The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-22 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE !FIRES

On Saturday night last, about eleven o'clock, a fire was
discovered on the farm of Mr. Oldham, situate in Freiston
Ings, about four miles from Boston, and there is too much
reason to fear that it was the work of an incendiary, there
not being a dwelling-house within half a mile of the place.
Four stacks, viz. two of wheat, the produce of seven acres,
one oat stack, the produce of 10 acres, and one large hay-
stack, together with a large brick-and-tiled barn, were soon
enveloped in flames, which defied all efforts to check them,
the wind unfortunately blowing very strongly at the time.
Abdut one o'clock on Sunday morning the fire raged with
awful violence, and illuminated the country for many miles
around, causing a great number of persons from Boston, as
well as from a considerable distance, to hasten to the spot.
The fire-engines from Boston were in attendance as speedily
"as possible, and commenced playing on the burning mass,
but too late to save any of the property. Before the arrival
of the engines, two rows of men were formed from the barn
on the premises to a pit which was near; and, by passing
buckets from one to another in quick succession, a large
quantity of water was thrown upon the buildings, but with-
out producing any beneficial results. Great praise is due to
Mr. R. Clarke, of Leverton, Mr. Westmoreland, of Fish-
toft, and to several of the neighbouring farmers, who assem-
bled at an early period, for their untiring exertions to stop
the progress of the fire, and in fact to all present, who lent
willing assistance ; but, unfortunately, their endeavours were
fruitless, the whole of the property being destroyed. The
damage done is stated to be between £3OO and £4OO, but
Mr. Oldham was insured. It is difficult to account for the
above abominable act, Mr. Oldham's treatment of his la-
bourers being extremely considerate. The wages he pays are
Is. 6d. to 2s. per week above the usual rate in the neighbour.
hood ; indeed, the alacrity displayed by the labouring popu.'
lation to extinguish the flames was truly gratifying, as was
the fact that not a single epithet of reproach against him was
uttered by any of them—op the contrary, their execrations
against the vile incendiary were loud, and evidently heartfelt.
.—Stamford Mercury.
SINGULAR CONFLAGRATION. The neighbourhood of
Farleigh liungerford was thrown into some alarm last Tues-
day night by the appearance of an extensive fire, which broke
out soon after dark, and, being visible from a great distance,
excited an apprehension that some property of value was in
course of destruction. It was found to proceed from the ruins
of the old castle in that village, particularly from a solitary
round tower, standing in the south-west corner of the castle-
yard, about sixty feet high from its base, and completely en-
cased in the most luxuriant ivy. The ivy grows from a single
stem, which had attained the extraordinary thickness of
several feet, and is generally pointed out to stringers as a
curiosity. The branches were of a proportionate strength
and extent, and closly embraced the whole tower with a sheet
of interwoven cordage, so as effectually to preserve the ruin
from falling, and bid defiance to the power of time. On
Tuesday evening some persons having incautiously lighted
some dry leaves and sticks too close to the wall, set fire to
the ivy, and in a few minutes all was in a blaze. The night
was fortunately calm, or the whole of these picturesque ruins
would have been, in all probability, destroyed. The appear-
ance of the conflagration under the darkness of night was
singularly beautiful. The venerable tower with its mantle of
glossy green wrapped in fire, the light reflected upon the
broken architecture, and illuminating the surrounding sce-
nery, .at one moment with a volume of flame, at another with
a shower of sparks, or a broad sheet of blazing foliage torn
from the walls in the attempt to stop the destruction, pro-
duced altogether a scene of peculiar interest. We are happy
to add that the fire was fortunately subdued, and beyond the
loss to the lovers of the picturesque, no material injury has
been sustained.—Bath Journal.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT LAWTON, NEAR SANDBACH.—
The extensive and valuable corn-mills of Messrs. George and
William Pointon, known by the name of the Steam-mills,
being worked by that power, are completely destroyed, with
the exception of the boilers, engine-house, and the outside
walls. The whole of the valuable machinery, with the stock,
save several tons of cheese and the books of the firm, are re-
duced to a heap of smoking ruins. These mills were carried
on with very great enterprise, being worked night and day
(Sundays excepted), and the workmen left them as late as
half-past ten or eleven o'clock on Saturday night last, at
which time all seemed safe. The fire was first perceived by
the wife of one of the workmen, who having part of her family
indisposed, accidentally happened to lie 'up, and on looking
out towards the mill, about one o'clock on Sunday morning,
thought she saw a light in the uppermost story of the build-
ing. As the mill had been broken into and robbed on seve-
ral occasions, she naturally thought that thieves were again
busy at their unlawful vocation, and made an alarm under
that impression ; but, on a second view, the alarming fact
that the premises were on fire was evident. The floors, four
in number, gave way one after another; and in two hours
and a half from its being first perceived, the whole of the ex-
tensive building was completely gutted, and the only service
the engines could render was to play upon the burning mass
now lying on the ground-floor. The value of the stock, as
near as can at present be ascertained, was about £1,500, and
it will take £2,000 at least to put the mill in as good a state
as it was in previous to the calamity.—Macelesfield paper.
FIRE AT KILLYMOON CASTLE.—A dreadful fire broke out
at Killymoon Castle, the residence of Colonel Stewart, near
Stewartstown, county of Tyrone, at an early hour on Satur-
day evening, which threatened destruction for a long time to
the whole of that fine building, which is one of the most
splendid edifices in the north of Ireland. At an advanced
hour of the night the fire was providentially got under, the
stables and some of the out-offices having been completely
destroyed by the devouring element.—Dablin Packet.
DREADFUL FIRE AT ROTHERHITHE.—ShortIy before 11
o'clock last night a fire of a very calamitous character was
discovered raging in the lower part of the premises belong-
ing to Mr. Smith, situate at No. 36, Paradise-street, Ro-
therhithe, within a few doors of Paradise Tavern. The
flames were discovered by a police-constable of the M divi-
sion, whose attention had been drawn to thn P-anises by a
strong effluvium, evideigly arising from ~un, and no
sooner had he reached the front of the house, than the fire
told its own tale, for the flames instantly shot forth from the
lower floor with such amazing rapidity as to reach the top of
the house. He immediately raised an alarm, and with great
difficulty awoke the inmates from their slumbers to a sense
of their danger, when a pitiable sight presented itself; most
of the inmates bad to rush through the flames almost in a
state of nudity ; but, unfortunately, a young female of the
name of Shea, in the excitement of the moment, threw her-
self from the second floor window, and falling upon her back,
received such violent bruises, that her life is despaired of.
A messenger having been in the interim despatched to the
various engine-stations, with intelligence of the outbreak, in
an incredibly short period several engines belonging to the
London Brigade, West of England fire-office, and the differ-
ent parishes, were on the spot, but some considerable time
elapsed before they could be got into operation, owing to the
great scarcity of water. The large floating-engine was moored
along the side of the river, and set to work. which being done
a great body of water was poured upon the devouring element,
but owing to the ravages the fire had made in the interior,
the firemen were unable to save any portion of Mr. Smith's
premises ; finding that it would be useless to endeavour to
save the adjoining premises, which was, owing to indefatiga-
ble exertions on their part, partially accomplished. About
half-past 12 o'clock the fire had burnt itself out; not a por-
tion of either the' premises or stock or furniture was saved,
excepting only a few bare walis. Considerable damage was
also done to the premises belonging to Captain Pearsey and
Mr. Biggs, both of which were contiguous to Mr. Smith's.
The origin of the fire could not be ascertained. It was gene-
rally reported that the buildings were all insured in the Royal
Exchange Fire-office; but whether the inmates were equally
fortunate we could not learn.

- Mr. Frederick R. Surtees, Barrister-ac-law, on the
Northern Circuit, is shortly to be united to the eldest
daughter of the Hon. and Rev. C. Douglas and the late
Lady Isabella Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Arran. Miss
Douglas is on her mother's side a niece of the Duchess of
Inverness, and paternally a niece of the Earl of Morton and
the Earl of Aberdeen, as also cousin of the Earl of Hare-
wood, and fiat cousin of the Marquis of Abercorn.
A DOTHEpOYS HALL.—HULL POLICE-OFFICE, Saturday
Nov. s.—For youths, very indifferently attired, applied to
the bench for assistance, to enable them to get to London.
On being questioned by the magistrates, they stated that they
had run away from school, at Winton, near Kirby Stephen,
in Westmoreland, kept by Mr. Twycross, in consequence of
ill-treatment. They all stated thot they were not half fed,
nor allowed to write to their friends, except what the master
dictated. They had walked from Winton to Selby, and
thence had taken the packet to this town. One shilling and
sixpence was the whole sum they could muster on setting out
upon their journey, but they had received assistance from
the authorities of several places at which they halted. 'Wil-
liam Griffiths, one of the youths, said he was seventeen years
of age, and had been at the school seven years. It was two
years since he had seen any of his friends. He did not know
where his parents resided. His father is a bookseller and
stationer in London. He knew the residence of his grand-
mother. William G. Wright said his father was a lawyer at
Temple-bar. He had been at the school two years, and had
not seen or heard anything of his parents during that time.
Thomas Wilson said his father was a lawyer in the Strand;
he had been at the school six years, and had not seen or heard
anything of his parents or friends during that time. Thomas
Forbes said, he had no father; he had been five years at
school, but he had not received any letter from his mother
during the last two years. A lodging-house keeper said she
had kept the applicants for three nights ; they had remained
in the house during the day, and had conducted themselves
in an orderly manner. She thought that half-a-crown would
not more than compensate her for what she had done for the
lads. The mayor ordered 3s. to be given her from the poor-
box. The magistrates then subscribed towards defraying the
expenses of the youths to London, and the deficiency to be
provided from the poor-box. The mayor also said, he would
go down to the agents for the London packet, which was to
sail that afternoon, and make the best bargain he could for
their passage. The boys had gone by way of Ripon.—Ken.
dal Mercury.

CLOSING OF PRISONS FOR DEBT.—The metropolitan
prisons for debt have, within the last few days, presented a
different appearance to what they have been fo: some time.
The Fleet and Marshalsea prisons have been closed : the
former was shut on Saturday, and the latter on Thursday
last. There were seventy in the Fleet, and only three in the
Marshalsea ; and their removal took place to the Queen's
Prison, under an act passed during the last session, author-
izing Lord ,Denman to issue his warrant for their passage
from one gaol to another. From Tuesday to Saturday the
removals took place from the Fleet. Some of the prisoners
had been confined a very long period, and a few upwards of
twenty years ! An eccentric character, named Jeremiah
Board, had been an inmate of the Fleet twenty-eight years,
having been committed to the Fleet in 1814. The case of
this man, who has been removed to the Queen's Prison, is
very singular. He was a farmer at a place called Newton's
Farm, and was committed to the Fleet in 1814, where he
remained without much disturbance, except some Chancery
proceedings, until 1838, in which year the present act for the
Insolvent Debtors' Court was passed, and in this act an
important alteration was made, giving power to creditors to
proceed against parties who preferred imprisonment to taking
the benefit of the act, by which proceeding they would be
compelled to give up their property. The provision has been
productive of considerable benefit; persons have been pro-
ceeded against in the Insolvent Debtors' Court, and com-
pelled to disgorge their property ; others have arranged with
their creditors and gone out of custody. In the case of
Board, a gentleman named Richardson, as executor of Mary
Chappell, filed a petition under the compulsory clause, and a
vesting order was made under which he was appointed
assignee, and by a decisive act a good deal of property was
obtained. A messenger of the court was sent to the prison,
and on the person of Board, and in his possession, a large
sum of money and securities for money were found, which, of
course, the assignees seized. Mr. Richardson claimed to be
a creditor for £8,185, and the matter has been before Mr.
Commissioner Harris. Advertisements had been inserted to
discover creditors, but very few were found. There was
somewhere about £1,600, and a dividend was declared. Board
is now sojourning in the Queen's Prison, where he is, of
course, a " character." At the present period there are in
Queen's Prison about 280 persons, a very few in the rules,
and those who had the privilege when the act consolidating
the prisons was passed were allowed to remain twelve months.
Day rules have already ceased, and the other privileges will
be denied at the time mentioned. There are 228 rooms in
the prison ; and in some of these apartments, by the recent
increase, " chums " have been placed : that is to say, two
have been lodged in one room. Some alterations have been
expected in the classification of prisoners, which will now
probably take place. In Whitecross-street Prison there are
about 360, and 120 in Horsemonger-lane Gaol. The total
number of prisoners for debt in Loudon may be now stated
at about 760. Some years ago there were as many in one
prison.