The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-20
ST. GILES CHURCH DAMAGED
HISTORIC STRUCTURE THAT CON.
TANNED TOMBs OF FAMOUS MEN.
The COnhagratiOn Started by an Ex-
jured-Scenes and Incidents.
LONDON, Oct. 1s.-one of the most disas.


trous fires in Londons history since the
great fire of 1856 broke out at / O'Clock this
afternoon in a large block Of buildings lying
eastward of Aldersgate street, and. before
it was checked, ravaged part of Australian
avenue, Paul IS alley Cripple Gate church
yard, Wood-street square, Monkwell street.
Nichols square and Fore street. The
flames were famed by strong
wind and were fed by highly in
flammable stocks of Christmas fancy goods
and fiimsy dress materials of all descrip-
.tions that filled every floor of the six-story
buildings in the old street. Consequently,
the conhagration gained headway with sur
prising 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 1t was only after more than
hundred engines had worked an hour that
the chief of the fire brigade sent out the
signal that the fire was under control
AT IL o'clock tonight the fire is still the
scene of great excitement. Fifty engines
are playing upon the ruins. wagons are
hurrying up coal and tons of water are
pouring into the fiery debris. Thousands of
people are trying to penetrate the Gordon
maintained by thousand policemen, rein
forcements for whom were hurried up
when, soon after o'clock, an increase in
the outbreak led Commander Wells to make
requisition on the outlying stations for
more engines. The scene must occupy the
fire brigade for several days, especially in
view of the grave danger Of the collapse of
shells of buildings which fall now and
again with loud report.
1t is officially reported that $50 ware
houses have been gutted A late estimate
Of the damage done places the amount at
nearly 95,OOO,0O0 ($25, ,O0O0 00O.) Nearly all the
British fire insurance companies are in
VOWED, and fire insurance shares were prac-
tically unstable on the Stock Exchange
this afternoon after the fire was well un-
der way. Nearly three hundred telephone
wires have been cut thus interrupting COM
munication with many of the big provincial
towns. The fire will cause an enormous ad-
vance in the price Of ostrich feathers which
rose 30 per cent. this evening. Two feather
firms alone have lost s15OOO ($75OO0.)
The historic Church Of St. Giles has been
much damaged, the principal damage being
to the roof, the old windows, the baptismaI
font and Milton's statue
STARTED BY AN EXPLOSION.
Hamsell street was the scene of the out
break of the fire, which was due to an ex-
plosion in connection with gas engine on
the premises of Walter Brown & Co., man.
tel manufacturers at No. 30 on that thor
oughfare. Their third factory was crowded
with girls when the fire broke out, and it
was instantly the scene of g semi-panic, the
frightened operatives rushing to the roof
of the building and then crossing to other
buildings and so effecting their escape while
the flames were pouring out of the base
ment. In less than a quarter of an hour
the flames had enveloped the adjoining
warehouse. and thence they leaped across
the street to an enormous paper warehouse
which was fully alight in less than ten
minutes.
By this time it was evident to the fire.
men that they were face to face with a.
great disaster, and a general alarm was
sent out. Then, from all the fire stations
even those quite five miles from the scene
of the disaster, engines were hurried to the
spot and the police gathered about the
neighborhood in great force This display
of strength on the part of the police was
required, as the crowd. SWELLING in size
every moment, soon numbered tens of thou
sands of people, and the firemen required
every possible freedom of action, as their
fight was one Of the greatest difficulty, ow-
ing to the narrowness of the old, crooked
streets which are the feature of that part
of London, combined with the height of the
warehouses;, which cut off the firemen from
fair chance of confining the outbreak.
The excitement among the onlookers
which crowded every possible point of view
was very great, and may be judged from
the fact that firemen had to be repeatedly
rescued by their comrades, with the aid of
ba h,tiI1
caught fire after the men had mounted to
the roofs to fight the flames in adjoining
structures. The rescue of operatives by the
firemen, the hurrying of hosts of clerks
who were trying to save books and val
liable papers from the fire and the rushing
here and there Of many employees who were
attempting to carry to places of safety
costly merchandise or other valuables
added TO the confusion. The heat was so
intense that several firemen were obliged to
direct their operations under showers of
water poured upon them.
WATER HAD LITTLE EFFECT.
But in spite of the exertions of the firemen
the fire crept on very steadily until Nichol
square, which is situated at the far end of
Hamsell street, was reached. At a little
after clock a dozen hose pipes, each with
a twelve-foot spread, poured water into the
blaze from an opposite roof, from the street
below and from the burning premises them
selves. but 1t did not seem to have any
effect. The water rushed out of the win
dows and from the ground floor like a
waterfall. while the flames leaped higher
and higher, and as the floors fell in she place
still blazed, a gigantic display of fire and
smoke, till the building was completely
gutted and the walls keeled over.
The confusion in the streets increased as
tbs ire spread. Suddenly there was an ex-