The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-02 00:00:00

ALARMING FIRE.

On Friday evening, about half-past 6, an alarm of fire wai
given, which proved to be in the extensive cooperage of Mr:
John W. Buchanan, situate in Gibbon's-lane, Queen-street:
The West of England engine was quickly on the spot, but, from
some cause which yet remains to be explained, it was sometime
before any of the fire police engines arrived, and, when they did
arrive, the usual impediment, WANT or WATER, was experienced;
so that it was nearly three quarters of an hour after the alarm
was first given, before the engines could be brought to play
upon the flames, which had of course by this time got to an
amazing extent, and as the cooperage was completely enveloped
in flames, from the combustible nature of the materials, the at-
tention of Mr. Whitty, and the men under his charge, was di-
rected to the preservation of the contiguous buildings. The
premises belonging to Mr Daniel M.Killop, ship and anchor
smith, immediately adjoining the cooperage yard, caught fire, but
it was extinguished, and very little damage done, so that the
fire was confined to the cooperage where it commenced, which
is totally destroyed. Immediately after the breaking out of the
fire, the men belonging to Messrs. J. P. Mather, Dixon &
foundry, adjoining the cooperage yard, commenced playing a
small engine belonging to that establishment, upon that part of
the yard contiguous to their premises, and to the praise-worthy
exertions of Messrs. M. D. & Co.'s men, with their small but
effective engine, is to be mainly attributed the saving of a con-,
siderable amount of property in staves, &c., which were iu a
large yard behind the cooperage. -
Mr, Buchanan, the proprietor, is insured in the West of Scot-
land and Protector fire offices, but we hear he is unfortunately
not fully covered, from the circumstance of his having at johis
time an unusually large stock on hand. The loss is estimit'terl
at nearly £2,00U, in which case Mr. B. will be a considerable
loser. By half-past 10 the fire was completely got under.
This tire has proved, what has repeatedly been asserted, and
as often denied, viz. the total inefficiency of the fire police, Ist'
It appears that the usual scarcity of water was telt. The fire
commenced at half-past 6 o'clock, and it was near 9 o'clock be-
fore any thing like a full and adequate supply was obtained.
In a letteraddressed to the Standard a. few weeks ago, and which
was intended as an answer to Mr Moore's letter, it was there
contended that there would be no complaints as to the supply
of water in future. The "future" then alluded to has come,
it has been tried, and it is as bad as the past. The water abhors
the fire ! 2d,-It also appears that the fire police engines were
the last to arrive on the spot. What is the use of an establish-
ruent whose officers and men arrive just in time to be too late ?
They saved an out-house, it is said; why not, had water and
engines been brought up in time, have saved the greater part of
the properly ?
During the progress of the fire a strong body of the dock-
police and a considerable part of the constabulary force, under
Mr. Parlour, were in attendance, and iVere of the greatest ser-
vice in preserving order and assisting in the removal of property.
We wish to call the attention of the commissioners of the watch
to the impropriety of allowing any one individual to hold the
respective.officea of superintendent of the nightly watch and of
the, tire-police. The great number of per sons who are drawn
together at a fire, very frequently obstruct the fire-police in the
performance of their duties, and prevent the working of the
engines. In this instance the evil was remedied by the fire
breaking out at such an early hour in the evening, but should a
fire break out in the night it would be totally impossible to keep
back the crowd, unless a well-organized force, under the direr-'
Lion of an efficient officer, were In attendance; and it must be
obvious that it requires all the attention of the superintendent
properly to direct the working of the engine and assist in the
preservation of property. We are persuaded that unless this
evil is remedied forthwith, the greatest confusion will be created
and defeat all the purposes of an established fire-police.

THE WIDENING OF DRURY-LANE.

To THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST./IND/IRD.

—•
Stu;—l beg, through your very interesting and spirited
medium, to call the public attention to that part of Drury-lane
which passes between Brunswick-street and Water-street, with
reference to its present and future condition. Situated as it is
in the midst of offices, warehouses, the steani-packet companies,
and, from its vicinity to the Corn Exchange and docks, it is a
considerable and very important thoroughfare, and, as a very
favourable opportunity now presents itself for its widening and
enlargement, it is to be hoped, on the grounds of publie Con.'
venience, that the corporation, on the one hand, and the re-
spectable individuals who have made an extensive purchase on
the west side of Drury-lane, with a view to new erections, will,
on the other, meet in such an arrangement as will result in a
widening of that line of communication.
• The present confined, state of the street prevents carts from
passing each other, and there being a very extensive inter-
course in the Way of unloading and le...Tieing produce 'at Mr:
Drinkwater's warehouse and others, conflicts are frequently
taking place between carters who will draw up in 'opposite
directions, and working men, connected with them,- so as to
render the annoyance greater than can be *ell ititagined, and
dangerous to pz}rties whose business necessitates theist-to pass
-that way.. *. •
The preinises which form the purchase alluded to • comprise
the site called Bomilly-court and its frontage, which eiteitds to
within onshouse of Brunswick-street on:the south, and to those
just vacated by Messrs. Phillips, Black, and Co on the north,
and of course e*rbrac•es a considerable part of the west side of
the street ; and if the survey be curried from Messrs. Phillips's
late office to Mr. Drinkwater's house on the north ems of Drury-
lane, the intermediate premises would be found of such a de-.
scription as to be secured at uo very great expense; and if the
matter be viewed in connexion vyit h the alterations tvbe made
in Water-street, which will enlarge that thoroughfate to the line
of the Ind.a-buildings, it is most impor-taut to the public, as well
as to individuals whose property is'in the .vicinity of Drury-Thine,
that it should be widened to at least double its present extent,
and thus aitow a safe passage for carts and other vehicles, with
a commodious parapet ou both sides for public intercourse.
There can no opportunity occur so favourable -to ithe much
ne.eded accommodation as the present; or where the•parties int-
inediatety interested stand in such a favourable position to each
other:

The Messrs. Bourne, Drinkwater, and Lace, whether as public
characters or private individuals, must feel deeply interested in
the accomplishment of this measure, and there can be little
doubt that their ability and influence will be readily exerted to
insure Lhe widening of the ancient thoroughfare of Drury-lane:
I have to apologize for intruding on your columns, but having
resided for some months in the immediate neighlionrhood. I
have had many opportunities of witnessing the inconveniencies
and dangers resuiting from the present confined state of the
street; and being satisfied that there is ample back ground to
allow of whatever new erections may be contemplated on the
west side of Drury-lane being set back, so as to render it a safe
and commodious passage, 1 have considered it my duty to direct
the public attention to this very desirable alteration, which
would be not mote satisfactory to the commercial interests or
that section of the town than beneficial to the numerous persons
whose interests are so intnnately bound up and connected with
this important measure,—Yours, &c.
7, Drury-lane, June Ist: THOS. ANDERTON.

Brinsley Sheridan, whose elopement with the beautiful
Miss Mercia Grant is the subject of general conversation in the
fashionable circles, is in the receipt of a pension on the Civil
List of £75 per annum, and his brothers and sisters, with the
exception of Lady Seymour, have each the same amount of pen,
sion' which was bestowed on them by the Earl of Liverpool, in
1818. The gallant general, father of the bride, is said to de.'
clue his intention of forthwith breaking up his establishment in
Grosvenor-square, and of retiring to the Continent.—Standard