The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-27 00:00:00

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF SUNDAY

Our reporter visited the ruins this day. Vast numbers of
persons were congregated at the entrances to the area, where
police-officers were stationed. The top of the Rotunda
Tavern was crowded with spectators throughout the day, to
witness such portion of the ruins as could be seen from that
point. Mr. \Vhitty was busy in directing the engines—about
ten of which were almost constantly playing the whole day,
and had been during the whole of the previous night. The
fire-proof warehouse or range with the sign-board—" Sud-
low's,"—near the bottom, still remained unscathed, though
immediately adjoining large warehouses that had fallen to
the ground, and still blazed with great heat from the cotton,
&c., through the ruins. Out of one of them, a little higher
up, on the opposite side of the street, (where two engines
had been smashed on Friday morning), a quantity of half-
melted rosin came through the fallen bricks and other build-
ing materials, and arrested by them in progress, had risen to
the height of two to three feet in some parts. A large
quantity of the same material blazed up through the ruins
occasionally, with a black smoke, and the water thrown upon
it had only a slight and momentary effect,—the heaps from
which the flames rose, from time to time, being aptly deno-
minated by one of the firemen, " kilns." Here men were
employed in saving cotton, all loose, but comparatively tri-
fling quantities were got out, and it frequently blazed up
when placed in a heap, so that it was requisite to turn the
branches upon it.
Crompton-street was for the most part swiming with tar.
From the area near the top, where stood the fallen minor
erections in which the fire commenced, a fine view of the fire
was obtained, and particularly from the ruins of some ware-
houses at the back of some large sheds, &c., south of the
street, some of which latter are still entire. Several uneven
hills of burning matter and ruins, still of a great height, on
both sides of Crosbie-street, here presented themselves.
About eleven o'clock one of these hills blazed up to the height
of eight or ten teet, arid here and there presented a mass of
livid fire. Within the ruins of several of the warehouses,
the cotton, though much sunk from the former day, by being
consumed, still resembled beds of irregular rock, made red-
hot at every cavity by the action of fire below. The black
smoke from the turpentine, tar, &c., strongly contrasted
with the steam rising from the hot bricks on which the
firemen played ; and the whole scene, extending over a large
space, conveyed a probably true idea of the crater of a burn-
ing mountain at certain times. The cotton in Poole's large
sheds facing Great Howard-street had still the same appear-
ance of rocks here and there red-hot ; but it had become so
far reduced by combustion that it had sunk into the cellars,
some feet below the level of the street.

A body of the Preston tire-police, under Mr. S. Bradley,
came about noon to tender their services, and were welcomed
by Mr. \Vhitty, who, we learn, put some of them to work.
An engine would also be sent for from that town, if it were
deemed requisite. _ _

During the whole forenoon a great quantity of fish oil,
mixed with turpentine, &c., which had been crushed in the
cellars of the burnt warehouses by the ruins, or had leaked
out by the tire below, ran out by the common sewer into the
Prince's Dock Basin ; and a large quantity of it was " baled"
up from the surface of the water, by boatmen, into casks and
other vessels. Some was taken to the deptit at the north end
of the Prince's Dock ; and, from some cause, the effort to
save more was given up, so that much of it ran into the river
with the next tide. At one time the basin was nearly covered
with it, and the smell was anything but odorous. Two small
schooners, lying opposite the slate-yards, had their bottoms
below water-mark completely covered with it, and, as it was
of a reddish-yellow colour, appeared as if sheathed with some
dingy metal, resembling soiled copper.

THE RUINS YESTERDAY.-LATEST PARTICULARS

The scene yesterday resembled, to a considerable degree,
that of Sunday, in the " operative" department ; with the
exception that many porters and carts were employed to
remove any thing that could possibly be saved from the out-
skirts of the area of the fire, though nearly all in a damaged
state ; and we regret to say, that the salvage, whether for
insurers or insured, will be very small.
Our reporter mounted the ruins—yet in a strong state of
combustion below—in the very centre of the conflagration,
between Formby-street and Crompton-street, and nearer to
the former, in company with Mr. Inspector Leverett, who
has yet scarcely recovered from the great and prolonged
fatigue he endured in common with his brother officers.
They passed down the top of Formby-street, the middle of
which is a heap of ruins. The top is an inclined plane, with
the row of dwelling-houses (before noticed) on one side, and
Mrs. Barks, with the ruins of a shed, opposite, out of which
were taken (luckily for Mrs. B. and also for the safety of the
Borough Gaol) a number of casks of tallow, when the fire
was at its height. At the bottom of the plane, the water
has collected from the engines, and the canal overflow let
into it, to the height of from two to two and a half feet,
which was passed over by planks. Four of the houses--the
lowest down in the row—are gutted by the tire, and the
others much injured.

We passed over the precise spot where lie the remains of
poor Hodson (not Hodgson as before stated), who was killed
by the falling of the front wall of one of the warehouses, im-
mediately below the row of houses, and continuous with
them. Building materials, chiefly bricks, had fallen upon
him to a great height, and the workmen had only at the time
got to the wall which had crushed him within a yard or two
of the spot, by seven o'clock, so that his remains (which will
be crushed, but not, it is supposed, burned) will not be got
out till this day.
Thence, we proceeded, as we best could, over heaps of
bricks, to the site of the third warehouse below on the north
side of the street,—inouuting hillocks (reduced from " hills"),
and which appeared from the superincumbent fallen walls ac-
commodating themselves to the still burning but confined rt!a-
telpls below, like so many kilns, to be regularly " paved with
brick." From an eminence on this site, a fine view of the
whole of the yet blazing and smoking ruins in their full extent
burst. upon the eye of the spectator; and though the general
1-Fe had become much depressed by exhaustion, the acre was
tearfully interesting, and the conflagration and its eflects far
more vivid. varied, and extensive, than could be conceived by
any one on the outside of the area. Nine to ten engines were,
in all, at work in various parts, though few of them were
seen from any given point. Ruins rose on every side, in
shattered walls still standing, and partly roofed, on outside
of the amphitheatre, but open at the gables nearest the spec-
tator; while here and there a wall stood, portion of the side
of a warehouse reared its long length In fearful and unsup-
ported isolation over the minorbeaps of burning ruins. The
black smoke from the materiels below (including turpentine
and tar) again contrasted with the white vapour or steam
thrown up by the action of the*ater from the engines on the
hot bricks and stones in other quirters. A hill of burning
matter was still prominent east' of and near the tire-proof
warehouse , and the reflection of the flames cast a lively but
urid glare on the naked and rsiined walls, that still retained

the whiteness imparted by the calcined mortar. One of the
brick-paved hills, over which we passed, had, but a few mi-
nutes before, sunk about two feet, from the consumption by
the fire of the materials far below. The whole spectacle was
indeed sublime, even at so long a time after the height of the
fire.

It is worthy of remark, that the whole property, or nearly
the whole, was destroyed, or placed beyond reach of redemp-
tion, within the short space of six to eight hours, an unex-
ampled short period for the " full swoop" of so large a mass.
We subjoin a plan of the area comprising the fire, with the
streets bounding it, and of which we have taken some pains
to give a more accurate sketch than has yet appeared. We
should state that the property marked " Waterhouses," at
the top of Neptune-street, was occupied as cotton and other
warehouses, or rather sheds, cooperages, &c., as elsewhere
appears ; and that marked " Mathews," on the same side
below, was occupied by Messrs. Gregson and Bannister, ship-
wrights, and smiths, and other parties, whose names, as
tenants are also given.

Borough Gaol.
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FURTHER PARTICULARS

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From about eight o'clock on Friday morning to eleven,
the Borough Gaol was in great danger of taking fire, owing
to the wind (from about the W.N.W.) carrying the heat and
flames of the large mass over and upon it. Every exertion
was used, and effectually, to prevent such a casualty. Water
in buckets, wet rugs, &c., were employed actively on the
roofs of the outbuildings most exposed, and measures were
taken to convey the prisoners, had necessity required, in safe
custody to Kirkdale.. Nearly all the borough magistrates
and many others were present, and Mr. Dighton, the
governor, was on the alert.

- The police force, from Mr. Whitty down, were wet through
again and again, and covered with dust, cotton, &c. Their
eyes were so painfully affected by the heat and smoke, that
they were at times almost blind and sought relief in the
application of water from leaks in the hose or elsewhere.
Mr. Hewitt was this morning almost blind of an eye. Mr.
Highton had to apply poultices to remove the inflammation;
and many of the inspectors, superintendents, and constables
were equally sufferers.

It has been rumoured that the fire originated in malice.
We can trace this to no substantial foundation. The real
origin is not yet, we believe, satisfactory ascertained ; but it
will probably turn out, on investigation, to have been mere
accident, or at the worst, carelessness on the part of some
one having premises in Crompton-street.
Soon after the fire commenced nine head of cattle were
saved, which were taken out of the shippon in Crompton-
street by the watchman of the street, Bernard Coyle, (before
noticed.) This man was apprehended by the police on Fri-
day morning, after having some quarrel with one of the
officers—originating probably in a mistake on the part of the
latter, which led to his committing an assault. He was fined
for the offence and discharged.

SECOND OUTBREAK OF THE GREAT FIRE,

LAST NIGHT,

Last night, shortly before ten o'clock, fire again broke out
within the area before noticed, in premises that were thought
to be quite safe, after dark. It was first discovered by a boy,
who communicated it to Inspector Moore : he immediately
made it known to Mr. Whitty, who fortunately was just
then making a tour of the ruins. The alarm was given
throughout the lower part of the town soon after ten o'clock,
by the springing of rattles and the tolling of the station
bells ; and from the destruction of life and property
that had already taken place, the most painful ap-
prehensions were entertained, and thousands rushed to the
scene, which was indicated by the glare on the sky, nearly
over the site of the previous conflagration.
On reaching the spot we found that the premises ignited
were, 'Webster's small house and extensive yard behind, and
Devan's marine store adjoining, and also some premises
occupied by a carter named Bushell, who bad several horse s
in the stables behind. The whole of the premises are situ-
ated at the lower part of Crompton-street, (the northern
boundary of the great fire,) and the fire had communicated
from the interior of the area where the buildings are in ruins,
and yet burning in the sublime manner before described.
The flames from the buildings, though low, being almost
wholly of wood, gained a rapid head, and the cooperage, the
marine store, and Bushell's (at the back) were all speedily in
flames, over a frontage to the street of about 25 yards. Two
or three of the horses and some pigs were got out alive, but
some were burned to death. Just above, in the same row,
and to the east, was a double cotton shed, longitudinal
with the street, which was for some time in great danger,
but Superintendent Leverett had the door burst open, and
got the fire extinguished just in time to save it. When
the fire began the greatest alarm naturally prevailed
amongst the inmates of the premises, several of whom
were in their beds—females as well as males—ran out in their
shirts and shifts. A number of engines were speedily on the
ground, and were worked by the police, under Mr. Whitty
and others, with as much energy, notwithstanding their
previous fatigue, as if they had come fresh to the scene of
action. We can form no estimate of the loss ; but we may
say that this fire, as well as the greater one, we have had the
pain to record, shows the necessity for some law to prevent
the building of sheds and other premises of timber, and other
combustible materials, particularly in the mercantile and
crowded parts of the town, where much valuable property is
stored, and many lives are endangered on the spreading of a
fire.

Standard-office, Half-past Twelve o'clock.
We have lust returned from the scene of devastation.
The fire, we trust, is for the present got under; and, but for
the amazing rapidity with which it burst, we may say,
amongst the wooden buildings destroyed, would have been
arrested in a few minutes by the large and active force at
present on the spot. We regret to say that six valuable
horses belonging to Mr. Bushel are destroyed. We
saw, amidst the smoking ruins upon the site of the
stabling, the carcases of two, charred to a cinder,
and the bones perfectly white in parts from which the
skin and flesh had been stripped off. A donkey was the
only tenant of the stabling which made its escape without
assistance ; and, as it rushed through the gates of the yard
into Crompton-street, with its long ears all a-flame, and
shaking its head, furnished a laughable exhibition contrasted
with the horror of the remaining scene. We know not as
yet the fate of the pigs which were upon the premises. 'We
were told, however, by the inspeltors and firemen upon
the spot, that they were in all probability saved, having
promptly made their egress from their sties, and distributed
themselves in all directions amongst the legs of those engaged
in arresting the progress of the flames. The stench which
we experienced, whilst seeing the remains of the fourfooted
tenants of the stable, was dreadful.
Should any thing further occur, and we cannot conceal our
impression that the state of the entire locality of the fire is
far from satisfactory, we shall communicate it to our readers
in a second edition.

INQUEST ON THREE OF THE SUFFERERS BY

THE FIRE.

Yesterday an inquisition was held before P. F. Curry, Esq.,
touching the respective deaths of John Martin, Luke Smith,
and James Bell, who had perished by the fire.
Edward P. M'Knight, a warehouse-keeper in Exchange..
street East, said,—Two of the deceased—John Martin and
Luke Smith—were in my employ. On Friday morning
last,
between 8 and 9 o'clock, they were engaged in removing
some goods, by my direction, out of my warehouse in Nep-
tune-street, which was expected to take fire, being close to
some warehouses then on fire. There was a space of about
twelve feet between my warehouse and one that was on fire.
While they were so engaged the wall of the warehouse close
to, fell down upon my warehouse, and cut the gable com-
pletely away, which fell upon the two men, and they were
buried under the ruins. They were taken out as speedily as
possible. They were not dead. They were carried away.
They were much crushed.

Samuel Tack, police-officer, said,—l was engaged on Fri-
day at the fire in Neptune-street, when word was passed that
the branch was wanted at another building. I went to the
place directed, and saw the last witness and some other men
there. The gable end of the building had fallen down, and I
was informed some men were under the ruins. Assistance
was procured and the bricks removed, when two men were
taken from under. Neither of them were dead, and they
were removed to the Northern Hospital.
Hugh Falkner, a labourer, said—l knew one of the de-
ceased very well. His name was James Bell. He was about
35 years old. On Friday morning the deceased and I were
engaged in removing some cotton out of a shed in Neptune-
street, which was close to a warehouse on fire, which fronted
Formby-street. I was engaged in throwing the bales of
cotton down, which were piled on one another, and the de-
ceased was rolling them along the gangway to the door.
While we were so engaged, I heard a noise, and then saw
that the roof was falling in, and directly after the gable end
of the buildine, was thrown down. I ran between some bales
of cotton, and then missed the deceased. He was standing
in the gangway at the time the wall fell. Assistance was
procured, and the bricks removed, and the deceased taken
from under. His head was split in two. He was removed
to the Northern Hospital.
Joseph Massey, inspector of police, said :—On Friday last
I was on duty at the Victoria Dock and neighbourhood. I
and another officer perceived some smoke in a yard appa-
rently in Crompton-street. We proceeded there, and found
a fire in Mr. Peniston's yard. There were several sheds
built of timber, and one of them was on fire. I knocked at
the yard•door with my stick, but no person answered. I did
not observe any person about. I sent the officer directly to
the fire station, and then went down to the dock and gave
orders for word to be passed to the stations for the fire en-
gines. I then returned to the fire and examined the place,
and found a stove with a tire in it, and the door open. There
was a boiler over the fire, and the steam partly up• There
was a small steam-engine in the yard, which was used for
grinding bones. On going into the engine•house, I found a
bench on fire, which was about three yards from the stove.
The engine-house was built of timber, and the flames front
the bench ascended to the roof, which was partly on tire.
The engine-house adjoined the yard belonging toMrs. Isaacs,
who is an oil and colour-dealer, in which was a wooden shed.
The flames from the engine-house reached that shed, and set
it on fire also. Before the fire-engines arrived, the flames
had spread a good way up Crompton-street, and several
buildings had taken fire. The wind was blowing rather
fresh from the N.W., and spread the fire a good way. I
then went to the station to assist in getting the engines out,
and did not return again for some time, when the fire was
raging terribly, and several warehouses had taken fire. I
saw several of the walls of the warehouses fall, one of theta
in the direction of Mr. M'Knight's warehouse. I did not
know any person was hurt until a little time after it had
fallen. The warehouse, the wall of which fell towards Mr.
McKnight's building, belonged to Mr, Rayner, I did not

see any person taken from under the ruins. When I first
discovered the fire, I got what assistance I could, and en-
deavoured to put it out, but could not do so. The lock was
obliged to be broken off the yard-door before we could get
in. There were traces of fire from the bench up the partition
of the engine-house, which was of wood to the roof. I could
not perceive any trace of fire from the stove to the bench in
the engine-house. The bench could not have taken fire from
the stove.

Michael Martin, a labourer, said—The deceased, John
Martin, was my son. On Friday morning last, about four
o'clock, I awakened from the reflection of the air, and judged
there was a fire somewhere. I got up, and went in the di-
rection of the light, and found some buildings a fire in
Formby-street. I left the deceased in the house. I got em-
ployed at one of the fire-engines. About seven o'clock,
same morning, the deceased came to me and said lie was
looking for a job, and then left me. About eight o'clock his
breakfast was brought down by a little boy, to whom I said
I thought deceased was in Neptune-street. The boy went
there and soon after returned, and said he could not find hiin.
Immediately afterwards I heard he had been killed and taken
to the Northern Hospital, where I went and saw him. He
was not dead. His head was terribly crushed and he died
soon after.

James Peen Harris, surgeon of the Northern Hospital,
said—On Friday morning last, the deceased John Martin and
Luke Smith were brought there in a dreadful state. Smith
had a fracture of the vertebrae and dislocation of four or five
of the ribs of the left side, with laceration of the right arm,
and an extensive wound on the right knee, besides being se-
verely burnt more or less over the whole body. He died from
the injuries in about two hours. Martin had a fracture of
the right leg, extensiue lacerated wounds and injury of the
scalp, and severely burnt over the whole trunk of the body.
He died also in about two hours.
_ _

John Coglan said--I am an Engineer, and in the employ
of Mr. Peniston, who had a yard in Crompton-street. I
had charge of the steam engine then, which was used for
grinding bones. It was part of my duty to light the fire,
and lock up the place at night. On Thursday night last, a
few minutes before 10 o'clock, I locked the yard up, having
previously drawn the red coals from the furnace, and filled
the bars up with slack, so as to have a small fire ready for
use in the morning, which has been the custom for the last
four months. The stove was surrounded with a brick wall.
The smoke is conveyed through a flue which runs under the
yard. The stove door I left open and three spades were put
in the fire hole which were found in a perfect state the fol-
lowing day. The floor of the engine house is flagged. There
was a small bench in the engine house on which my tools
were placed. On Friday morning, I was called up about 3
o'clock and informed that the place was on fire. I went then
directly and found the sheds in the yard and several other
buildings all in flames. I do not know where the fire origi-
nated. Every thing was safe when I locked the yard up.
The inquest was adjourned to make further enquiries into
the origin of the fire.

There can be little doubt but the verdict, in all these cases,
will be " Accidental death."

It was stated by
,the police-officer, who was a witness on
the inquest, that the two deceased who were taken out of the
ruins alive were dreadfully burnt before they could be extri-
cated,—Martin in particular, not so much from the flames
as from-the almost red-hot bricks, amidst which they were
partly buried. They were in a state of roasting and cried
out, in their agony, for water to be thrown upon them.
When Martin was taken out, pieces of his flesh came away
from his person with his burnt clothes, and his whole body
presented an appalling spectacle. Both of these unfortunate
men were, on Sunday, buried at the cemetery of St. An-
thony's Chapel, and the funeral was attended by many thou-
sands of spectators. No inquest has yet been held on the
few bones of another sufferer in the same shed (or ware-
house),—but an investigation will probably take place on
some of the other remains being found.