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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th August 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4, FIRES. '. FEARFUL CONFLAGRATION AT TOTTE...

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      4 The Star Of Freedom. August 14, 1852.

      4 THE STAR OF FREEDOM . August 14 , 1852 .

      Fires. '. Fearful Conflagration At Totte...

      FIRES . ' . FEARFUL CONFLAGRATION AT TOTTENHAM . —On Mon-Haiav morning one of the most extensive fires that has ncoccurred near London for a considerable time past broke out , Shortly after four o ' clock , in the immense range of premises in tthfche occupancy of Mr . Edward Bell , and well known as the ITdTottenham Mills , situate on an island surrounded by the IREiver Lea , near the Tottenham station of the Eastern [ ucDounties Railway .

      Shortly before four o'clock on Sunday morning the watchmiman who was on duty perceived a volume of dense black ¦ sffimoke issuing from the oil-mills . He at once saw sufficient Itoto satisfy himself that the premises were on fire , and with-( oiout a moment ' s delay sounded an alarm . The engine of Tottenham parish was quickly on the spot ,

      Ifcfollowed by others from Edmonton , but by that time the inmill in which the fire commenced presented one broad sheet lolof flame . It at once became apparent that the most isfetrenuous exertions would be required to confine the flames Itoto that part of the works ; the electric telegraph was therefdbre employed to give the necessary information to the ILondon fire-engine stations .

      The instant the news reached town , two engines of the bbrigade—viz ., one from Watling-street , and another from IFarringdon-street—were despatched . The powerful force f from London reached the scene of conflagration in less than tthirty minutes after being called , when the sight that pressented itself was one of fearful grandeur . The different engines from town were backed to the River ILea , and were at once set to work . The firemen , in the ifirsfc instance , directed the branches from their engines , so j as to cut off the spread of the flames in the direction of the ( dwelling-houses and other buildings on the estate . For-Itunately to some extent they were successful hi that

      expedient , but while so engaged a store oi 70 tons of oil burst . . For an instant or two the flames , restrained by the totter-: ing walls , mounted to a great height , and the wind drove them completely over the river , but , after tiring a number of trees iand saplings growing on the bank , the walls gave way and the blazing oil ran upon the surface of the river . The firemen , under the direction of Messrs Fogo , Connorton , Scott , and Bridges , stuck to their post , although nearly prostrated with heat and smoke , and were thereby enabled to save the old malthouse , a long range of newly-pitched barns , the stabling ' , 150 tons of coal , and the extensive steam-engine house .

      The main body of fire , however , continued to rage , and for horn * after horn * appeared to defy the exertions of the firemen , other tanks of oil giving way with the heat , and the blazing hquid running over the road and into the river . By half-past seven o ' clock p . m ., although a considerable body of flame existed , the firemen had obtained the complete mastery over the devouring element .

      The premises consumed may be thus enumerated : —The oil-mills and stores of oil , seeds , & c , totally destroyed ; the flour-mill burnt down , and its contents all but consumed ; the counting-houses and offices gutted ; some of the private dwelling-houses destroyed ; the old malthouse burnt out . The stabling * , engine-house , and some outbuildings were fortunately saved .

      Mr . Bell was partially insured in the Norwich Union , Imperial , and Scottish Union fire-offices . The buildings belonged to the JSfew Eiver Company , and it is unknown whether they are insured or not . The origin of the misfortune is for the present enveloped in obscurity . About fifty families will be thrown out of employment by this melancholy disaster .

      Great Fire jjear G-ravesend . —About half-past nine on Sunday night afire was observed to break out in or near one of the large bams on the north side of the extensive formyard , of Mr . Thomas Collier , of Parrock-hall , situated on the eastern side of Wmdmill-hill . The fire hi a very few moments after it was discovered burst forth with great fury , enveloping in its flames a large stack of straw , one of hay , and another of bean stalk , which were in close contiguity with the bam in which it was supposed to have originated . From these it extended with amazing rapidity to the range of barns , including those which contained the thrashing- and

      winnowing machine , and the farming utensils of all kinds . In less than lo minutes the whole of these buildings , being constructed of wood and thatched with straw , were one mass of flame , which consumed with a fury that , were even a dozen engines to be brought to play upon the flames , would have been irresistible . In the stables were 22 horses . To save these was the first and fortunately successful effort of Mr . Collier ' s servants . At this time , or about -a quarter of an horn * after the fire was discovered , the town engines arrived , as did also a body of soldiers from the fort . The

      supply of water was abundant , and the engines were worked by the soldiers , and several others , with great energy , and with some success on the side of the mansion , —so much so , indeed , as to intercept the fire on that side . Meanwhile the flames continued their irresistible progress through the yard , and at last caught the large and newly-built cart and waggon house , which was all of timber except the thatch . The timberwork has been recently coated with tar ,

      and the blaze from this building exceeded in fury and brilliancy that of almost aU the other buildings together . The fire having on the north side ( except in the stacksTbefore alluded to ) jiretty nearly exhausted itself , and being cut off on the east side , one of the engines was brought to play on this point , but without the slightest effect . The whole farm-buildings , and all they contained , were reduced to embers .

      Destruction by Fire op a Mill at Iveighley — -On Monday evening afire broke out at the corn-mill of Messrs . W . and J . Bairstow , known as Mantra Mills , which ended , after a few hours , in the entire destruction of the building , in spite of every effort to stay the progress of the flames . The buildingwas an extensive one four stories high , and 111 feet long , and situate near the tollbar on the Hahfax-road .

      Fires. '. Fearful Conflagration At Totte...

      ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES . THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY . The inquest upon the body of William Floyd , the young gentleman who lost his life by the accident which occurred at the Berkswell cutting , near the Hampton junction , upon the 3 d inst ., was concluded on Monday , when the jury

      returned the following verdict : — " We , the jury , are of opinion that the immediate cause of the accident was the defective state of the straps - of the ash-box , thereby causing the death of William Floyd ; and the jury cannot separate without expressing their decided opinion that the inspection of those constructed engines should be made more minutely and more frequently , so as to ensure the safety of the public . "

      FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT . Information has been received at Bristol of a frightful accident which occurred on Friday se ' nnight at Llangattoch , Monmouthshire , by which , we regret to say , several lives have been sacrificed . It appears that in the vicinity of this village are several large limestone quarries , on which a great number of men are employed . On the Friday , from some hitherto unexplained cause , the side of one of these quarries gave way , about 60 , 000 tons were detached , and two unfortunate men , if not several more , are known to be buried beneath the fallen mass .

      DEPLORABLE AND FATAL ACCIDENT . An accident of a most melancholy character , resulting in the deaths of four persons , occurred last week at a short distance from Ardmore , in the county of Waterford . It appears that Archdeacon Power , of Lismore , accompanied by his two sons , a nephew , a young lad named Foley , and a young man named Magrath , left Youghal , about five o ' clock on the Monday evening , for Ardmore , in a boat called the Rover , which , at the time , was heavily laden with deals . The sea at Whitney

      Bay became so rough that Archdeacon Power deemed it advisable to put on a life-preserver , which he had fortunately carried with him ; but the boat proceeded safely on her way until she had arrived within less than a mile of Ardmore , when she was suddenly struck by a squall which here frequently sweeps down the gorges of the headlands , upset , and the persons she contained were thrown into the sea , the deals with which she had been laden being carried off by the receding tide . One of the persons on board , Magrath , on beinsr thrown into the sea , struck out for land , which he

      reached after a severe struggle , though much exhausted . As soon as anything like an intelligible account of the circumstance could be obtained from Magrath , a boat was despatched in search of the remaining sufferers . After an anxious and vigilant search the crew were fortunate enough to find Archdeacon Power on a small rock jutting off the main land , but in such a state of exhaustion that he was quite speechless . After being assisted into the boat , the rev . gentleman was enabled to tell the crew that he had left his two

      sons , his nephew , and the lad named Foley clinging to the keel of the boat , after he had left her to endeavour to obtain assistance . At this time night had completely set in . In a few minutes four boats , each provided with a lantern , were seen putting out from the Cove , in the direction indicated by Archdeacon Power ; but it was then thought that assistance would arrive too late , and the result unfortunately justified those anticipations , for no trace could be discovered either of the unfortunate children who remained by the boat or the boat itself .

      ANOTHER , FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT . On Saturday night , shortly after the up express train on the Bristol and Birmingham line left the station at Droitwitch , a man said to be employed as a plate-layer was knocked down by the engine , and , before the driver could pull up , the fire-box had completely cut away a piece larger than the hand from the right side of the skull , which it caught just above the eye , leaving the brain entirely exposed . The poor fellow lived only a short time .

      A deplorable Accident occurred a few days ago to a boy named James Evans , residing at Llanymynech , North Wales . The deceased , with several companions , was playing in the vicinity of a number of old copper workings , with which the neighbourhood abounds , and proposed to jump across the mouth of one of the pits . He succeeded in doing so , but did not gain a firm footing on the other side , and , losing Lis balance , the unfortunate boy fell backwards down the shaft , which was upwards of 40 yards in depth . A man named James Challoner saw the accident , and descended immediately , bringing up the body , which was lifeless , and shockingly mutilated .

      Extraordinary Burglary . —On Monday evening one of the most daring robberies was committed on the border of Cheshire , about five miles from Manchester , which we recollect to have heard of . Mr . Gerrard , a farmer , resides by the side of a carriage-road , leading from the village of Didsbury , about half a mile from the Wesleyan College , in a substantial-looking house , and about nine o ' clock he and his wife , two children , and a man and maid servant , had just retired to bed , when they heard a number of men rush up the farmyard to the back-door . On presenting tnemselves at the back bedroom windows they saw four or five armed

      men , wearing masks , who presented pistols and demanded admission . Mr . and Mrs . Gerrard went to the front windows , and there they encountered two men armed with guns . Ultimately the men broke open the doors , and placed the whole of the family and servants prisoners in a bedroom . Another servant man came home while they were there , but they adroitly entrapped him , and added him to the rest of the prisoners . They then removed all their prisoners into a cellar and locked them up . They plundered the house of £ 10 and a quantity of clothes , a watch , and Mr . Gerrard ' s gun , and then stayed and regaled themselves for more than an hour upon roast beef , bread and cheese , and beer .

      Fires. '. Fearful Conflagration At Totte...

      They acted altogether with great coolness , deliberation , and daring throughout . They were about eight in all , and they wore masks composed of black handkerchiefs and other things . They have got clear off , and there is but little trace of them at present . Suspected Murder at Newcastle-upon-Tyne . — On Monday afternoon an inquest was held at the Gosforth

      Arms Inn , Newcastle , before the coroner , J . J . Stoker , Esq ., upon the body of John Bell , an auctioneer ' s clerk . From the evidence that was given it appears that on Sunday evening , between ten and eleven o ' clock , a man of the name of Henry Waters , who is the occupier of a small kitchen in ahousein Wesley-street , ran from the house , and askedapoliceofficer to come in and turn a man out . The officer proceeded

      at once into the kitchen , when Waters pointed behind a bed , and said something which was unintelligible . The officer then looked to the spot to which his attention had been directed , and saw the deceased with his back on the fender , his left cheek resting on the edge of a chair , and his right hand on the floor . He had all his clothes on . The officer lifted him up , and found that he was quite dead , upon which he said to Waters , " The man is dead , what has been to do ? " Waters replied , " Well , he struck mv wife , and

      then "—here he made a pause , and continued— " but I did nothing to the man . " A surgeon was immediately sent for , and Waters left the room . During the absence of the latter , his wife , who had been sitting upon the steps leading to the kitchen , said to another officer , who asked her if there had been any mischief , " The deceased struck at me ^ and my husband struck at him again . " Waters and his wife both seemed the worse for drink , and glasses of whisky were standing upon the table . The fender upon which deceased lay was at some distance from the

      fireplace ; and the poker , tongs , and shovel lay in different parts of the room . The foregoing evidence having been g iven , the coroner said it would be necessary to adjourn the inquest in order to have a post-mortem examination of the body , previous to examining the remainder of the witnesses , _ as _ it would depend upon the result of that examination in what way they should continue their inquiries . The inquest was then adjourned . The deceased was 55 years of age . ^ Waters is in custody on the charge of murder , and will be detained until the inquest is concluded .

      Attempt to Murder . — On the 7 th inst . Frederick Lovell , butler to a gentleman residing in Sevenoaks , was brought up before the Marquis Camden and W . Lambert , Esq ., at Sevenoaks , on this serious charge . The circum - stances are of a very sad character , and it is believed the outrage sprang from a disordered mind produced by an attack of fever , which the unfortunate man had had about three months since . It appeared that on the 6 th inst ., in the absence of his employer , Lovell behaved towards his two

      fellow-servants , who are females , in such a violent manner as led _ to their application to a justice of the peace for protection , upon which a warrant was granted with a view to his finding sureties to keep the peace , if such should be needed . The warrant was put into the hands of Superintendent Handley , who , with constable Blackman , proceeded to execute it . When the constables acquainted him with their mission , he asked to see the two female servants , who were accordingly fetched . Wlien in presence of the females , Lovell ran up to the housemaid , who w as sitting ;

      down , and , holding out a letter , asked if she was the writer , and , upon her acknowledging herself to be so , he accusedher of trying to get him out of his situation , and directly pulled a revolving pistol out of his pocket charged with six bulled , and attempted to fire it , but it providentially failed , and the female made her escape unhurt . The constables then closed upon him , and in the scuffle three or four of the balls were discharged , but happily produced no injury . The unfortunate man expressed ' his penitence for the act , and felt grateful that no injury had resulted from it . He was full y committed to take his trial at the next assizes . It is

      understood that the letter referred to was an unfinished letter written by the housemaid to a friend , which the prisoner had found . In this letter she had expressed her views that , in consequence of his violent and improper conduct of late , he would not be allowed to retain his situation . Jealousy and Murder . — Considerable agitation was caused on Thursday evening in the Rue Vivienne by the discovery , in an apartment at l ^ o . 49 , of a young woman

      lying bathed in her blood from seven or eight stabs of a lying bathed in her blood from seven or eight stabs of a pogniard . Groans being heard to proceed from the apartment , some of the occupants of the house entered it , and found her on the floor nearly expiring . Every effort was made to revive her , but in vain , as she died in a few minutes after . The deceased , who was about 24 years oi age , was recognised as having several times visited a rich Spaniard who lived there . It is supposed that he had induced her to come on the day in question under pretence

      of dining with him , and that then , from jealousy , he put her to death . It is said that about five o ' clock the Spaniard caused his trunks to be taken to a railway , and followed himself as soon as he had stabbed the young woman . The police have commenced an active pursuit of' the murderer . An evening journal gives the following particulars : —" The murderer is named Navarro Perez : he is a Spaniard , 23 years of age . He represented himself as a merchant of

      Valencia . He was accustomed to stop at the house No . 49 , Rue Neuye Yivienne , which is let out in apartments . In his preceding voyages he was usually accompanied by a young Spanish woman ag ' ed scarcely 20 years , named Dolores . She was of very distinguished appearance , and passed for his wife . During' his ' last stay at the hotel he remained alone , and this young lady , who stopped in another hotel , often came to see hinx But he had made known

      that she was only his mistress . Some misunderstanding had evidently arisen between them , and our readers know to what terrible results love quarrels among Spap / ards sometimes lead . Still , the only way in which the coolness existing between them was revealed was by thox ceasing

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 14, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_14081852/page/4/