer any other person to meddle with it. One gentleman,
who endeavoured to screw on a hose to one of the pipes,
had it taken from him by a fireman, who struck him a severe
blow with it on the back, and much injured him ; in fact,
they were shifting the engine from pillar to post, unknow-
ing where to take up a station ; and when they did attempt
to play, it was against the bare walls, and not on the flames,
At length the populace took possession of the engine and
worked at it, as hard as possible, with the best judgment
they possessed, directed frequently by several gentlemen
from the town and neighbourhood, among whom Mr. Brook,
and Mr. W. W. Batty e, and one or two other magistrates,
were most conspicuous for their exertions. By their direc-
tions, and the able assistance of Messrs. Donson, Dalton,
and Clough, of the Huddersfield-place, who were inde-
fatigable, some wool, cotton, and piece goods were saved,
but with great personal risk, the flames ranging over their
'heads with the utmost fury. In the mean time expresses
had been sent off in various directions for other engines,
which arrived as quickly as the distance rendered possible;
among these were those of Messrs. Shaw, of Honley, Messrs.
Armitage Brothers, of Milnes Bridge, Mr. Brook, of Mel-
tham, and one or two more ; that of Messrs. Armitage was
accompanied by their own men, and worked beautifully, and,
indeed, all the others exerted themselves to the utmost, but
the unceasing violence of the devouring element rendered
their efforts fruitless. From the very plentiful supply of
water from an adjacent reservbir, (had the Leeds and York-
shire firemen been in a state of sobriety) something more
valuable might have been rescued. The loss is variously es-
timated, some accounts stating £B,OOO or £10,000; others
extend it to £20,000 • at all events, the loss is very extensive,
but we think from £13,000 to .£15,000 will prove the outside.
The remaining walls are now in a most dangerous state, and
should be taken down without a moment's delay, or fatal
consequences may ensue.

THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 31.—Since the foregoing was
written our worst fears have been frightfully realised. Last
night the wind blew fresh from the north and north-west,
settling in the north, and increasing to a gale. About four
o'clock this morning, the upper part of the east end, or gable,
gave way to the pressure of the wind, and, falling outwards,
came down on the cottage of Joseph Bairstow, the engineer,
breaking through the roof to the basement, clearing and de-
stroying all before it, killing Bairstow, his wife Mary,
and daughter Zillah, of the respective ages of thirty-three,
thirty-four, and two years. severely injuring two men
lodgers, and a sister of Mrs. Bairstow. Four of poor
•Bairstow's children most miraculously escaped, making a
way through, a window; how, we hate not yet ascertained.
The bodies were got out as soon as possible, much crushed ;
the head of the child nearly severed from the neck. The
remains of these unfortunates were removed to the Fox and
Grapes Inn, to await the coroner's inquest. They present a
shocking spectacle. Mrs. B. was far advanced in pregnancy.
After this misfortune had occurred, workmen were at last
busily employed in clearing away the rubbish. At the time
the end wall fell, the north or front wall also fell in with a
tremendous crash. We learn that it is the intention of the
inhabitants to call a public meeting to form a regular force,
or lire brigade, who will have to attend exclusively to such
duties. The present firemen are shoemakers, fancy weavers,
&c., &c., quite incompetent to the onerous duties of firemen.
—Leeds Intelligeneer.

Mr. Draper, of this town, shot, during the recent hard
weather, on the Tone river, at Priory, a fine Egyptian goose,
in excellent condition. The plranage is beautiful and very
curious. A bird of this description was shot about two years
ago in Sandhill Park.—Taunton Courier.
Go IT TEA-POT.—A teetotaller at Barnsley, in stating his
experience, said he had been a married man seven years, and
had no children, the reason for which he assigned was,
because he had spent that time in intemperance. He exclaim-,
ed emphatically, did this Knight of the Tea-pot, it was from
no other cause, for as soon as he became a teetotaller he was
honoured with a child, in due time, and what was more
astonishing, when it was only fifteen months old it walked
from Barnsley to Worsbro' and back again, (six miles.)
Look to this, all ye nations, for from the spout of a teapotcomes your strength.—Leeds Intelligencer.
Prince Albert is now studying the constitutional law of
England with great industry and earnestness, under the able
tuition of Mr. Selwyn, queen's counsel, the father of one
of the assistant curates of Windsor. Since the union of his
royal highness with her majesty, Mr. .Selwyn has been fre-
quently at Windsor and at Buckingham Palace, reading,
with his royal highness, Blackstone and other constitutional
authorities, it: order that the prince may be perfected in 'a
knowledge of the constitutional law, and be better fitted fdr
that seat in the council to which he has been appointed by
the sovereign.--Morning Herald.