The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-11-24

London, Nov. 20.-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 OF
Aldersgate street and between that
thoroughfare and Red Cross street,
just after o'clock Friday afternoon
The flames were famed by strong
wind and were fed by highly inflam-
mable stocks of Christmas fancy goods
and flimsy dress material OF all de-
.scriptions, that filled every floor OF
the six-story buildings in the old
street. Consequently the confagra-
ton gained headway with. surprising
rapidity 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 hundred en-
gines 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 so engines
were playing upon the ruins and thou
sands of people were trying to pene-
trate the Gordon maintained by 1000
policemen. The scene must occupy
the fire brigade for several days,
especially in view of the danger OF the
collapse of shells Of buildings which
fell with loud report. Nearly 100
warehouses were destroyed, while the
loss will probably exceed 9S, 1000.
The historic church Of st. Giles was
much damaged.
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 Waite
Brown & Co., mantel manufacturers.
Their factory was crowded with girls
when the fire broke out and it was the
scene of 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 flames were pouring out OF
the basement
In less than 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 ablaze in ten
minutes. By this time it was evident
to the firemen that they were face to
face with n great disaster and gen.
eral alarm was sent out. Then from
all the fire stations, even those five
miles from the scene of the disaster,
engines were hurried to the spot and
the police gathered about the. neigh
borhood in great force. This display
of strength on the part of the police
was required, as the crowd soor
amounted to tens of thousands of peo
pie, and the fremen required every
possible freedom of action, as theil
6ght was one of the greatest difficulty
In spite of the exertions of the fire
men the fire crept on steadily unit
Nicholl square, which is situated at th'
far end of Hamsell street, was reached
The confusion in the streets increased
as the fire spread. Suddenly there
was an explosion of gas meters, sound
ing like the reports of field guns, fol
lowed by a momentary hush. Afte
that the rushing here and there wa
resumed with increased energy. Mel
risked their lives in efforts to save day
books, ledgers, feathers, jewelry, valu
able chinaware, etc. One man haz
arded his life to fetch his hat and cane
As the afternoon wore on the dens
crowd was still further enlarged unit
hundreds of thousands of people sur
rounded the big fire. These excite
masses of humanity had to be con
stantly pressed back by the polio
as the area of The fire-swept spot in
creased in size. By dusk the pictur
presented was extremely brilliant
Four streets were blazing on bot
sides and there was plenty to interes
the gambling spirit of the on-looker
in betting as to whether or not tn
tower of st. Giles church could stan
the hail OF sparks and burning frag
ments with which it was enveloped.
There was no abatement of the blaz
before $3.50 p. m. Then the check cam
in Jewin street, where the collapse c
a wall on the right hand side of tha
thoroughfare was the means OF savin
the last building in the street. Th
width of Red Cross street, compari
lively broad thoroughfare, also forme
a barrier there.
1t is officially reported that 15O war
houses have been Quilted. A later est
mate of the damage done places th
amount at nearly e5,0OO,OOO Nearl
all the British fire insurance compani'
are involved, and fire insurance share
were practically unsaleable on tt
stock exchange after the fire was we
under way.