FIRE AT WALTHAM.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1713, 16 August 1879, Page 2

FIRE AT WALTHAM.

About 4 15 this morning the flrebolls rang out an alarm, and on enquiry it was ascertained that a draper’s store, situated at the junction of the Gasworks road and Fifth street, Waltham, was on Are. The house, which was built of wood, contained seven rooms and a shop, occupied by Mr Henry Edward Steer. The fire was first discovered by the servant girl, who slept over the shop, the heat and smoko penetrating tho bedroom occupied by her. She at once gave the alarm to the other inmates of the house, who barely had time to escape before the entire building was wrapped in flames, and it was soon afterwards burnt to tho ground. It is supposed that tho fire originated in the parlor, which adjoined the shop, fronting on Fifth street. When the girl first got up the partition between the kitchen and the parlor was in flames. The Fire Brigade turned out, alio the railway firemen, with their engine. The engines, however, wore not taken the whole way, as the fire was so soon over. The house was tho property of Mr Samuel Needham, and was insured in tho London and Lancaster Company for £4OO j the stock and furniture was also insured, for £4O D, in the Colonial Insurance Company. Mr Steer estimates his loss, over and above what was covered by the insurance, at £3C 3. The origin of the fire is a mystery, the people in the house not being in any way able to account for it. Sergeant Hughes, with a detachment of police, was soon at the scene of the fire, being quickly followed by Sergeant Morice with the depot contingent. Tho lire was confined to the one building.