The Sun. — 1841-11-04 (London, England)

FIRE 'AT THE TOWER. (FURTHER PARTICULARS.) Labourers commenced yesterday morning to take down a portion of the walls at the back of the Armoury, a dangerous task ; but every precaution has been taken to guard against accidents to those so employed. The smouldering ruins still continue to issue considerable quantities of smoke, particularly at the rear of the Armoury. The Duke of Wellington has not yet visited the Tower since the lamentable conflagration ; but there is frequent correspondence between his Grace and Major Elringtou, the Governor. Admission into the Tower is still denied to all persons, except those belonging to the garrison, the accredited reporters for the press, the City civic functionaries, the fire brigade, and others having business to transact with Major Elrington, the Governor ; and Colonel Aitcheson, of the Scots Fusilier Guards, at present in the Tower. In consequence of admission being refused to the reporters for the press during the rapid progress of the conflagration late on Saturday night and Sunday morning, a written application for an order for admission was, on Monday-morning, made to the Duke of Wellington. On Tuesday evening his Grace returned the following answer : " London, Nov. 2, 1841. " Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. —. " He understands that the Commanding Officer of the Tower has considered it his duty to give orders that nobody shall be admitted into the Tower. " The Duke declines to interfere with the responsibility of the officer commanding." On Monday, however, after application had been made to the Duke, and, before his Grace could make any reply, an order was given to the warders to admit the reporters for the metropolitan press, and they have since had free access to the garrison. At eleven o'clock yesterday morning, Colonel Peel, the Master-General of the Ordnance, and the various officers appointed to investigate the origin of the fire in the Armoury, assembled in the Ordnance-office, and immediately proceeded with the investigation ; but, as on the first day, the whole of the proceedings were carried on with closed doors, and nearly a fortnight is expected to elapse before the investigation is brought to a close. On Tuesday only the military were examined, who happened to be present at the outbreak of the fire. Their evidence went to show, we understand, the spot in which it originated, and that if water could have been obtained, even in a small quantity, the fire could have been extinguished, but by the breaking open of the doors the current of air which rushed in gave a fresh impetus to the flames. Yesterday, up to one o'clock, the bow,yers, who were at work at the furbisher rooms on the Saturday, tlere under examination, but the nature of thetr evidence was not allowed to transpire, and orders have been given -for them to keep tee inquiry as far as they are concerned a secret. We can state that the fire is completely subdued, and no smoke is now to be seen issuing from the ruins ; several men were busily employed during the morning in erecting a hoarding preparatory to the ruins being cleared away, and the walls taken down. An attempt will be made to remove the Royal Arms over the facing entire. The following is a list of the different casualties and accidents that have occurred to the Tower from the period of its erection to the present day :—ln the year 131.2, the Chapel in the White Tower was burnt to ttie ground, and other apartments injured, but the exertions of the warders fortunately confined the flames to the spot where they originated. In 102 a similar fire occurred, but it was speedily extinguished. In IGG3, one Abraham Goodman, who had been committed to the Devereux Tower for an attempt to murder the Duke of Buckingham, gaining possession of a torch, attempted to fire the building, in which he partly succeeded, but the fire did not spread to any serious extent. During the great earthquake at Lisbon several shocks were felt within the Tower of London, and part of the outer gate gave way. From that year till the present the Tower of London had escaped all accidents of a like nature, the recent conflagration being the most destructive that has evar occurred within its walls.