place before a committee of inquiry, but the result of their labours did not fix its origin with any degree of certainty; the general impression, however, is, that it was occasioned by some defect in the flues of the apartment where it commenced.

November 7, 114 P.M. Mr. Baxter, Hatter, London-street, Greenwich. This fire, which originated from some unknown cause, burned with great fury, and though the local engines were brought to bear as expeditiously as possible, they were unable to hold the flames in check. The distance being upwards of four miles from the nearest brigade station, the London firemen could not reach the spot in time to save any portion of Mr. Baxter's premises, but they were successful in preserving four other buildings to which the flames had communicated.

November 14, 1 A.M. Messrs. Kindon and Bathe, floor-cloth manufactory, corner of Wellington-street, Blackfriars-road. No appearance of fire was visible in this building until the flames suddenly burst forth simultaneously from several portions of the roof of the building. A number of engines were on the spot with incredible rapidity, that from Farringdon-street being first, and a plentiful supply of water was obtained both from the Lambeth and Vauxhall mains; but the nature of the building, and the highly inflammable materials which it contained, as well as the extraordinary progress of the fire before discovered, precluded the possibility of saving any portion of the manufactory. The dwelling houses of Mr. Kindon, Mr. Crafter, and others, to which the flames had communicated, were, however, preserved, although ten buildings, in all, were more or less damaged. By five o'clock the fire was confined solely to the fallen ruins of Messrs. Kindon and Co.'s manufactory, to cool which, the engines were kept going all Sunday forenoon. About eight o'clock two of the brigade men, named Parkes and Webb, in direct opposition to the orders of Mr. Braidwood and their foreman, and the remonstrances of their comrades, made their way into the ruins with a branch to extinguish a few embers which showed in the walls; they had not been in many minutes, when the lofty walls on the west side, with the gable end of the south wall, fell inward with a terrific crash, burying the two unfortunate young men beneath an enormous mass of ruins. The most strenuous exertions were made to extricate them, but nearly three hours elapsed before Webb was found, dreadfully crushed and mutilated; Parkes was found in about an hour afterwards, apparently dead from suffocation, no bones being broken.

December 20, 5 P. M. Messrs. Wright and Skelthorp, riggers, Preston's-fields, East

India Dock-road, Poplar. These premises, which consisted of timber buildings, were filled with a large stock of marine stores, of various descriptions. The fire commenced in the tarring sheds, which, with the stable, rigging loft, and rope ground, were completely destroyed in a short space of time.

December 25, 1 A. м. Mr. Lavill, poulterer, High-street, Camberwell. This fire originated, as is supposed, from an escape of gas, in the lower part of the building, and ascended so rapidly, that it was with great difficulty the inmates effected their escape. The firemen were in attendance as quickly as the distance from town would permit, but no water could be obtained for upwards of an hour; at the end of that time a scanty supply issued from the Vauxhall main, but not sufficient to supply one engine! Mr. Lavill's house was completely destroyed, and six others damaged.

Same morning, 8 A. M. Messrs. Brownrigg and Cockerell, Eagle saw-mills, Old Brompton. The firemen had scarcely extinguished the fire at Camberwell, when they were called to another of a very serious character, (at 6 A. M.,) in Dacre-street, Westminster, and while there engaged, they received intelligence of that at Old Brompton. The distance being three miles from the nearest station, the saw-mills were consumed by the time the firemen reached the spot: making the twenty-fourth and last fire of this class.

Among the fires at which serious damage was done may be noticed the fullowing, most of which were attended with peculiar difficulties, and called forth a proportionate degree of skill and intrepidity on the part of the firemen.

January 3, 7 A. M. Streatham Old Church. On this morning the metropolis and its suburbs were visited by a terrific storm of thunder and lightning. The first flash of lightning was awful, illuminating the whole horizon, and in its progress struck the steeples of Spitalfields and Streatham churches. Smoke was shortly afterwards seen to issue from the latter, which was soon followed by flames. The parish engine was got out, but the fire was altogether beyond its reach; and a mounted messenger was instantly despatched to town for more efficient assistance. The engines from the Waterloo-road, Southwarkbridge-road, Morgan's-lane, and Watlingstreet, with an extra supply of leather hose, were started with all possible haste; and notwithstanding the extraordinary state of the roads, from the effects of the storm, they were soon on the spot, and water being obtained, were got to work. A quantity of hose being joined together, and led up into the steeple, the firemen soon brought the engines to bear

on the burning pile, with such good effect, that the flames were stopped midway, and the work of destruction confined to the upper half of the wooden spire.

January 28, 3 a. M. Mr. Bundy, trunkmaker, 138, Fleet-street. This fire, which appears to have originated from a piece of timber projecting into a flue in the back shop, was discovered by one of the City police, who lost no time in arousing the inmates and their neighbours to a sense of their danger. The former were extricated in safety, and in the first instance sheltered in the station-house. The flames raged most furiously at the back of the premises, and ascending the staircase, entered every room, of which the door happened to be open. The firemen and engines from Farringdon-street were on the spot and at work in less than ten minutes, the men boldly dashing up the stairs with their branches, following the fire into every room, until it was completely extinguished. In this they were ably supported by the men and engines from Watlingstreet and other stations. The Dispatch, speaking of their exertions, observes :—“ The conduct of the firemen was beyond all praise; they individually exerted themselves, and concentrated their efforts so effectually as to secure a mastery over the fire, seldom or never before witnessed." The building was a lofty one, of "olden time," with wide staircase, and galleries abounding in timber; and the great risk the gallant fellows ran, in their successful efforts to stop this fire, was evidenced by the fall of that and the adjoining building, at 10 o'clock at night of Saturday, the 27th of February, most miraculously without injuring a single individual.

February 16, 10 P. M. Mr. Harlott, private dwelling, Berwick-place, Grange. road, Bermondsey. This fire, which was caused by bringing a candle in contact with curtains, burned with rapidity; the firemen and engines were soon on the spot, but an hour elapsed before even a scanty supply of water could be obtained from the Southwark main, by which time the dwelling was almost destroyed; but a back kitchen was preserved, by dint of great exertions. This was the second disastrous fire, this day, in the district supplied by the Southwark waterworks, where a want of water caused the destruction of property to a great amount.

March 10, 14 A. M. Mr. Freeman, beershop, Parsons-street, Upper East Smithfield. The only person in the house at the time was a female servant, named Ann Dillon, aged 22, of sober and careful habits. On the fire being discovered, and an alarm raised, the firemen and engines from the Wellclosesquare station, (distant only a few hundred yards,) were instantly on the spot, and ar

169

rived just as the young woman appeared at the second floor front window, imploring assistance. To get at her was beyond all human power, as the flames were bursting forth from the lower part of the house, and extending across the street. Water being obtained, the fire was soon got under, and the unfortunate female found suffocated. The shop and staircase were destroyed, and upper floors seriously damaged.

March 16, 6 P. M. Mr. Garrard, Lomanstreet, Southwark, japanner and waterproof leather hat-maker. This fire commenced in the drying-stove, and, from the highly combustible nature of the materials, the flames had gained a great ascendancy before any opposition could be made to them. The engines from the Waterloo-road brigade station, the West of England, Southwarkbridge-road, and others, were prompt in their arrivals, but they laboured under a sad deficiency of water, being for some time dependent on a small supply from Messrs. Lee's yard, opposite. The stove, with its contents, and the finishing shops, were destroyed; but the remainder of the premises, as well as three buildings adjoining, which had ignited, were preserved. This fire was scarcely got under, when the firemen were summoned, at

74 P. M., to the South-western Railway Terminus, at Nine Elms. The following authentic narrative of this fire is abridged from the Railway Times of March 20. "The premises consisted of a two-story brick building, divided into three compartments; they were situated on the west side of the terminus, at the extremity of the sta. tion from whence the trains start. At the time mentioned, the store-keeper and two assistants went into the warehouse nearest the station, which was filled with cotton, hemp, tallow, oil, and other combustible matters, with an open light, which coming in contact with some turpentine from a leaky carboy, the place was instantly in flames. Messengers being immediately despatched, they found Mr. Braidwood and a body of firemen in Gravel-lane, from whence the Watling-street engine was galloped off with all possible speed towards Nine Elms, and was rapidly followed by others. In the interim, a small engine from Mr. Beaufoy's chemical works, and another from Messrs. Burnett's distillery, reached the fire, but they were not accompanied by any person competent to cope with the difficulties which attended their useful application. Most of the persons present seemed so panic-struck, as to be incapable of rendering the slightest service, or of giving such information, as to where water could be obtained, as would enable others to do so. The second division

of the building, used as engineers' workshops, and a depository for stores connected therewith, soon became enveloped in flames; and by 8 o'clock, when Mr. Braidwood arrived, these two portions of the building were one vivid mass of fire, from the roof to the ground. A most disgraceful scene now ensued; there was abundance of water flowing from the Lambeth plugs, in the road opposite the terminus, but the railway authorities insisted on the engines being driven inside the station, where no water could be obtained. Mr. Braidwood was hustled and assaulted, and the operations of the firemen for a time wholly frustrated. While this conflict was going on, the flames were fast extending to the third division of the building, the roof of which was on fire, when Mr. Baddeley ran Beaufoy's engine down to that end of the building, and got it to work from a small tank of water which fortunately happened to be there. Alderman Humphrey, who was present, assisted, both with his counsel and exertions, in this judicious and well-timed movement, which proved eminently successful, the fire in the roof being quickly extinguished, and this portion of the premises was preserved, comparatively uninjured. The railway officials, seeing at last the folly of their opposition to the firemen, were content to permit them to proceed in their own way; their first endeavours were to preserve the carriage department, and the safety of this building having been secured, they then proceeded to the other end of the building, following up the advantage previously gained in that direction.

"It seems to us extraordinary that, in premises of such extent, and containing such an immense amount of property, no local provision whatever should have been made for the suppression of fire; and under such circumstances, we think a little more courtesy might have been expected towards those who came for no other purpose than to render the utmost possible assistance."

April 21, 114 A.M. Messrs. Graham and Sholt, lucifer match makers. It may perhaps be within the recollection of some of your readers, that these premises were seriously damaged by fire, attended with loss of life, nine months previous. Upon this occasion the inmates escaped with their lives, but the fire raged most furiously; the back part of the premises was entirely destroyed, and the front building preserved with great difficulty, as were three adjoining buildings.

April 30, 94 P.M. Mr. J. Stewart, St. George's Hotel, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. This fire commenced in a back bedroom on the second-floor, from a candle having been brought in contact with the bedcurtains; on the fire being discovered the

inmates of these extensive premises became panic struck, and instead of making the slightest effort to suppress the flames, persons of both sexes and of all grades were seen running away with the first article they could lay their hands on, to a place of safety. In the interim, the flames spread from room to room, and from floor to floor, until the whole of the double building was one mass of fire. The engines of the brigade, the West of England, and the County, with a strong body of firemen, were soon in attendance, and, after a delay of nearly twenty minutes, a plentiful supply of water being obtained, the premises were completely surrounded, and the spread of the fire stopped on all sides. The greater portion of the Hotel, with its varied and valuable contents, was destroyed, and seven adjoining buildings much damaged.

May 3, 11 P.M. Mr. Berlyn, dealer in marine stores, Church-lane, Whitechapel. A passer-by perceiving a strong glare of light in the shop, gave the alarm of fire, and with the policemen endeavoured to rouse the inmates to a sense of their danger, but no one appearing, the street-door was broken open, when a mass of flame rushed forth, driving all before it. Almost immediately after this, Mr. Berlyn appeared at the second-floor window with a little girl (his sister) in his

arms.

No

The little girl was caught in safety by the crowd, but Mr. Berlyn was less fortunate, he fell heavily on the pavement, and was taken up with both legs broken, and otherwise seriously injured. A female lodger jumped from the second-floor back room, on to some bales of rags in the yard, and escaped unhurt. Another female lodger precipitated herself from the first floor front window without injury, leaving her two boys, aged 8 and 16 years, in the back room, both of whom perished in the flames. effort was made to obtain the parish fireladders, which stood within 20 yards of the burning house, nor was intelligence of the fire forwarded to any of the engine stations. The firemen were not apprised of the fire until it was seen reflected in the atmosphere, and by the time they reached the spot it had attained an alarming magnitude. Water being obtained, the engines were brought into action, but the ill-starred building with its contents was nearly destroyed, and six others seriously damaged before the fire could be wholly got under. About 6 o'clock the next morning the bodies of the unfortunate children were found in the ruins, burned in a shocking manner.

May 17, A.M. Mr. Bryant, cooper, Broadwall, Lambeth. This fire commenced from some unknown cause in the workshops, which were constructed entirely of timber. The brigade engines from Waterloo-road,

and the West of England, were upon the spot in an incredibly short space of time. A plug on the Southwark main opposite the gate of Mr. Bryant's premises was drawn, but no water was forthcoming. Those of the Lambeth company were opened with no better success; but in about twenty minutes a supply was obtained from the latter, and the engines being set to work, the fire was extinguished; but by this time the workshops and their contents were nearly destroyed.

June 23, 14 A. M. Mr. Rodgers, papermills, Berners-street, Commercial-road, East. These premises were very extensive, consisting of several large brick buildings, at the back of the houses in Berners-street, and extending into Back-church-lane. The fire was evidently the work of an incendiary, who had so well executed his diabolical purpose, that the flames broke forth all at once with awful violence. The engines from the brigade stations at Wellclose-square, and St. Mary Axe, with the County and West of England, were quickly on the spot, and water in abundance. After a desperate struggle, which lasted nearly two hours, the firemen accomplished their task, two-thirds of the mill being entirely destroyed, and the remainder seriously damaged.

July 24, 3 A. M. Messrs. Redding and Son, carmen, Castle-yard, Holland-street, Blackfriars-road. This fire seems to have arisen from a spark dropped in the wheelwright's shop. The flames had gained a considerable ascendancy before discovered, and illuminated the atmosphere for miles. The Southwark-bridge-road, Waterloo-road, and West of England engines, were promptly in attendance, and plugs were drawn both from the Lambeth and Southwark mains, but twenty minutes elapsed before water could be obtained from either.

The consequence was, that the wheelwright's shop was consumed, and the stabling seriously damaged, before any effectual resistance could be offered to the flames.

August 6, 34 A.M. Mr. Smith, corn merchant, the Wheatsheaf Granary, Upper Thames-street. This fire, which originated from the overheated flues of the steam-engine furnace, suddenly burst forth with a fury that threatened destruction to the several extensive buildings located on this spot. The Farringdon-street, West of England, Watlingstreet, and other engines arrived in rapid succession; and the tide being up at the time, an abundant supply of water was obtained both from the streets and the river. The floating fire-engine from Southwark-bridge, was brought alongside the burning pile, and assisted materially in stopping the progress of the fire, which, notwithstanding the strength opposed to it, burned furiously for nearly two hours. The flames had commu

171

nicated to the adjoining granary of Messrs. West and Co., and to the front warehouse of Messrs. Rownson and Drew, but both of them were saved from destruction. Mr. Smith's waterside warehouse, the steamengine, and about one-third of the landside warehouse were, however, destroyed.

October 4, 5 A.M. Mr. Anderson, black horse public house, Kent-street, Borough. This fire began in the lower part of the house from some unknown cause, and when dis- ́ covered, had cut off the retreat of the inmates. Miss Anderson was lowered from a second floor window by three sheets tied together, which separated in her descent, but she was caught unhurt. Mr. Anderson and his two sons were rescued by the timely arrival of the fire-escape belonging to Bermondsey parish. The engines from Morgan's-lane, Southwark-bridge-road, and other stations, were soon on the spot, and though the Vauxhall and Southwark companies both have pipes laid down, upwards of half an hour elapsed before any water was obtained, and this was supplied by the Southwark main. The building upwards, with its contents, were, in consequence of the delay, nearly destroyed, but the stock in the cellars was saved.

November 12, 11 A.M. Mr. Smellie, engraver and copper-plate printer, Bedfordcourt, Covent-garden. This fire was occasioned by an Arnott's stove in the front kitchen, which was used as a workshop. The fire burnt so rapidly, that some of the workmen had a narrow escape; a young girl was also rescued by Mr. Foggo, (the much respected foreman of the west-end district of the brigade) who brought her down a ladder from the first floor. The engines from the Chandos-street station, closely adjoining, were out and in operation in a very few minutes, but the apartment in which the fire commenced was destroyed, and the rest of the building damaged by heat and smoke; as well as by the water which some misguided workmen at a coach-inaker's, next door, poured through the roof, the fire being at the time confined to the basement story.

November 15, 9 A.M. Mr. Price, firework maker, Charles-street, Curtain-road. At the time stated, Mr. Price, a workman, and two lads, were engaged in their dangerous manufacture, the composition which they were using lying in exposed heaps on benches in the workshop, and an open fire burning in a grate in the apartment, a spark from which it is supposed flew out and ignited the composition. The materials exploded in succession with great violence, blowing out the windows and door. The two men and one of the boys rushed out into the street with their clothes burning; at the same time Mrs. Price, and her sister-in-law, threw

themselves out of the first floor window. The screams of the other poor boy from within the burning building being heard, some humane individuals rushed in and rescued him from the flames with which he was surrounded, but he had received such serious injuries, that he shortly after expired at the London Hospital. Within a very short space of time, several engines had arrived, and by the skilful exertions of the firemen, the flames were prevented from extending to the adjoining houses, but that of Mr. Price, with its contents, was all but destroyed.

December 1, 9 P.M. Mr. Reeve, boot and shoemaker, Princes-street, Soho. This fire, which broke out from some undiscovered cause, burned with such rapidity, that, notwithstanding the early hour at which it occurred, it had nearly terminated fatally to one of the inmates. It appears that Mr. J. Millard, aged sixty-five years, and his wife, who occupied the third floor, finding their escape by the lower part of the house completely cut off, proceeded through a trapdoor on to the roof. Unfortunately, Mr. Reeve's house was about 16 feet higher than those adjoining, and Mrs. Millard dropped on to the next house by means of her husband's cloak, but the infirmities of age prevented him from following her. The fire-escape belonging to the St. James's local society for the protection of life from fire, was soon on the spot, and Mr. Millard was taken off the roof of the burning building unhurt. The following letter was addressed to the Committee of Management of the Society:

"J. Millard, occupant of the third floor in the house of Mr. Reeve, Princes-street, Soho, boot and shoemaker, burned on Wednesday night the 1st of December, begs to recommend David Clark to the committee, to whom he is indebted for kindly and humanely, at the hazard of his own life, rescuing the said J. Millard from the burning house."

At the society's next meeting, they unanimously voted two pounds to each of the conductors (Dupere and Clark,) for their exertions at this fire.

The prompt arrival of the firemen and engines from the Chandos-street, Crownstreet, and other stations, with a plentiful supply of water, led to the early suppression of the fire. But the back part of the house, from the first floor upwards, and the roof, were destroyed.

I have particularised these fires as so many instances of the splendid effects resulting from a well-organised and harmonious system of co-operation; providing, as it does, for the earliest arrival of a force adequate to almost every emer

gency, in combination with a degree of practical skill and discipline certainly never surpassed. Justice, however, requires me to add, that in the far greater number of minor accidents, of which my limited space forbids the enumeration, and in which but trifling damage has been sustained, still stronger proofs of the practical results of this system are to be found.

The proportions which the slightly damaged bear to the whole number of fires is such as cannot fail to reflect great credit upon the servants of the establishment, whose prompt attendance on timely applications being made to them, and the skilful manner in which many of the accidents have been dealt with, have, upon many occasions, confined the damage to a surprisingly narrow limit. So far as the public are concerned, it happens, that the greater number of cases in which the well-judged efforts of the firemen are pre-eminently successful, are unknown, and therefore unappreciated, beyond the limits of their immediate locality.

The following list exhibits the occupancy of the various premises in which the fires have originated; discriminating, as heretofore, between those which began in that portion of the building appertaining to the trade of the occupant, from those which have happened in, and damaged the dwelling-houses only: Apothecaries Asphalte works Bagnios....

Bakers

Barge and boat builders

Basket makers....

Beer shops

1

1

3

18

1

2

4

....