, 1872-11-28
THE LONDON FIRE.

Floating Fire Engines on the Thames:
On the day when Boston was burning down 9
great fire was consuming the largest and what
was supposed to be the most thoroughly fire.
proof Building in London. This Was the gigan-
tic City Flour Mills, in Upper Thames street,
describes this building and it's destruction:
ssFrom it's extraordinary height it lowered
above all the other Eharyes and buildings in the
neighborhood, and it had no less than 400 win
dows IN and around 1t. There were seven stories
to 1t. eaoh OF them being divided into warahou-
ses and machineroons, and the quantity OF grain
that was continually kept in it Was extremely
large. It had 3 river frontage sixty-hve feet
in length, and one OF like size in Upper Thames
street, and between the latter street and the
cupied by the mill. There was also long creek
at the western side Of 1t, from which bargas
might be laden. The fire VAS discovered by q
city policeman On duty in Queen Victor1a street
shortly before 7 o'clock in the morning. He mo-
tioed an unusual glare in part Of the third
the watchman. The constable ran Immediately
to the chief station Of the Metropolitan Fire
Brigade in Waiting street, and raised an alarm.
information OF the fire was also given at the
Fire Brigade barracks in Boss court, Thames
street, and a large number Of men we're at onca
steamer, Here got out at Waiting street, and in
less than five minutes were On ths
way to the fire in charge OF Captain
Shaw and q body Of ten or twelve fremen-
Of the third floor; in which the hro had origin.
ated, in flames, and they then telegraphed to all
the other stations Of the metropolis for assistA
ance. Orders were also given for the floating
engines moo1ed at Southwark Bridge, Mllwall,
Rotherhithe, and Millbank to be brought to the
spot. These instructions wsre speedily obeyed,
and very soon thirty engines and upwards OF
200 fremen, under the direction Of the four
superintendents, were in attendance ready for
work. The floats also appeared in due time and
dition Of the tide at the time would allow, A
capital supply Of water Was obtained, but the
fire, in spite Of every effort that the skill OF the
fremen enabled them to make, spread gradually
throughout the entire upper part Of the build
msndous crash, throwing the entire weight
Of the contents on those beneath and
it is now said that the two lower floors, which
are untouched, are bending SO much with the
pressure that it is impossible they can long
aeotion Of the flames we're visible, yet IS the fire
became known the bridges and all the streets in
the neighborhood we're densaly crowded. On
ths river also the floating engines vera sur
rounded With skiffs and other small craft, all
filed with spectators; The land engines played
ing. Firemen stood on the roofs Of high prem
ises abutting upon the mills. and thence man
aged to pour into the apertures Of the buiding
tons upon tons OF water. Very little impression
seemed, however, to be made, for the fire, which
began at T. o'clock in the morning, is still
burning, and ia likely to continue in that
stats for day or two, owing to the
immense bulk Of the snaouldering contents,
though all danger is over. The roof fell early
in the day. Tie damage to adjacent buildings
is uncomfortable, and arises mostly from water.
When darkness set il the reflection OF the fire
Vas visible for some distance, and the immense
ahel1 Of the building, with its numerous win
lows, was lit up by the flames raging within it.
4 large body of fremen were told off to play
1pon the ruins all night long, and they conrin-
led at work this morning. Mesars. Hadlcy are
insured, though not to any-g great extant, IN the
Commercial Union, the North British and Me--
;antile, Royal, and other Offices, and their loss
EM be heavy.