The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-20

disastrous fires In London's history
slhce the great fire OF 1866, broke out In
@ large block of buildings lying east
ward OF Aldersgate, south and between
that thoroughfare and Red Cross street,
lust after l o'clock this afternoon. The
flames were famed by a strong wind
and were fed by hiShly inhammabIe
stocks OF Christmas fancy goods and
Nimsy dress materials OF all descrlp-
tons that filed every floor OF the six
story buildings in the old street Con-
sequenty the conhagration gained
headway with. surprising rapldltV, 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 a
hundred engines had worked an hour
that the chief of the fire brigade sent
out the signal that fire was under con-
uOl.
At II o'clock tonight the fire is stiIl
the scene OF great excitement Fifty
engines are playing upon the ruins,
wagons are hurry.nI up c"al and tons
Of water are pouring into the fiery de-
bris.
Thousands of people are trying to
penetrate the Gordon ma!n;NInnd by a
thousand policemen endorsements for
whom were hurried un WHEN soon after
6o'clock an increase In the outbreak led
Commander Wells 20 make n reiuisl-
ton for more engines upon tho outlying
statIons.
The scene must occupy the fire brig
nde for several days, especially in view
OF the grhve danger OF the collapse of
shells OF buildings which fall now and
again with n loud report. The latest
accounts indicate that nearly hundred
warehouses have been destroyed, while
the loss will probably exceed 9S,000,0O0
The historic church of Saint Giles
has been much damaged the principal
damages being to the roof, the old win
dows, the baptlsmal font and Milton's
statue.
Hamsell street was the scene of the
outbreak OF the fire which was due 10
an explosion In connection with n gas
engine on the premises Of Walter
Brown & Co.. mantei manufacturers at
No, 30 on that thoroushfare. Their
third factory was crowded with girls
when the fire broke out, and 1t was In
stantly the scene OF semi-panic, the
frightened operatives rushing to the
roof OF the building and thence crossing
to other buildings and so effectine 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 allEht in less than ten min
utes.
By this time It was evident to the
fremen that they were face to face
with great disaster and n general
alarm was sent out. Then from all the
fire stations, even those quite nve miles
from the scene OF the disaster. were
hurried to the spot and the police gath
cred about the neiahborhood In great
force.
This display OF strength on the part
OF the police was required as the crowd
swelling In size every moment, soon
amounted to tens Of thousands Of peo-
pie and the hremen required every pos
NlOle lTFeUVUl OF dCtlOl US lUtN ukul
wagone ofthe greatest difficulty owinEto
che narrdwness of the old. crooked
streets which are the features OF that
part Of London, combined with the
height Of the warehouses which cut off
the nremen from NIL fair chance OF con-
hRing the outbreak. The excitement
among tho onlookers who crowded ev-
cry possible point Of view, was very
great. MS may be Judged from the
fact that nremen hnd to he repeatedly
rescued by their comrades hR the old
NJ the fire cBcnpes from buildings which
had caught fre after the hrcmen had
mounted TO their roofs to fight the
flames IN adjoining structures.
The rescue Of operatives by the fire.
mon; tho tHrrying of hosts of clerks
who were trying to save books and val"
ulhln paners from the fre, and the
rushing hnrc and there nf many cm-
r.oyhH. who were attempting 10 carry
70 places Of safety coHtls merchandise
m other vauablNs, added TO the confur-
l00 Tho heat was 20 intense that sew
oral Hfemen we're Obliged 10 direct thnlr
operations undcr showers or water
which were poured upon them
$50, In spite Of the oxcrtlon1 of tho
ilr7mon tho fire crept on very steadily
until Slchoil square, which IN siluntod
NJ the FAR end OF Hnmsrll street. was
reached.
~ n little oftor 2 O'Clock n dozen hose
pipes, each with n Twelve foot spread
poured wator into tho blaze from an op-
roHlr roof fr6m the street below aud
from tho burning premises themselves,
mt II dll not seem tp hnyo any rttceh