The Dickinson press., 1897-11-27
LoNDEoN's BIG FIRE
FRIDAYS CONFEDERATION THE MOST
DISASTROUS SINCE 1866.


HundEed and Fsfsy wasyheasss De-
stroysd. Causing . Loss Of ss,0oo.0 900.
Fire Was Spread Over -Four Streets and
Extended for Many. Blecks-A Han
dr.d Ens'.ss Eeesht tAss Flames ssr
Half Day..
LONDON. Nov. 2o.-0ne Of the most
disastrous fires in London's history
since the great FIRE Of 1866 broke out in
large block Of buildings lying east.
ward Of Aldersgate street, and between
that thoroughfare and Red Cross street,
just after p. m. The flames were
famed by strong wind and were fed
by highly inflammable stocks of Christ
mas fancy goods and dimsy dress ma
terials Of all descriptions that filed
every floor Of the 6.story buildings in
the old street. Consequently the con.
fagration gained headway with sur
prising rapidity and for four hours and
half the flames had their own way
and it was only after more than 100
engines had been put to work that the
chief Of the fire brigade sent ont the
signal that the fire was under control.
The latest accounts indicate that
Over Hundred Warehouses
have been destroyed, while the loss
will probably exceed e4.000,0o0. Ham.
sell street was the scene Of the out.
break Of the fire, which was due to an
explosion in connection with gas en-
gine on the premises Of Walter Brown
& Co., mantle manufacturers. Their
factory was crowded with girls when
the fire broke out and it was instantly
the scene Of, semi-panic, the fright.
ened operatives rushing to the roof Of
the building and thence crossing to
other buildings and so effecting their
escape. In less than quarter Of an
hour the flames had enveloped the ad.
joining warehouse and thence they
leaped across the street to an enormous
paper warehouse which was fully alight
in less than 10 minutes. BY this time
1t 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 Of
the disaster,
Engines Wero Hurried to the spot
and the police gathered about the
neighborhood in great force. The res.
cue Of operatives by the flremen, the
hurry ing of hosts of clerks who were
trying to save books and valuable pa
pers 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.
In spite Of the exertions Of the fire.
men the fire crept on, very steadily and
the confusion in the streets increased as
the fire spread. Firemen were almost
buried in burning ruins, as front after
front Of the flaming warehouses fell In,
I Hurting Tons of Bricks and Masonry
Into the streets, bursting and cutting
the fire hose in all directions, while
tons of fiery matter was falling in every
direction, making it impossible to fore.
see where the conl1agration would stop,
as roof after roof caught fire and win.
dow frames all about the scene began
to smoke.
AS the afternoon wore on the dense
crowds were still further enlarged, un.
til it was estimated that many hun.
dreds of thousands Of people sur.
rounded the big fire. These excited
masses Of humanity had to be con.
stantly pressed back by the police as
the area Of the fre-swept spot Increased
in size. an operation which became
moreand moresAiaaeult d. the owners
and employees of Z the warehouses 'ad.
jAcsaat' to the scene began the work 6f
saving the most valuable portions Of
the portable belongings. By dusk the
Picture Was Extremely Brilliant,
-Four streets were blazing on both sides
and the red flames from every point
shone out against the black sky and
through. the wide spreading mass Of
duh, leaden smoke, tinged with tongues
OF yellow fire. Here and there, where
the fire had subsided somewhat, the
street lamps, stripped by the heat Of
their burners and glass frames, blazed
with big jets from the open pipes. like
monster danger torches. n
There was no abatement Of the blazo
before $50 p. m. Then the check came
in Jewin street and in Well street.
where the collapse Of wall on the
right hand side Of that thorouRhfare
was the means Of saving the last build.
ing in the street. The width Of Red
Cross street, comparatively broad
thoroughfare, also formed barrier
there.
1t is officially reported that 150 ware.
houses have been gutted. A later esti.
mate OF the damage done places tho
amount at nearly $4,000, 900.