Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-04

LONDON.

mails OF English history, and which may be regar
ded IN every respect truly national calamity,
occurred on Saturday night last, in the entire de.
structon, together with It's contents, OF that
maguificen, building forming prominent Tea
turo in tho ar.f4med Tower OF London, oenomi-
mated Tho Grand Storehouse and Small Armo
ry," containing, IN ADDITION TO an almost 'hnu
merable quantity of trophies and other evidences
Of British glory no less number than 100000
stand Of arms, &c
The grand gtorehouse is north of the white
tower fine building of brick and hewn stones
Ii extends in length 3f5 feet, nd IS so feet broad
it was commenced by James ii. and finished by
William III On the first floor of this editice Is
that magnificent called the small armory
AT the west end Of this building IS situated the
church founded by Edward Ill and dedicated
10 ST Peter IN Chains, IN which are deposited the
remains of many noble md some royal persona
Cos, executed either in The Tower or on the nut,
and buried hero III obscurity. Ga the east OF this
building l. situate the nowly erected Jewel tower
in which the regalia and the crown jewels are
kept.
The first discovery Of the fire made abou
half past o'clock, by The sentry on duty at the
iswe~o!ice, who perceived a bright light issuing
from the windows Of this tower,whch IS situated
at the Northern extremity OF tho building and
Immediately attached to the grand siorehouse or
arrnprY. The eng ines stationed IN the Tower lot
which there are sevegaD Immediately on
the spot. and were quietly followed by those Of
the neighboring parishes, and almost immediately
after by those Of the brigade estabiishment.-
The flames by this time gained fearful ascen-
dancy, and the fire had made its way from the
round table tower TO the centre Of the grand r
mory, and burs, forth from several windows with
extraordinary fury, rapidly extending both East
and West. The greatest difficulty was expert
enced in obtaining supply Of water, and IL was
not until tho hose bad been conveyed to the wa
ter's edge, that any thing like sufficient quanti
~ was ohiaiaed. and even then the Distance was
50 great to the burning pile, that the iabors OF
the hremen were frequently retarded tor long IN
teryals.
Ia the grand nrmory, which is stated to have
been the largest room IN Europe, were deposited
2S0,000 stand Of arms, besides a vast quantity Of
military carriag ,bombs, and other spciis oil war
captured by our troops III various parts OF the
world. The flames having once penetrated this
hall, hopes existed hat any portion Of II would
be saved, and the exertions OF the iremen were
confined to the preservation of the surrounding
buildings, upon which they played with all the
water they could obtain. A. this crisis the great
est apprehcnsions were entertained for tho safety
of The crown jewels deposited in the regalia Of
fee, which closely adions the Eastern extremity
of the grand armory and the yeomen of tho qua rd,
under the di"ectlol of their captain were depu-
ted to undertake the removal. This service was
safely performed, without accident, and the whole
OF the valuabIes, including the beautiful model Of
tho white tower, consigned 10 tho &c
the governor, and placed IN the vaults beneath
his residence. The hea, from the burning pile
had row become so excessive that the iiEemen
could no longer act 10 the centre square, and 1t
was quite impossible to attempt TO save any por-
ton of the arms, &C. contained IN the grand
sore-house.
About ono o'clock The appearance Of the burn
ing mass WAS surprisingly grand. The flames
having at that time extended SO nearly the whole
length of tho armory, shortly alter the root being
completely burned through, fell in with tremen-
dous crash, the flames rising with lurId glare
far above the towers of the citadel. At this time
was feared that the whole Of the Southern side
would fall prey to the flames, but by the Judi
cious exer,ions of the brigade establishment they
were prevented from extending across The narrow
avenue between the outer wall and the round
tower, and hopes were entertained that no other
portion of the building would be sacrificed This
expectation happily proved correct. The fire was
not subdued however, until near five O'Clock, and
the mass of ruins was burning liercely through
the whole of yesterday. 1t was hoped thai
this calamity had been unattended with loss Of
life, but we regret 10 record the death OF a fire
man named Richard Wivell, of the brigade estab
lishment, fine young man, aged p years, who
was killed by the fall of mass of stone from the
top of wall, under which he holding the
branch.
Many rumors in circulation TO the sap
posed origin of the fire. but nothing is known al
present on which confidence be placed -
Over heated flIes stated to have caused the
disaster, by some; while others attribute TO the
&c, of Incendiary- An inquiry will be, no doubt
set on foot by the governor.
1t would he utterly impossible 10 estimate with
any thing approaching 10 eXactness the extent o
loss the country viii suffer By this disastrous G.
vent, TO say nothing Of the national trophies which
IL Is impracticable to restore; but there can be
no doubt that the damage sustained by the bull
ding. together with the arms DESTROYED, canno
he replaced for less than million sterling.
RCmordl of the observation-disclosures ing tho
great heat which pervaded the jewel room, Mr..
Superintendent Pearse of the II division. having
broken the iron bars IN front of the recaa sue
ceeded IN handing the new imperial crown ane
other portions of the regalia Mr.. Swifte thu
keeper of The regalia, by whom they were place,
in the custody OF the several warders, as follows
Although there was much excitement al the time
MIR. Swife carefully placed The crown IN It's cas-,
in the same mode as when ii Is conveyed TO tn