Evening journal., 1897-11-20
MILLIONS IN SMOKE.
Disastrous Conhagratiop IL
Old London Town.
$50 VALUABLE WAREHOUSES; BURNEE
The Fire Ragged In Buildings FILLED with
Fancy Dress Goods-Fanned by a
strong Breeze, 1t Dehod
Flremen For Hours.

Strong Breeze, lt Dehod
FIremen For Hours.
LONDON, Nov. 2O.-One Of the most
disastrous fires in London's history
since the great fire of 1866, broke out
in a large block OF buildings lying east.
ward Of Alders Gate street and between
that thoroughfare and Red Cross street
yesterday afternoon. The flames were
famed by a strong wind and were
fed by highly infiammable stocks OF
fancy goods and fiimsy dress materials
Of every description in the six-story
buildings OF the old streets. Conse-
ouently the connagration gained head
way with surprising rapidity and was
soon far beyond any possibility Of be-
ing checked by the few engines which
were early on the spot. For four hours
and a half the flames had their own
way, and II was only after more than
a hundred engines had worked an hour
that the chief OF the fire brigade sent
out the signal that the fire was under
control.
When the good news became general
ly known, about 150 warehouses and
dozen or so minor structures had
either vanished or remained only In
backened walls. Hamsell street wae
the scene Of the outbreak Of the fire.
which was due TO an explosion in con-
nection with gas engine on the prem
ises OF Waller, Brown a. Co, mantle
manufacturers at 30 on that thorough
fare. Their large factory was crowded
with girls when the fire broke out. and
Il was instantly the scene Of semi
panic the frightened operatives, with
many screams, rushing TO the roof OF
10.
other buildings and so effectlng their
escape while the flames were pouring
out OF the basement. In less than a
quarter Of an hour the flames had en-
veloped the adjoining warehouse and
thence they leaped across the street TO
an enormous paper warehouse, which
was fully alight in less than ten min
utes.
BY this time It was evident 10 the
firemen that they were face to face with
great disaster. and n general alarm
was sent out Then from all the fire
stations even from those quite five
miles from the scene Of the disaster, en-
gines were hurried TO the spot, and the
police gathered about the nelghborhood
I'm great force This display OF strength
upon the part Of the police was requir-
ed, as the crowd, swelling In size every
moment. soon amounted TO tens Of
thousands Of people, and the flremen
required every possible freedom OF ac-
tlon. as their fight was one Of the great
est difficulty owing 20 the narrowness
OF the old crooked streets which are
feature of that part OF London. COM
bined with the height Of the ware
houses. which cut off the nremen from
all fair chance OF conhning the out
break.
The excitement among the onlookers
who crowded every possible point OF
view. was very great. as may be Judged
from the fact that hremen had to be re-
peatedly rescued by their comrades by
the aid Of fire escapes. from buildings
which had caught fire after the hremen
had mounted 10 their roofs to fight the
flames in adjoining structures.
The rescue OF operatives by the fire.
men, the hurrying OF hosts OF clerks
who were trying to save books and val
liable papers from the fire and the rush
ing here and there OF many employees
who We're attempting 10 carry to places
OF safety costly merchandise or other
valuables added to the confusion.
Suddenly there was an explosion OF
gas meters. sounding like the report OF
field guns. followed by a momentary
hush. After that the wild rushing here
and there was resumed with increased
energy. Men risked their lives I'm des.
perate efforts to save daybooks. ledgers
feathers, jewelry. valuable chinaware
etc. ono man actually hazarded hi!
life TO fetch his hat and cane, 200 fee
OF stonework and glass falling at hi
heels as he emerged from the building
Several firemen were almost buried n
burning ruins.
BY dusk the picture presented wa
extremely brilliant and horribly attract
iveH -Four streets were blazing on boil
sides, and there was plenty to interes
the gambling spirit Of the onlookers il
betting as to whether or not the vener
able tower Of st. Giles church coul'
stand the hail of sparks and burning
fragments with which Il was enveioped
The check to the fire came in Jewii
street by a tremendous use Of water
and In Wen street. where the colaps
OF wall on the right hand side OF tha
thoroughfare was the means of savin
the last building in the street. TIL
most serious aspect of the disaster at
er the question of the enormous loss In
elered. is that over 1900 employee
have been thrown out of work and tha
many Of them have lost all their be
longings.
A late estimate Of the damage dor
places the amount az nearly S25.0O0oo
Nearly all the British fire insuranG
companies are involved, and fire insu'
ance shares were practically unsalab
on tho Stock Exchange yesterday afte
noon after the fire was well under way
Nearly 800 telephone wires have bes
cut. thus interruptiRg communicates
with many OF the big provincial town
The FIRE will cause an enormous az
vance in the price of ostrich feather
which rose 90 per cent last evenin
Two feather firms alone have lost 81,
600.
To Protect Niagara.
NEW YORK Nov 2n-AndraNv