EXTENSIVE FIRE IN ST. CATHERINE'S DOCK.

Colonist, Issue 89, 27 August 1858, Page 3

EXTENSIVE FIRE IN ST. CATHERINE'S DOCK.

General excitement prevailed all Tuesday night in the vicinity of St. Catherine's Dock in consequence of a frarful fire raging in the exCensive warehouses lettered E., on the eastern side of the dock abutting on Nightingale-lane with C. and D. divisions. The warehouses were the last erected, and were stored chiefly with tobacco, hemp, jute, gutta percha, sugars, rice, and other articles. With respect to the origin of the fire nothing is known. The ware«*: housfs were locked up at the close of the business, 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at which period all was comparatively safe, and continued so until about 10 minutes to 8. o'clock,when the police on duty in the dock were startled by the outburst of flames from the attic or seven-story windows of the middle warehouse. This floor contained chiefly tobacco in bales. An attempt was made by some of the police to enter it, but in vain, for it was on fire in every part, and ere ten minutes had elapsed the flames penetrated the roof and illuminated nearly all London. Thousands of persons immediately flocked to the spot, and by this time the- fire was at its height: Nearly all the brigade engines were called out by the " light." The dock floating engines were instantly set to work and the moment the brigade engines came into the dock they were all got to play. The hose was carried up the staircase of the warehouses to the floors on fire. This was no easy task, on account of the great altitude of the buildings and the large quantityof hose required ; and many lengths burst ou account of the excessive pressure on them, which caused a temporary delay, but which were quickly replaced by fresh lengths. For a long time the flames defied all the power and force employed to combat them; the fire descended through, the tobacco warehouse room to the floor beneath, containing sugar, gutta percha, and hemp, which quickly became ignited, and the whole was in flames. About this time (half-past; 9) the two steam-floating engines belonging to the brigade were got into the dock. There was some difficulty in getting them in^in consequence of its being low tide. Both engines were brought alongside the burning warehouse, and instantly set to work, five separate branches being employed. Working under a pressure of 100 lbs. steam, immense columns of water were thrown above the roof of the warehouse to a height of nearly 130 feet, which descended in torrents on the burning mass; this was considered the best mode of employing them. Almost immediately they were brought into operation the fire appeared to slacken in its violence, but for hours it confirmed ,to rage with fury. Much doubt'for-a while existed as to the practicability of saving the lower floors of the warehouse; the fire was descending into the fifth floor, and there seemed no chance of stopping it. It was at last determined to dam, up the doorways with bales of tobacco and convert the floor into a reservoir. Upwards of 12 tons of water per minute were ,pumped from the engines, and in a very short time the flooi\ was flooded to a depth of nearly two feet. This effectually prevented the fire descending; but the floors above, and their contents, were entirely destroyed. It was nearly three o'clock on Wednesday morning before the flames were entirety subdued. As to the probable amount of the loss the Dock Company decline to give any information. We have learnt, however, that the damage by water is far greater than that destroyed by the fire. The warehouses communicated with each other by means of double iron massive doors. These .prevented the fire from extending to C and D division warehouses, but the water found its way through them, and both buildings and their contents were deluged. The goods destroyed by fire are roughly estimated at from .£15,000 to <£20,000, the damage to the building about .£IO,OOO, and stores damaged by water reckoned at from j> 50,000 to £70,000. The Warehouse is insured in the Scottish Union, Liverpool and London, Royal Exchange, Alliance, Globe, Imperial, London Assurance, Monarch, and Atlas offices. We are bappy to say the shipping ia the dock entiiely escaped damage.— Mitchell's Maritime Register, May 1. .