Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1897-11-26
HUGE LONDON AREA BURNED.
THE LOSS is NEARLY $4,000, 900.
Big Warehouses Filled With In
fiammable Material, Christmas
Fancy Goods and Feathers-One
Hundred Fire Engines Busy.

Londno, Nov. 20.-One of the most dis
astrous fires in Londons history since the
great fire of 1866 broke out in large
block of buildings lying east of Alders-
gate street and between that thorough
fare and Red Cross street. just after
o'clock yesterday afternoon. The flames
were famed by strong wind and were
fed by highly inhammable stocks of
Christmas fancy goods and flimsy dress
materials of all descriptions that filled
every floor of the six-story building in
the old street Consequently the confag-
ration 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 half the flames had
their own way, and it was only after more
than 100 engines had worked an hour
that the chief of the fire department sent
out the signal that the fire was under
control
Started by a Gas Engine.
Hamsel street was the scene of the out
break of the fire, which was due to an ex-
plosion in connection with a gas engine
on the premises of Walter Brown & Co.,
mantle manufacturers, at No. 80 on that
thoroughfare. The building was crowded
with girls when the fire broke out, and
it was instantly the scene of semi-panic,
the operatives rushing to the roof of the
building and thence crossing to other
buildings, and so effecting their escape
while the flames were pouring out of the
basement. In less than quarter of an
hour the flames enveloped the adjoining
warehouse, thence they leaped across the
street to an enormous paper warehouse
which was fully alight in less than 10
minutes. By this time it was evident
to the firemen that they were face to
face with great disaster, and general
alarm was sent out. Then, from all the
fire stations, even those quite five miles
from the scene, engines were hurried to
the spot and the police gathered in great
force.
The district ravaged includes part of
Australian avenue, Paul alley, Cripple
gate church yard, Wood street square,
Monkwell square and Fore street and is
bounded by Aldergate street, Red Cross,
Maidenhead court and Bradford avenue.
The historic church of st. Giles is much
damaged, the principal damage being to
the roof, the old windows, the baptismal
fount and Millions statue.
Men risked their lives in efforts to save
day books, ledgers, jewelry, valuable
chinaware, ETC.
One man actually hazarded his life to
fetch his hat and cane, 200 feet of stone
work and glass falling at his heels as he
emerged from the building.
Several firemen were almost buried i'm
the burning ruins as front after front of
the burning warehouses fell in, hurting
tons of bricks and masonry into the
street, bursting and cutting the fire hose
in all directions, while tons of fiery mat
ter were falling in every direction, max
ing it impossible to foresee where the
confiagration would stop, as roof after
roof caught fire and window frames all
about the scene began to smoke
Loss Nearly $25,OOO,OOO.
1t is officially reported that $50 ware
houses have been Quilted. A later esti-
mate of the damage done places the
amount at nearly 100000 pounds. Near
ly all the British fire insurance COM
panies are involved and fire insurance
stocks were practically unstable on the
stock exchange after the fire was well
under way. Nearly 800 telephone wires
have been cut. thus interrupting COM
munication with many big provincial
towns The fire will cause an enormous
advance in the price of ostrich feathers,
which rose 80 per cent during the even
ing. Two feather firms alone have lost
$4,000 pounds sterling ($75,OOO).