The sun., 1897-11-20

largest Damage bS Firo bince the Greht bou-
don Eire OF loOo-Area Burned L. q Few
BiocEs Northeast or 81. Paul's-many BiE
stecks or Dry Goods Burned-Flremon Ham,
pered By Marrow streets ana Too Little water
t-London Dismnyed by the InenectiVenoss
OF the Fire Department--Insurance stocks
drop and the Price OF Feathers Goes Up.
Special Cable Despatch to THE sun
LONDON, Nov. 19.-Tho largest fire which has
visited London for moro than two centuries
started at 1888 o'clock this afternoon in tho
heart of the city. within hundred yards Of the
place where the great FIRE OF 1866 had its origin,
and ragged unchecked for Ave hours. destroying
about 100 valuable warehouses, a number Of
business blocks, and q few dwelling houses, to-
gether with the contents of all the buildings,
and involving loss that Is variously estimated
at from $50, ,0OO,OU0 to $50. .Oo0 600. An area Of
seven acres. including or eight streets, was
swept over by the flames. No loss Of life has
been reported and there were only few acci.
dents The fire started in umbrella makers
establishment on Hamsell street, about 800
yards north of tho general Post Office. 1t is al
legged that it was caused by an explosion of gas
duo to search that was being made with
naked lsmp to find u leak In the pipes, but pos
ttive information is lacking.
The flames rapidly spread in Wells street,
Tewin street, Hamsell street, and Ncholl
souarc' anu a' Z'oo T. M twenty iarRe "are'
houses were burning.
the hre eontinuea 10 spreaa' ana pracucaily
tne en're hre,hsh'ins ioroe ot hohuon was
vummoned 10 the scene. panic preVaiiea IN
Enc district surrounding the burning section
rhe OCCUPANTS Oh inc houses ana SHOPS IN Inc
peiRnoorhooa carried OUT tneir eHects as
speedily possible and piled them up in tho
btreets. The streets are narrow, and some of
Fnem were soon oioekeo with oeoris from tho
burned ouiioihge.
Inc buildings destroyed include several large
fancy goods warehouses;, hght northwesteriy
wind was blowing, which tended to carry the
DANES In that direction
At3:4o +. M. the damage the fire had already
done was estimated ct more than S1ooOO.Ooo.
Az 4'4o +. NJ. the spread OF the hames seemed to
be checked on three sides, but the fire was still
making progress northeastward in wedge shape.
the front OF the mass OF nre being about three
puiioings Wide- Inc immense building or
Thomas Norman & Son, Wholesale stationers
eno manufacturers. was the last structure to go
On Weils street. The huge building burned 30
perceiy that the hremen were compelled TO
Wtnarsw 10 aconsideraole distance.
Six buildings on both sides OF Hamsen street
were aolaze before the hremen got well at work.
uhe extremely narrow streets ana the limited
--~--
Tor nearly three hours. torty-three business
urms on Hamsell street alone were burned out
end nearly hfty buildings. all OF them large
warehouses;, were totally destroyed.
AT S:4o O'CLOCK the hremen began massing
Sheir forces In Nichol square on the east and
Aidersgate street on the west In the hope OF
holding the flames within these boundaries, the
distance pelng ABOUT LOO YARDS.
huge party wall In building on Wells
a n nrfh dpra nff ha Hra NnI.
lapsed about half past .. and the hremen made
stand there. Inc buildings ahead OF TINS were
destroyed. Forty OF them, all large buildings,
were hiied with goods, chicny SILKS, satins and
general dry gooos.
Az 4:Zo CLOCK Inc nre continued 10 spread
eastward and reached Red Cross street. AT the
Fate the names were travelling The hre was al
sno's oe.'aiI W eoh'inuo eas."aru' threatening
ito'eH' sepuv " "Aa A'oi
"aeouoeo .,aa oo'unu ne niemeN
~, 80 "oiunE ' 'net U"n oh tuo "eo' Gnu oou.n
ns nainos oio''ou 'o"i in s'ie.t' oh 'no noftn
~ uoe'ivy9u ,,' oo'e.at "ai'nouooe Az 'o"ii
.. ~, io ~ S', .1iS '.le 40. NV tn'
.. . VI ~. 1o ,,si w ot 'no oi'l
o' anu inos' tu INC no.,opo ~
81 tS, ~ 10y oesn ""n.ai 80 a " o'' M. ~
soHoe no''' 'nS 'nui'h '''apsu .H0 i"A'e' NV
.,o'a uoo.'oyeu NJ" oA.eoueu WV aolo . M'ii.
-h,at ,,,,th"to,d 49, a. o.. go -. ~
Hy arccumhed and was soon consumed
At5.a0P p NJ the ,ro was under control IN n
ororrsss to the nortboastward and thero nov
Saen,ad N bo M dancer y, jts fprtber snreod
Sbe chnrcb ~ st C,iIe. was uavad hut tho v;co,
sia,si,S - -, ~ - 'N-N ''~N'
The warehouses DESTROYED were mostly five
ntory brick buildings, though some of them wer
built of stone MANY of the buildinRs wer
allied to the extent of their capacity with winte
nh
ihe csntre of the feather dealers. furriers. man
&le and cloak estap plshments. and kindred trade,
and was also the location of most of the carrier
abroad. including those shipping goods to tn
limited States The Church of st Giles vbic
fortunately escaped destruction. was the seen
of the burial of Milton and of the marriage @
Cromwell.
The sre WAS under ,pu contro, Mt O o,c,oc
&h,.ovonir, ON, ,,n,aes ,ho.a .hou,dho :. ,,r,ho
- ~---~~~ N>-~- ~-~~ 49,