FIRE IN LONDON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2578, 19 January 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRE IN LONDON.

EXCITING SCENE-NARROW ESCAPES. A fire, which was attended with some very exciting , circumstances, and which it is feared will result fatally, broke out at two minutes before two o'clock on Thursday morning, at 91, Central-street, St. Luke's, E.C., in, a shop and house tenanted by Mr J. C. Bethell, gas-fitter. The family had retired to rest some houra when the fire brokeout from an unknown cause in the back parlour, and the flames had made considerable headway when the outbreak was discovered. The house was full of smoke, and the flames were crackling fiercely on the ground and first floors, when a cry of " Fire " was suddenly raised in the house, and the inmates awoke to find themselves in a position of considerable danger. On opening the bedroom doors clouda of suffocating smoke poured into the room, and when aa attempt was made to rush through this in order to get to the door, the unfortunate people found that the stairs were on fire. The flames were raging most fiercely at the back part of the premises, and the rooms in tho front were fortunately temporarily froo from fire. Tha terrified people rushed into these, and, throwing up the windows, screamed for help. A crowd speedily collected, and urged them to wait a few seconds, for help was coming. Tho smoke, however, was rolling out of the windows over tho heads of those in danger, and the heat was gradually overcoming them, while the flumes were rapidly extending all over the house. In the meantime messengers had run to the Whitecross.station. Just at the critical moment, when it seemed certain tho Bethells could not hold out any longer, tho fire escape was seen, and a ringing cheer was raised by the crowd. Fireiny.n W. J. Stevens, who was the conductor of the escape, lost not a moment in "pitching" his machine against the building, and, amid great excitement, he ran up the ladder, aud was lost to view in the smoke. Ho quickly appeared, bearing a partially-dressed woman in an almost nnconscious state. Ho ascended again, and succeeded in rescuing a second person, and finally old a man of seventy years of age, was got out of the burning building,

terribly burnt, but alive. He was planed in a cab and removed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. By the time the "call" had been circulated by telephone, and steamers and manuals from Clerkonwell, Watlingstreet, Scotland-yard, Holborn, and Great Marlborough-street had arrived upon the scene, a fierce fire was raging, and the deliveries from standpipo after standpipe had to be brought into play to subdue the flames. After an hour's hard work, thn firemen accomplished their task.