Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-20
$15,000,OO0 B.AZe.
One Of Most Disastrous Fires
that Ever Visited London.
Over Fifty Huge Business Houses and
Many Other Buildings Destroyed.
Hundreds Of Firemen and 100 Engines En-.
gagged All Thursday Afternoon.

London, Nov 19.-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
ward of Alders Gate street and be-
tween that thoroughfare and Red Cross
street, just after l o'clock this after
noon. The flames We're famed by
strong wind and were fed by highly in
flammable stocks of fancy goods and
f'imsy dress materials of all descrip-
ton that crowded every floor Of the s.
story buildings in the old streets. in
view of the coming Christmas trade.
Consequently, the confiagration gained
Roadway with surprising rapidity and
was soon far beyond any possibility of
being checked by the few engines that
were early on the spot.
For AZ 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. This was at 5.45 p. NJ. When
the good news became generally known
nearly so warehouses and a dozen or
so minor structures had then vanished
or remained only in blackened walls, n
Cnaos of fallen Orders and smoking
piles of bricks and stone.
The coniiagration was caused by the
explosion of gas engine on the prem
ises of Walter, Brown & Co.. mantle
manufacturers. No. 80 Hamsell street.
Their large factory was crowded with
girls when the fire broke out and it was
instantly the scene of a semi-panic.
Tho frip -;tb
many screams, rushed to the roof of
the building and thence crossed to
other buildings, and effected their
escape. In less than a quarter of an
hour the flames had enveloped the ad-
joining warehouse and then across the
street to an enormous paper warehouse
which was fully alight in less than 10
minutes.
By this time it was evident 10 the
firemen that they We're face to face
with great disaster, and a general
alarm was sent out. Then from, ali
the fire stations engines were hurried
to the spot and police gathered about
The neighborhood in great force. THIS
display of strength on the part of the
police was required as the crowd
swelling in size every moment. soon
amounted to tens of thousands of peo-
pie and the firemen required every
possible freedom of action, as their
fight was one of the greatest difficulty
owing to the narrowness of the old,
crooked streets.
The excitement among the onlookers
who crowded every possible point of
view was very great as maybe judged
fy~n,p , hn fra +l,,t do
be repeatedly rescued by their COM
rades from buildings which had caught
fire after the firemen had mounted to
the roofs The rescue of operatives by
the firemen, and the hurrying of hosts |
Of clerks who We're trying to save |
books and valuable papers from the |
fire added to the confusion. The |
roar of the flames was SO intense AMI |
the heat SO terrific that several of the |
firemen We're obliged to work under |
showers of water slowly poured over |
them.
In spite of the exertions of the fire
men the fire creIt on very steadily |
until Nicholas square. which is Situ-
ated at the far end of Hamsell street.
was reached. AT little after O'Clock
a dozen hose pipes with 12-foot
spread, poured into the blaze from an
opposite roof from the street below
and from the burning premises them
selves. but it did not; seem to have any
effect. The confusion in the streets
as the fire spread, the shrek
ing whistles and throbbing of the en-
gines increased and building after
building became ignited.
cd r,fi
gas meters. sounding like the reports of
field guns. followed by a mOmentary hush.
After that the wild rushing here and
here was resumed with increased energy. !
Men risked their lives in desperate efforts
10 save day books ledgers, feathers. jew
alry. valuable china ware, etc. One man
actually hazardcd his life to fetch his hat
and cane 200 feet of stonework and glass
falling at his heels as he emerged from
he building. Several firemen were almost
buried in the burning ruins. as
'front.' after front of the flaming
warehouses fell in. hurting tons of bricks
and masonry into the streets. bursting
md cutting the fire hose in all directions,
while tons of fiery matter resembling
huge sparks or meteors. were falling in
very direction. making it impossible to
oresee where the conflagration would
stop. .
AS the afternoon wore on. the crowd
vas still further enlarged. BY dusk the
md horribly attractive. Four streets
we're blazing on all sides and there was
,lenty to interest the gambling spirit of s
he onlookers in betting as to whether or ,
lot the venerable tower of st. Giles ,
hurch could stand the hail of sparks and
'urning fragments with which 1t was en-
eloped. The red flames from every point .
hown against the black sky and through {
he widespreading mass of dull. leaden !
moke. tinged with tongues of yellow fire.
nd here and there, where the fire had $
ubsided somewhat. the street lamps
lass frames, blazed with big jets from
he open pipes like monster danger
orches.
There was no abatement Of the furious !.
existence of the blaze until $40 p. Nj. :
hen the check came in levin street by i
use Of water, and in Wells a
treet, where the collapse of a wall on the 6
ght-hand side of that thoroughfare was :
ne means of saving tie last building on s
ne street. The width of Red Cross street.