Accident In Compton-Stree...
The Times, 1824-08-03T00:00:00

Twenty minutes before;two o clocc yesterday marninrg, the inha- bitants of Old ComPton..street, Soho, were awoke out of their sleep by the springing of watchmen's rattles, and calls for help: every vin- dow in the street was throtvn open, and the innmates in their undress, ran to look out to inquire the cause of the alarm, supposing it was occasioned by a fire; but thcir alarm was increased, OR learning ttat two housea had suddenly falen to the ground, and all the in- mates buried under the ruins. One of the houses was that of Alr. Samuel Pole, bookseller, No. 45, between Deaan-strect and Fribh- strect; the other was an uninhabited house under repair. A number of watchmen and constables repaired to the spot front the watch- house, and being assisted by some of the respectable neighbours, an inquiry into the extent of thle dahmage commenced. Ilr. and Airs. Poole had no family: thiev slept in the attic, and consequently, it was supposed they were both crushed to death ; but they were soon convinced to the contrary, on hearing himn speak from under the ruins, from whence they were dug out, having tallen through the two floors into the passage. Alr. Poole, we are happy to say, received bult very trifling injury; but it was not so with Airs. Pooc: she re- ceived several severe buises. She was carried on a shutter to the Millddlesex Hospital, where she lies in a very doubtfulstate. The maid scrvant slept in the back attic, and two young men slept in the two pair back roorn. The whole front, with tie floorsof both houses, fell to the ground, leaving the back roons, which were under a se- parate roof, standing. They were extricated from their perilous si- tuations without receiving the smailest Injury. All Air. Poole's furniture is crushed to pieces, frons the party wall falling on them. tURT5tEt ACCOUNT. The real cause of the accident has not yet been discoveret. No lives are, lost, although six persons were in the house at the time, who all escaped with a few bruises, excepting Air. nlad AIrs. Poole, rie proprietors. The lady was soon discovered, and conveyed to illiddlesex Hospital, labouring under fractures of the jaw and ribs and otherwise mucis ljured. The utmost anxiety was nianifestei by thc multitide (wvho lha(d collected in vast nurubers) for the old gentlcman ; it was with (lifficulty silence was obtained; and by' this means it was found, by his voice, that he was some where in the rusns, which at this tire bore a tremnenlousappearance, frem thcover- hanging ef the upper.part of the ruins, momentarily expected to fall. He was saved by the prompt and unitetl exertions and determination of three gentlemen of the neighbourhood-Afr. Keyes, of No. 24, Frith-street; Mr. Aruntdall, of No. 46, Dean-street; and Mlr. Da- vis, No. 39, King -street; who, without any regard for their own safety, entered the ruins, amidst the greatest anlxiety of the by- stan ders. By great labour. after removinig a mass of mortar and broken pantiles, with goodtsof everv doscription, the old gentleman's foot was discovered, when it was found that he w s buried, with his head downwards, in the ruibbish; and althiough lie had fallen from the third floor to the grouind-floor, hie vas perfectly selsible, andl able to answer anv question. Providentially, a flat piece of lead had fallen or.er and secured his head andI breast from being much in- jured. He at last was drawn by the feet upwards, and carried by Mr. Arundell through the ruins down a long ladider to thc house of MIessrs. Keyes, nearly opposit, where every attention waspaid to his mel;-.ncholy situation, and it is hoped he may recover his dreadful bruises. Iuch praise is due to the abovegentiemene for their liu- inanity and courage._______ I ACCIDEBNr lAr C-OMPTON-STRBET.