The Saint Petersburg English Review of Literature, the Arts and Sciences

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 engineer's 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, 11 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, 91, P. M. Mr. J. Stewart, St. George's Hotel, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. This fire commenced in a back bed-room on the second-floor, from a candle having been brought in contact with the bed-curtains; 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, 111, P. M. Mr. Berlyn, dealer in marine stores, Churchlane, 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. 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. No effort was made to obtain the parish fire-ladders, 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.

June 23, 1, 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 Bernersstreet, 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, twothirds 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, 3', 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, Watling-street, 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 communicated 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 steam-engine, 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 discovered, 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 another station, 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, Bedford-court, 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-maker's, next door, poured through the roof, the fire being at the time confined to the basement story,

November 15, 91⁄2 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 ingnited 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 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. 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 emergency, 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.