St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-12-23
THE LONDON FIRE.

destruction of About Block of Tai
Warehouses Filled With Costly Bales
e. Loss Estimated at About 5000, 900
Eight Persons Hurt During the Fire.
LONDON. Eng. December 8.
Iris city has suffered within the past twenty
four hours from the greatest fire with which
London has been afflicted since the great con-
flag alton in Tooley sire t, in the Borough
about eighteen years age, when immense
warehouses filled with jute and other goods
were destroyed. This fire caused loss of
about e4,0ol,0oJ. and during the progress, Mr..
Braidwood. then Chief of the London Fire De
partment, and number of firemen lost their
lives by the falling of a wall.
The fire which broke out last night and
which is not yet extingushed, although it was
gotten under control about noon to-day, also
resulted in loss of life from the same cause.
1t is believed that eight persons were injured.
some fatally.
Following as closely as this great conflagra-
ton has done in the burning of the Alhambra
Theater, in Leicester Square, which alarmed
al London, the disaster has created intense
excitement. The actual loss is estimated at
e3000,000, and the destruction extended over
an entire square in the heart of the city.
The fire broke out in the wholesale hosiery
establishment of Foster, Porter Co.. limited,
which is situated on the corner of Addle street
and Wood street, Cheapside. 1t spread rapid
ly, defyfpg all the efforts of the firemen, al
though nearly every engine in London was
summoned TO the spot when the magnitude of
the conflagrat.on was realized, From Foster,
Porter g. Co.'S it extended north to the i'm
mense warehouses of Ryland s. Sons, limited,
dealers in flowers and fancy goods and Man
chester warehousemen. By this time it
had become entirely beyond control, and
it progressed rapidly along the east
side OF Wood street until London wall and
Hart street were reached. AT the same time
the flames ate their way back to Phil p lane, a
narrow thoronghfare running parallel with
Z Wood street. Within these l mits almost
everyth. ng was destroyed, the only exception
being warehouse in the northwestern corner
of the square, on London wall Brewers Hall,
in Aldarmanbury, was threatened, but the. fire
was stopped before reaching that historic
structure, and Sion College and St Alphage
Church also escaped.
The point where the fire originated is only
al out 90 var IS from the Guildhall, and if the
Wind had changed there was nothing to save
that building. Many OF the Oldest of the city
churches, including several of the finest speci-
mems of Sir Christopher Wren's WORK, lie with
in stone throw of the scene, and in the inn
fIGitiltl art tu5 uGHGTtiI oSI-OLtct',
GoIdsmith's Hall, Co pers' Hail. Haherdash-
ers' Hall and Barber Surgeons Hall. The en-
tire district is devoted to the wholeSa trade,
many firms occupying several houses which
I have been convert d from residences and
shops into warehouses. The streets are all
very narrow, with the exception of London
wall, where the fire was stayed.
1t is impossible day to 40 more than make
roueh eStimate of the loss, rs no details Of
indy dual losses can be obtained. However,
it is not believed that t3.0D 1000 will cover it.
Nothing is known accurately as to the insur-
ance. but the amount must be very large. as it
is customary to insure to very nearly the full
value of goods in stock.