The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
LONDON
IN FLAMES.
Fire Breaks Out Near the Post
Office.
Huge Blocks OF Buildings Rap
idly Consumed.
Is Warehouses Filled With
Merchandise Destroyed.
DAMAGE Is ENORMOUS.
Jewfn Street Resembles a Huge
Furnace.
Thousands OF People Gather to
See the COnflagratiOn.
HVnnwFHNr nn"TTDE TCC
JeWfn Street Resembles a Huge
Furnace.
Thousands OF People Gather to
See the COnfiagratiOn.
FIREMEN POWERLESS.
All Efforts Turned on Stopping
the Fires Spread.

London, Nov. 19.-The most serious
fire in recent years is now raging here.
In several streets adjacent to the gem
eral postof1ce huge blocks of buildings
are blazing fiercely. Many houses
have collapsed and Is warehouses have
already been destroyed. Buildings are
ablaze on both sides of the streets,
thus preventing the firemen from
reaching the burning buildings
The fire broke out in Hamseu street
and worked through the houses to
Well street. a narrow thOroughfare.
There the flames leaped and seized the
opposite houses. From that time, the
conhagration extended rapidly both up
and down the street.
Well street is now involved from
end to end, and the flames are rapidly
nearing Nicholas Square, which IS sur
rounded by tall warehouses The fire
brigade has given up hope of subduing
the fire and is devoting its energies to
preventing its spread.
The occupants OF the threatened
buildings are busuy removing their
books and business documents.
No casualties have thus far been re
ported
noon the city fire engines were engag-
ed in fighting the flames and others
were arriving momentarily from all
parts of London. Many thousands OF
people have gathered to see the fire.
one end of Jewin street is now attack
ed by the flames. It presents the ap-
pearance of a huge furnace.
Several large buildings have already
fallen and the debris completely blocks
the roadway.
The damage done by the fire is enor-
nous. Most of the buildings destroyed
We're six stories high and filled with
merchandise
The flames nv $40 n m had worked
their way from Jewin street into Red
Cross street, where an entire block of
houses on the west side of the street
was threatened. Over 40 engines were
at work at this time. It is impossible
to make an estimate of the damage
done or regarding the real extent of
the fire at present.
Various newspapers publish sensa-
tiOnal estimates of the loss. Many of
the buildings burned, or threatened
contained large numbers of girls en-
plOyed in various capacities. Very
many of them escaped with difficulty.
London, Nov 19.-6 o'clock p M
The area Of the fire is at least 10O, 900
square yards; so warehouses have al
ready been destroyed and the fire has
extended from Wood street to Alders-
gate street. The damage is estimated
at $4,000 900 $50 O0O, O0O)
The vicarage of St. Giles, at Cripple
Gate, is destroyed and the church is on
fire
1545. 1t is approached by an archWay
in Red Cross street within center of
the cOnhagratiOn and contains among
other things the tOmbs of John Milton.
the martyr; FrObisher, the voyager,
who died in 1894, and Speir, the typo
grapher, who died in 1929.
London, Nov. 1850 p. m.-The
fire is reported to be under control
Cripple Gate church is saved, but is
badly damaged.