River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-11-25
LONDON LIGHTED up.
Flames Destroy Valuable PROPERTY
Covering Many Acres.

London, Nov. 20.-One of the most
disastrous fires in London's history
since the great Ere of I666 broke out in
large block of buildings lying east
ward OF Aldersgate street and between
that thoroughfare and Red Cross street
just after one o'clock Friday afternoon.
The flames were famed by a strong
wind and were fed by highly infiamma-
BILE stocks of Christmas fancy goods
and flimsy dress materials of all de-
scriptions that filed every floor of the
siN-story buildings in the old street.
Consequently the confagration gained
Roadway with surprising rapidity and
was soon far beyond the possibility Of
being checked by the few engines which
were early on the spot. For four hours
and a half the flames had their own
way, and ii was only after more than
hundred engines had worked an hour
that the chief of The fire brigade sent
out he signal that the fire was under
control. At midnight the fire was still
the scene of great excitement. Fifty en-
gines were playing upon the ruins, "ag-
ons were hurrying up coal and tons of
water were pouring into the fiery de-
bris.
Hamsell street was the scene of the
outbreak of the fire, which was due to
an explosion in connection with gas
engine on the premises of Walter Brown
& Co, mantel manufacturers at No. 80
on that thoroughfare.
1t is impossible to accurately estimate
~. :, hc
will probably he below $40. 0O0, 900. The
Evening Standard in its financial ar
ticle says II is believed that the bulk
Of the fire losses will fall upon Amer
lean fire insurance companies.
About 500 firms are seeking for new
Offices The estimates of the amount of
dame &c done range from Sl0,O0O,000 to
S60,O0O,000 but according TO the best
opinion the loss is about Si0,000,000.
Al the historic treasures of Cripple
Gate church we're removed, including
the records Of Oliver Cromwells mar
riage. Millions burial and the deaths
from the plague in 1865.
The district ravaged by the fire is bound
ed by Aldersgate street. Red Cross. Maiden
head court and Bradford avenue. and in
cludes the intermediate streets, Jewin,
HamseH Well and Edmund and Jewin
crescent. The ravaged district also in
cludes part of Australian avenue, Paul's
alley. Cripple Gate churchyard. Wood
street square, Monkwell street, Nicholl
square and Fore street.
Aldersgate street leads into Goswell road,
and from the latter runs Old street. the
oldest way in or about London, and prob
ably older than London itself, forming the
road from the eastern to the western coun-
ties" John Milton went to live in Jewin
street. off Aldersgate street, In 1861. and
here he married his third wife. The church
of st. Giles. Cripplegate, was built about
the year 100, close to the ancient city gate
of that name where cripples were permit
ted to congregate to ask for aims OF travel
eTs. The church having suffered from fire
in 1545. was then partly rebuilt. In IT Oliver
Cromwell, then only p years old. was mar
red to Elizabeth Boucher. August 20,
1920 In this church are the tombs of John
Milton and his father and also the tomb Of
Fox, who wrote the Book Of Martyrs"
In the southwest corner OF st. Giles
churchyard are the remains OF a bastion Of
the old Roman wall which once surrounded
the city. The funeral services of Daniel
Defoe, author OF Robinson Crusoe." were
held in st. Giles church. The stained-glass
window injured by fire was erected 10
the memory of Milton by the late George ".
Childs. Of Philadelphia. This venerable
church IL approached by an archway in
Red Cross street, through which the fire