The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-11-26
LONDON'S BIG FIRE.
The British Metropolis Visited by
Most Disastrous Conhagration.
MANY LARGE WAREHOUSES; BURNED.
Over a Hundred Fire Engines on the Scene
"A Late Estimate Places the Dam
age Sustained at Twenty-Five
Million Dollars.

LONDON, Nov. 2O.-One of the most
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 one o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The flames were famed
by a strong wind and were fed by
highly infammable stocks of Christ
mas fancy goods and fiimsy dress ma
terials of all descriptions that filed
every floor of the six-story buildings
in the old street. Consequently the
conflagration gained Roadway with
surprising rapidity and was soon far
beyond the possibility of being checked
by the few engines which were early
on the spot. For ~ hours the flames
had their own way and it was only
after more than 100 engines had worked
an hour that the chief of the fire
brigade sent out the signal that the
fire was under control.
At IL o'clock last night the fire was
still the scene of great excitement
Fifty engines were playing upon the
ruins, wagons were hurrying up coal
and tons of water were pouring into
the fiery debris. Thousands of people
were trying to penetrate the Gordon
maintained by 1000 policemen. rein
forcements for whom were hurried up
when, soon after six o'clock, an in
crease in the outbreak led Commander
Wells to make requisition for more
engines upon the outlying stations.
The scene must occupy the fire brigade
for several days. especially in view of
the grave danger of the collapse of
shells of buildings which fall now and
again with loud report.
Hamsell street was the scene of the
outbreak of the fire, which was due to
an explosion in connection with gas
engine on the premises of Walter
Brown & Co., mantle manufacturers.
The factory was crowded with girls
when the fire broke out and it was in
stantly the scene of a panic, the fright
ened operatives rushed to the roof of the
building and thence crossing to other
buildings and so effecting their escape
while the flames were pouring out of
the basement In less than a quarter
of an hour the flames had enveloped
the adjoining warehouse and thence
they leaped across the street to an
enormous paper warehouse, which was
fully alight in less than ten minutes.
Firemen had to be repeatedly res
cued by their comrades, by the aid of
fire escapes, from buildings which had
caught fire after the fremen had
mounted to their roofs to fight the
flames in adjoining structures. The
rescue of operatives by the firemen,
the hurrying of hosts of clerks, who
were trying to save books and valuable
papers 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 val
uables, added to the confusion. The
heat was so intense that several fire.
men were obliged to direct their opera
tions under showers of water poured
upon them.
1t is officially reported that $50 ware
houses have been quilted. A late esti-
mate of the damage done places the
amount at nearly S25. 900. 900. Nearly
all the British fire insurance companie s
are involved. and fire insurance shares
were practically unstable on the
Stock exchange yesterday afternoon
after the fire was well under way.