The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-11-24
IN IMMENSE FIRE LOSS IN LONDON.
$i0,00O,0O0 DAMAGE.
One Hundred and Fifty Warehouses Burned
Containing Christmas Goods.

One hundred engines pumped tons of
water for four hours last Friday, be-
fore one of the most disastrous fires in
London's history since the great con-
fiagration of 1866 was subdued. The
fire was In large block of buildings
lying eastward of Aldersgate street
end between that thoroughfare and
Red Cross street. The flames were
famed by a strong wind and were fed
by highly inflammable stocks of Christ
mas fancy goods and himsy dress ma
terials that filled every floor of the
six-story buildings. The confagration
was soon far beyond the possibility of
BEING 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 100 engines had worked un-
der the greatest pressure that the chief
of the fire brigade sent out the signal
that the fire was under control.
Hamsell street was the scene of the
outbreak of the fire, which was due to
an explosion in connection with n gas
engine on the premises of Walter
Brown & Co., mantle manufacturers
Their factory was crowded with girls,
and 1t was instantly the scene of a
semi-panic, the frightened operatives
rushing to the roof of the building and
thence crossing to other buildings and
so effecting their escape while the
iiames were pouring out of the base
ment. In less than a quarter of an
hour the flames had enveloped the ad-
Joining warehouse, and thence they
leaped across the street to an enor-
nous paper warehouse, which was
fully alighted in less than ten minutes.
The historic church of st. Giles has
been damaged, the principal damages
being to the roof, the old windows, the
taptismal font and Milton's statue.
The constable who first detected the
fames blew his whistle loudly for as
sistance, but several minutes elapsed
before the alarm was heard by any of
his comrades. So soon as assistance
reached him the officer was dispatched
TO summon the fire brigade. But here
again there was an unaccountable de-
lay OF 20 minutes before the first engine
appeared. Then the fearful dimensions
OF the fire were apparent and IL was de-
cided to circulate call throughout
the whole metropolitan district.
1t Is officially reported that $50 ware
houses have been gutted. An estimate
OF the damage done places the amount
at nearly s10000,0O0 Nearly all the
british fire insurance companies are
| involved, and fire insurance shares
were practically unstable on the Stock
| exchange after the fire was well under
way. 800 telephone wires have been
cut, thus interrupting communications
with many of the big iron provincial
towns. The fire will cause an enor-
! nous advance in the price of ostrich
| feathers. which rose 30 per cent. Two
feather firms alone have lost $1,000.
The present fire occurred right i'm the
heart of the city, within a short dis
tance of the guild hall. the Bank of
England, the postoffice, the exchanges
SnnftI HAl1
neighborhood of many localities that
| are known the world over. and close "a
where all of the vast financial business
or the British empire is transacted.