The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-03-10 00:00:00

AWFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

(From our Second and Fourth Editions of Tuesday last.)
STANDARD-OFFICE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.
We have the painful task to record the calamity of another
great fire, in addition to those of the past winter,—and
which, though happily unattended by loss of life, will yet be
s iu its effects, in its destruction of great part of

the valuable and extensive works of Messrs. Fawcett,
Preston, and Co., founders and engineers, in the delay that
will be occssioned in refurnishing some portions of the
marine engines and other works in hand immediately wanted,
and in the probable throwing out of employment for a long
time of many of the numerous hands employed by that firm—
occasionally in all from 5 to 700 men.
The foundry and works are situated in the oblong
quadrangle bounded by 'York-street (the narrowest end)
northward, Gilbert-street westward, Lydia Ann-street
e:tstward, and Dickenson-street southward,—the whole area
' being about 150 yards in length, and of an average width
(widening to Dickenson-street) of about GO yards. The
works known as " Fawcett's Foundry," or the " Phoenix
Foundry," covered the whole of this area, in buildings and
yards, with the exception of the comparatively small
premises occupied by Messrs. Murray and Brown, mill-
wrights, engineers, &c., at the south-east corner, and the
sheds and other premises adjoining on the north-west,
belonging to Mr. Waring, hide and leather merchant.
Preliminary to the great fire, an alarm reached the fire-
station, about twelve o'clock last night, that a timber yard in
Great Crosshall-street, (occupied by Mr. R. Newell, jun.,)
had caught fire, and engines were immediately got in readi-
ness ; but happily, before they started a police-officer
brought information that the fire, which was unimportant,
had been got out by such means as were at hand, without
much damage being sustained. At three o'clock, (we may
here mention,) and while the great fire was blazing, another
alarm of fire, in Limekiln-lane, also reached the station, but
this too was averted before it had gained any great head, so
that the engines were left to operate on the greater confla-
gration, to which we now proceed :
It appears, from the most authentic information we could
obtain, that about one o'clock this morning the watchman
employed at Messrs. Fawcett's discovered that fire, at first
apparently trifling in his estimation, had broken out in a
room in which paints are ground and prepared, and known
as " the paint-room." The premises open out interiorly,
between Lydia Ann-street and Gilbert-street, into a succes-
sion of yards of oblong irregular form, the buildings lining
with each of these streets, and of various widths, being in-
tersected towards the south by two buildings crossing be-
tween and joining them at right angles. Under these cross-
ing buildings were two archways for carts; and the " paint-
room" is immediately over, on the first floor, that furthest to
the south, (the Dickenson-street end of the yard,) and which
extended into the centre building in Gilbert-street. There
were two stories above that ignited, most of the buildings
within the area of the conflagration being four and five sto-
ries in height. Unluckily, the watchman, when he observed
the fire, thought he could overcome it by his own unassisted
exertions, and in place of sending immediately to the fire-
station, continued for some time to throw such small quanti-
ties of water upon it as he could bring. He soon, how-
ever, found that it defied his efforts, and the police were
sent for. A strong brigade of the fire police, with engines
and water carts, were soon on the ground, headed by Mr.
Whitty, Superintendents Leverett and Quick, Mr. Hewitt of
the fire department, Inspectors Moore, Walker, and others.
When they first reached the spot, it was the general, and we
believe correct opinion, that had timely notice been given,
the whole catastrophe that ensued might have been averted
by the application of a dozen buckets of water. The only
water, however, to be attained for a long time (perhaps an
hour and a half), was solely that brought by the water-carts
from the fire-station in Temple Court. There were three
water plugs in Greetham-street, opposite the middle of
Gilbert-street, and close to the fire, and, we believe, one in
the latter-named street; but the mains were not filled,
and no water could there be obtained. The water tanks,
each, we believe, carrying about 7 tons, were put into opera-
tion from the Station • as well as all the water-carts, which
last took no fewer than 27 loads during the height of the
fire. The poor people in Gilbert-street and neighbourhood
did good service by bringing cans and buckets of water from
their dwellings.

Meantime-the fire went on with uncontrollable fury in
and round the spot where it originally commenced. Seven
powerful engines were shortly present, and played with con-
siderable effect in arresting the flames, particularly their
progress southward. where the valuable model-rooms are
situated, next to Dickenson-street, and at the top of the
quadrangle in Lydia Ann-street and Gilbert-street.

Mr. Niel( well, of the Insurance-offices, was early on the
ground, with Mr. Anderson, and rendered valuable assist-
ance: The West of England fire engine was, we learn, the
first on the ground.
The fire, as it gained head, burst out from window after
window, in and over the paint-room, and soon extended to
the long frontage in Gilbert-street—the roofs continuing to
fall in from time to time, and the wails of the interior
crossing buildings to fall piecemeal. The buildings that
crossed the yard further northward also caught the blaze,
and soon fell a prey to the destructive element, with some of
the valuable machinery within, and eventually the outer walls
in Gilbert-street of various departments of the works, to the
length of about 40 yards. These walls are perforated with
numerous windows, and, commencing at the top, fell in huge
pieces from time to time, chiefly inwards. About four
o'clock a large warehouse, the property of Messrs. Fawcett,
and known as " Matthews's", which is included in the area
on which the works stand, and extends from the paint-room
to its frontage in Lydia Ann- street, took fire. It was stowed
chiefly with cotton and hemp. Some of both articles, the
first in bales, and the latter in bundles or trusses, was saved,
and carried into the lower part of Lydia Ann-street, and into
York-street and Dickenson-street. The greater part, how-
ever, particularly of the hemp, was destroyed. The police
worked manfully at this work, as did the crews of H.M
steamer Redwing and H.M.S. Etna, under command of Lieut.
Ladd, of the former vessel, who regretted exceedingly that,
owing to the steam of his engines being blown off when the
fire was seen by him, he could not land his men until after
four o'clock. His men continue to be most active in saving
such property as can be taken from the burning buildings.
By four o clock the buildings crossing in the yard men-
tioned, which had ignited, the range from Gilbert-street, and
the cotton warehouse, was completely gutted, and present
fearful masses of ruined walls and flames —the latter, where
they remained in their places between the stories, throwing
out brilliant jets of flame like fireworks. The lurid flames
ascended to a great height, and brightly illuminated all the
high buildings at the top of Duke-street and on St. James's
Mount, giving a large part of the town the appearance of a
theatrical illumination, or firing. Besides the seven engines
from the station, All the Dock engines were bronght up, and
all played with effect, after a supply of water was obtained
and continued. The Mayor, Mr. Rushton, and other gen-
tlemen connected with the magistracy and the commerce of
the town were on the ground at an early hour, and remained
until after daylight, giving effectual afsistance by their advice
and example.
Soon after four o'clock, the wind being from about S.S.E.
or S E., carried the heat of the flames from the cotton and
hemp warehouse across Lydia•street to an eqully tall ware-
house facing that street, and nearly directly opposite, so that
the teagle lofts and the roof, and finally the upper story caught
fire, and belched forth large volumes of black smoke. Four
engines were immediately put into play upon it, but by half-
past five part of the roof and floors next the street gave way,
and the whole building, known as " Lake's," as well as a
warehouse of. equal height adjoining, called " Dover's,"
were in imminent danger of being burnt. These warehouses
closely adjoin others of a valuable description facing Henry-
street ; and there are valuable lower sheds and warehouse,
on the east, which, however, from the direction of the wind,
were in less danger. We have not yet ascertained the de-
struction in these premises.
From six o'clock up to eight, large portions of the walls of
Fawcett's cotton warehouse, and also of the foundry premises
within, toppled from their sites as the flooring, beams, and
bond timber in the brickwork gave way, and fell in successi
crashes, and some perilous escapes were made by parties ne
them. Lydia Ann-street and Gilbert-street, in particular,
are strewed with ruins of fallen walls and materials—particu-
larly the latter. The cotton warehouse (Fawcett's) presents
interiorly a mountainous mass of burning cotton, hemp, &e.
The premises of Mr. Waring, adjoining, arid further to the
south-east, are much damaged ; but his books were saved
by the active exertions of Mr. Inspector Walker, Mre
Leverett, Mr. Melville, of the Liver Theatre, and others.
-Mr. Melville exerted himself throughout in a most praise-
worthy manner in assisting the hands of the police.
Mr. Fawcett was on the ground about two o'clock,
and naturally witnessed the destruction of his property with
much anxiety. He was much relieved when, by the active
exertions of the police, with the "good old" engine, No. 9,
which played within the premises, the very valuable buildings
in Dickenson-street, including the model-rooms, and some
fine new marine engines, were saved. Amongst those en-
gines was the entire one for the new iron steam-ship, build-
ing by Mr. Thomas Wilson for the City of Dublin Co. ; also
great part of the engine for the steam-ship " Bentinck," lately
launched. The cylinders and heavy castings of the latter
(not yet sent on board) are all saved ; but we regret to say
that the fine brass and polished work is destroyed, or much
injured. It will be difficult to replace these within the time
required, so that the vessel may proceed to her destination,
to join the Hindostan in the Indian seas.
The work-rooms burnt down at the foundry are numerous,
and included much machinery, es well as prepared goods of a
valuable description, but we have not yet ascertained the
probable amount. It may be said generally, indeed, that
about one-third, at least, of the premises are destroyed,—
and that of one of the most extensive and celebrated engine
and iron works in the kingdom.