The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-20

LONDON. Nov. 2o.-One OF the r1ost dis
astrous fires in London's history since the
great fire OF l6ss, broke out in large
block OF wholesale buildings lying east of
Aldersgate street and betweeen that thor
oaghfare and Red Cross street, just after
o'clock yesterday friday afternoon.
Ii is officially reported 15a warehouses
have been gutted. A late estimate of the
damage done places The amount at nearly
95.ooooo. Nearly all the British fire In
sarance companies are involved and fire
insurance stocks were practically unstable
on the stock exchange yesterday afternoon
after the fire was well under way Nearly
$40 telephone wires have been cut. thus
interrupting communication with many Of
the big provincial towns
= a. ma very large force OF firemen
and about twenty engines have been
working at a high pressure all night. The
district rayaged includes part of Austria
Ian avenue. Paul's alley. Cripple Gate
chnrcayard, Woodstreets square. Monk
we'll street. Nicholl square and Fore street.
and Is bounded by Aldersgate street. Red
Cross. Maidenhead court and Bradford av-
enue.
The constable who first detected the
hames blew his whistle loudly for assist
ance, but several minutes elapsed before
the alarm was heard by any of his COM
rades. AS soon as assistance reached him
the officer was dispatched to summon the
fire brigade. But here again there was an
unaccountable delay of twenty minutes
Eefore the first engine appeared. Then the
fearful dimensions Of the fire were appa-
rent, and Ii was decided to circulate a call
throughout the whole metropolitan district
Hundred Engines Necessary.
The flames were famed by strong wind
and were fed by highly intlammabte stocks
Of Christmas fancy goods and hImsy dress
materials of all descriptions that filed
every floor of the slx-story building in the
old street. Consequently the contiagration
gained heaaway with surprising rapldty.
and was soon far beyond the possibility of
being checked by the few engines which
were early on the spot. For four hours aud
a haH the flames had their own way, and Il
VAS only after more than a hundred en-
gtnes had worked an hour that the chief
OF the fire brigade sent out the signal that
the FIRE was under control!
At II o'clock tofglgh, the fire is still the
scene Of great excitement Fifty engines
are playing on the ruins; wagons are
hurrying up and tons of water are nopr-
ing info the fery debris Thousands of peo-
pie are trying 70 penetrate the Gordon
maintained ny a thousand policemen. re
tnfoTcementS for whom were hurried tIn
when. soon after O'Clock an increase #,
The outbreak led Comma r4ier Wells ia
make a re,luisition for mere engines Upon
the outlying stations. The scene must oc-
rupy The fire brigade for several davs
especially IN view of grave danger OF The
roiarse Of the shells of buildings which
fail now and again with A loud report The
historic Church Of ST. Giles has been much
damaged the principal damage heing 10 the
r0os she old windows. the hapt.smai founf
and Millions statue.
Caused by a Gns Explosion.
Hamsei street was the scene OF The out
trcak az the fire, which was due - an ex-
nlosion in connection wltn gas engine on
thc premises of Waltsr Rrowu & Co man
tie manufacturers at No ~ Their
factory was crowded With girls when tha
are broke CAT and & was instantly ths
scene OF semi-paaic. tire operatives rush
lhE ID tFe rnAf %; ne baJlding ana theme.
crossing TO other buildings. and @o effect
pouring ouf of the basement In less tNan
a quarter ~ an ho,ir she flames had en-
veloned an a8jolning warehouse. and
thence Ihey iespea across the street 10 an
enormous paper warehouse whleh WAS
fully allshj In less .ha1 tcn miauteS
2y this time il waS evident 10 ;no Gre
uen fhat They We're fsce To face with A
great disaster ana general alarna Was
.ret ous- Thn1 from an the FIRE stations.
,een ;ho<.s FIVE miles from the cI.v .sr,-
si0eS wCre hurried 20 the spos ard fhe y,o~
.}oe gath red IN great fore The display
- strength c0 tfe part % the 9o1ce VAS
required. as thc crowd swelling every mo-
m ~ socn amounted 20 tens of thousands
- 4cs"ic. ert fb~ a. fsta required every
possible frtedom 81 action "a their Hxhs
weS ore - tbe rFtstest difficulty owing
So rh. nar-ew. t-roak >d stFt<st=. which az,
la- feature ~ iaa; usrt Of L3as,a. co7,-
bin with ;he aets01 & :he warehouses.
waIca cui eli .he Arrmea from all galr
cHanca ~ ro1anfne IRE outbreak
strvmen osertaa<en hy Flames,
IRE excitement among tae u1-}soasr
Mo crowded every possible p1i1t of View
aas very gTeai, a. may bs judged frrsu
the fact ;has sGe dTemen had 10 Ae re-
nsaiealy Yescains tAe!r comrades 5y .he
sfI u ere s<scapsS fran buildings whteN
esA caugslt fsre after rae Hrefnen aas
ezoaBte,i 20 tHe reosS o. liEat tGe a3Des -
adjoining structures The yeS~uc oi opera
-tTes - ssse aFeeasa. t1e e1rr< .DE a., a.s-s
og clerks ~ho were ir%l . saw ssoks
ass3 valuable pspsrS f=oal tAe ire and ne
~s7aAing here aas shege % HnaEy c1gf loves
ssss w.Ta aEfxrsgcisEE - carry - places G.:
safety eOs. iy ,n6rcAA~a-se cg otGcr vaslla-
es. added - gEe coDfascn.
Ise hest was 80 t7teu~e lhat several arc-
ss.tu were oblsSesi 20 direct tnetr operations
,assey showers of we1e- tsoa-e,, 4s.au sae1l
Etrss Fs xtssgN fN&Ftl4rE4 - e-a
.ss7. the are cro}sg on VEvy ssez ~ .sntG
y naRi saRare. az lae far sz@ u 81 anase2
s~aset w-xs reached
A. q hJtls afser : a-e'ack p 1ozsn hoss-
Fs<s e4eh NsTh a tWetys~toaI Spr~ssi
poured "a az sfts 1As A,8Ee from lara ausso-