Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-11-27
HUGE LONDON AREA BURNED
THE LOSS is NEARLY 100000.
biE Warehouses Filled with In
hnmmHbIe Material. Christmas
Fancy Goods and Fenthers-onc
Hundred Fire Engines busy.

Londno, Nov. 20 One of the most dis.
astrous fires in Londons history since the
great fire of 1866 broke out in large
block of buildings lying east of Aldcrs
gate street and between that thorough
fare aud Red Cross street. Just after |
o'clock yesterday afternoon The flames
were famed by Il strong wind and were
fed by highly intammable stocks of
Christmas fancy goods and ilimsy dress
materials OF all descriptions that filled
every floor of the siX-story building in
the old street Consequently the conhag.
ration 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 -four hours and a half 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 department sent
out the signal that the fire was under
control.
Started ny Gas Engine.
Hamocl street was the scene OF the out
break of the fire, which was due to an ex
plosion i'll connection with a gas engine
on the premises Of Walter Brown & Co.,
mantle manufacturers. mt No 30 on that
thoroughfme, The building was crowded
with girls when the fire broke out, and
it was instantly the scene OF scmi-panic,
the operatives rushing to the roof of the
building and thence crossing to other
buildings, and 50 ettecting their escape
while the flames were pouring out OF the
basement In less than quarter of an
hour the flames envelopcd the adjoining
warehouse thence they leapcd across the
street to an enormous paper warehouse,
which WAS fully alight III less than 10
minutcs by this time it was evident
to the Iiremcn that they were face to
face with great disaster, and a general
alarm was sent out. Then. from all the
lire stations. even those quite five miles
from the scene, engines were hurried to
the spot and the police gathered i'll great
force
The district ravaged includes part of
Australian avenue Paul alley. Cripple
gate church yard, Wood street square,
Monkwel1 square and Fore street and is
bounded by Aldergate street, Red Cross,
Maidcnhead court and Bradford avenue.
The historic church of ST. Giles Is much
/ damaged. the principal damage being to
the roof, the old windows, the baptismal
fount and Millions statue.
Men risRcd their lives in efforts to save
day books, ledgers, iewclry, valuable
chinaWare, etc.
one man actually hazarded his life to
fetch his hat and cane POO feet of stone
work and glass falling at his heels as he
emerged from the building
Several fircmen were almost buried in
the burning ruins as front after front OF
the burning warehouses fell in, hurting
tons Of bricks and masonry into the
street, bursting and cutting the fire hose
in all directions. while tons Of fiery mat
ter were falling in every direction, max
inc it impossible TO foresec where the
conhagration would stop, as roof after
roof caught fire and window frames all
about the scene began to smoke
Loss Nearly %23,OOO,OOO.
II is officially reported that $50 ware
/ houses have been Quilted. A later esti-
mate Of the damage done places the
amount at nearly j.000,0OO pounds Near
" all the British fire insurance com
panies are involved and fire insurance
stocks were practically unstable ON the
stock exchange after the fire was well
under way. Nearly 300 telephone wires
have been cut, thus interrupting com
munication with many big provincial
towns. The fire will cause an enormous
advance in the price of ostrich feathers,
which rose 30 per cent during the even
inc. Two feather firms alone have lost
$4,000 pounds sterling $4,000.