Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28
EXTENSIVE CONFEDERATION IN ENGLAND.

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The conhagration in the two adjoining towns of New
castle and proves TO be the disastrous and
extensive that any town in England has sustained since
the great fire Of London. The twin towns Of Newcastle
and Gateshead well known occupy Opposite hanks
Of the Tyne, both Of them rising from the river NarOin
with considerable steepness. The Tyne itself NOT
more perhaps than two hundred yards broad at haart
Of its which separates the two boroughs Bob Of
them densey peoped near the river, Gateshead Der.
haps still more than Newcastle.
About twelve o'clock the night Of October 9TH, til
worsted mandatory Of Mr.. Wilson, in Gateshead, waA
discovered to be in flames This factory was stuate
the top western end Of Hgate and both sides
ofthe ane communications between the two parts of the
factory being obtained by gangways the street.
The flames not to be controlled and the blowing
though not very strongly from the westward the fire be-
gan to communicate with adjoining factory which be-
longs, it appears to Mr. Berram, magistrate Of the
borough, and was known as Bertrams warehouse, but
which occupied by Mr.. Sissons with quantity OF
inammable materials the exact particulars of which are
yet to form the subject of judicial inquiry but Of which
sulphur nitre naphtha, sapetre &c. formed component
parts.
In this state Of things it that the explosion took
place While those who were engaged with the engines
piled them with redoubled energy, in the hope of reduc
cling the flames, while the idlers were absorbed in the
grand spectacle that presented to their eyes, and
while dreamed of further mischief than was to be
apprehended from the appalling progress Of the fire. an
explosion suddenly heard from Mr. Bertran ware
house, which shook both towns to their foundations and
brought the whole mass Of burning buildings to the
ground and sad to relate buried many the bysanders
in the ruins Nor did the evil stop there Several houses
in the immediate neighborhood thrown down. others
were seriously injured large stones and pieces Of timber
were hurled to immense distances. The shock felt
over the whole district in radius extending for many
miles.
But disastrous these results were the mischief was
not destined to close with the injury inflicted at the
moment From this volcano Of infammable materials
large masses of gnted matter projected the other
side Of the water and very few minutes elapsed before
discovered that considerable portion Of the build
ngsin Newcastle Immediately opposite the confagraon
at Gateshead also fire. The progress of the FIRE
on the Newcastle side somewhat remarkable OF
the greatest body of gnited materials project
ed straight across the river in line with All Saints
Church. In that line the houses the Quaysde caught
fire, and there the greatest amount Of damage has been
done for where stood tall and stately buildings is
now blackened and undstngushable of ruins But
of these fiery proectes thrown with greater force
passed the quay and alighed the Rubber Bank
where next to the Quayd the greatest damage has been
done and where any other OCCASION what would have
been called tremendous confagration has occurred
The horrors of the scene Friday morning are de-
scrbed by those who witnessed it awfuly grand The
confagraton Of Mr. Berrams warehouse previous the
explosion must have presented extraordinary appear
ance The sulphur naphtha, and other combustbe mate
rials in sheets Of blue and yellow fames rolled Of
the upper windows and streamed down the sides of the
tall pile, presenting the appearance in the language Of
one who Witnessed 1t, of cataract in flames The sight
was best Witnessed from the High Level Bridge, which
was crowded at the moment with anxious spectators.
Suddenly as the explosion took place. that triumph Of
cheering skill began to vbrate like piece of thin wire,
and the first thought Of those upon it that the mag
nifcent erection was about to fall The projection Of the
flaming materials the river wonderful sight
for those who had GOODNESS enough witness it. but it
must be ayowed that there very few in that condi
on universal supor rather to have prevailed
every where first broken by the and wangs Of
women and children and by the ignition Of the houses
the Newcastle side Of the river 1t time how
before the minds Of the spectators awoke to the full
extent Of the calamity.
In addition to the dead bodies that were recovered from
the hundred twelve persons lesa
injured carried to the Newcastle Infrmary where
their all attended to and their wounds dressed
and the great bulk Of them received into the wards
OF these FIVE persons have died since their admission,
three men and two women; and two more, woman and
child are not expected to About forty persons
were killed by the explosion.