FIRE IN THE TOWER OF LONDON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 2, 19 March 1842, Page 8

FIRE IN THE TOWER OF LONDON.

The London papers contain detailed accounts of a destructive fire in the Tower of ' London. It seems that on the night of Saturday, the 30th of October, 1841, the Grand Storehouse and Small Armoury was destroyed by fire. The account of this unhappy event and the minutedescription of the portion of the Tower which has been burnt is too long to find a place in our columns. A slight sketch must suffice. The fire was first observed by a sentinel on duty near the Jewel Office, at half-past ten. He gave the alarm ; the military quartered in the Old Mill Barracks turned out. In a few minutes the flames burst from the windows of the Round Tower with fearful violence. The engines from every quarter were in attendance within half an hour of the alarm; but, owing to some mistaken order, were not immediately admitted. By eleven o'clock the Round Tower was completely destroyed, and hopes were entertained that the danger of the fire spreading was over; but, unfortunately, the Armoury roof nearest to the river had caught the flames, and in spite of every effort, described as superhuman by the reporters of Jhe English papers, at twenty minutes after eleven the flames were issuing from every part of the building. The scene of confusion arising from attempts of people to enter the Tower appears to have been beyond description frightful. "By half-past twelve the conflagration had reached to a frightful magnitude. It had extended through the flooring of the Small Armoury into the lower compartment, occupied by the train of artillery, and those splendid trophies of England's glory so well known to the public. From this period the flames continued to increase with such fearful violence that apprehensions were entertained that every part of the Tower would be overwhelmed and become a victim to them. Fire was to be seen gushing forth from every window of the building, which had all the appearance of the crater of some volcano. The heat became so intense that it was utterly im-. possible for a human being to stand on the broad walk between the Armoury and the White Tower, and before it was possible to remove the engines some of them were burnt very considerably. At one o'clock the whole of the Clock Tower, which .had stood tottering for some time, together with a great mass of the roof and some portion of the upper heavy stone work of the building, fell in with a tremendous crash, resembling the fire of heavy artillery. Immediately after this the flames for some time increased their height, but assumed a livid hue of a most unearthly description, and evidently blew over in the direction of the White Tower, for which great fears were now entertained. It is curious to remark that, notwithstanding the inteuse heat which it had to sustain, the vane on the top of. the cupola of the Clock Tower kept its point to the north-east, at which it was pointed when the fire commenced, even at the time the Tower fell in. All attentions were now directed towards the White Tower and the Church of St. Peter. The leaden water pipes running from the roof of the former were melted, and the frames of the windows had already ignited, but a plentiful supply of water having been obtained, the exertions of the firemen, soldiers, &c, were directed to it, and it was only by copious streams of water being poured upon it that it was rescued. The church v also indebted to the praiseworthy exertions of the officers of the garrison and the soldiers under their command, for its preservation." Throughout the whole of Sunday the vicinity of the Tower presented a most animated scene. Thousands crowded the gates of the fortress, anxious to gain admission, which could only be procured by an order from the governor or some high authority. In the course of the afternoon the scene of devastation was visited by several members of her Majesty's Government, the Lord Chamberlain, Lord: Hill, com-mander-in-chief, the Lord Mayor, Sir Henry Hardinge, Colonel Wyse, &c. With regard to the amount or value of the property destroyed, it is impossible at the present time to give a correct estimate ; it is, however, generally supposed to exceed £1,000,000 sterling.

A late over-land mail from London to Bombay occcupied little more than thirty days, this being the quickest transit on record. The original South Foreland Light, which was among the first erected in England, is now under the progress of demolition, being already almost levelled to the foundation. The Dumfries Times has adopted a new head for Parliamentary Intelligence. The Lords are the " Upper House of Monopolists," and the Commons the " Lower ditto." The amount of silver coin and bullion shipped at Dover in September, 1841, was 280,655 oz. We beg to inform our friends rending at the Port, that, copies of this paper can be had of Mr. Moors, and of Mr. White. Tuns or STiascuPTioti. — Forty ihiUing* per nunm, payable in advance, or one shilling for ■ingle numbers. Chasok pox Aovmtishi EitTa. — Five lines and under, Ss. fid. for the first, and Is. 6d. for each subsequent insertion ; from five to eight lines, 3s. for the tint, and Ss. fur each subsequent insertion ; above eight lines, Ss. for the first eight lines, and Sd. per line above that number, and 3ii. per line for each subsequent insertion. When printed in jiouble column*, two lines to count as three. AdvertiwnienU received after ten o'clock on Friday morn* ings, will be charged double thr usual rate. Whan Advertisements are rent without (be number at intended insertions written on the cony, they will be continued weekly until eosOitermatided. which can only be attended to before ten o'clock on Thursday mornings.