The Sun. — 1857-03-19 (London, England)

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AN]) GREAT LOSS  OF LIFE.  A fire, involving a serious amount of property, and unfortunately the lives of five persons—a mother and four children—happened at a late hour on Tuesday night, and was not extinguished until an advanced hour yesterday. The scene of this terrible catastrophe was No. 8, St. Mary's-terrace, Walworth-road; four doors from Camb.3r well-gate, on the premises belonging to Mr. G. Rayner, termed the South London Bonnet, Millinery, Mantle, and Fancy Depot. From inquiries made by a witness of the outbreak it appears that shortly after the warehouse had been closed the unfortunate proprietor left the house to transact some private business in the neighbourhood, and almost immediately afterwards a man, who was putting up the shutters in the next house, had his attention directed to an unusual glare of light in Mr. Rayner's house. Se. immediately raised an alarm. Assistance arriving some one injudiciouslybroke open the door, which caused the fire—which was then confined to one portion of the warehouse—to spread in every direction round the place, lighting and seizing the staircase, rolled up the same, igniting room after room in rapid succession, and cutting off all escape for Mrs. Rayner and the four unfortunate children ; the former having previously succeeded in bringing down ono of her children and handing it to the servant, and she then returned, regardless of losing her own life, to endeavour to save the other four children.  The scene at this period became of a fearful character. The people in the street, knowing that at least five human beings were in the house, cried most piteously for help ; but unfortunately the .nearest fire escape belonging to the Royal Society was at the corner of the London-road, about one mile and a half distant. The moment the news reached the' station the conductor started with the fire escape, and arrived before an engine. He then found the flames belching forth from several of the windows ; but being told that persons hail been seen at the attic-window, he at once pitched his machine between the burning premise 3 and the adjoining house, ping to be able to ascend the fire escape and rescue the persons whose lives were so greatly endangered. Unfortunately, however, when he had got half-way up the fire escape the flames ruched through another window, and fired the escape from the middle to the top ; but if this had not taken place, the persons must have been burnt to death, owing to the distance the fire escape had to come.  The engines of the London Brigade, West of England and parish, arrived as quickly as possible when they found an abundant supply of water flowing from the mains of the district ; the firemen taking advantage of the same, set their engines to work, under the able direction of Mr. R. Henderson, the district foreman, and Mr. Conuorton, of the West of England, but it was not extinguished until the prem;ses were nearly burnt out. As soon as the ruins were doled, Engineers Flyn and Holloway discovered the mother and four children, burnt almost to cinders. The remains were forthwith removed to the deadhouse, to await an inquest. The cause of the fire is unknown.  PORTSHOIITH, Welnesday.—Another stabbing case has occurred at the Convict Prison, which, wd believe will consummate another murder. The case will be brought before a bench of magistrates, on Friday next, I at the Guildhall.