THE FIRE AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1346, 1 March 1867, Page 3

THE FIRE AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

[Irom the "Home News."] The result of the fire at the Crystal Palace is that the whole of the northern end of the building has been destroyed, except a part of the low Qarrow wing extending towards the 3ast into the at a right angle with the fabric, and used chiefly as an orangery. The space between the nrater tower and the_ screen which separated the Tropical department from ;he rest of the nave, about a couple of icres in extent, is now strewn, with jlackened masses of the fallen roof and )ther materials, presenting a deplorible spectacle. Alt that remains of he northern transept are a few broken mtlines of the arched, and towering rom among the general wreck are itill to be seen the two colossal Egyptian figures copied from the temple >f Rameses the Great at Aboo Simbel, n Nubia, but now sadly defaced by he action of the fire. They were sixty - ive feet high, and reached to 'the roof of the transept. Of the, Alhambra Court, on the west side of the tropical part of the nave, arid ' also of the Byzantine and Romanesque Court, facing it on the opposite side, little is left but the bare walls ; the Queen's apartments and the Library and Read-ing-room have perished, as have also j the extensive collection of Indian curiosities and products, the Gallery of ISaval Architecture, the Aviary, and the whole of the tropical plants. The Wellingtonia Gigantia, from California, which when growing is said to have been 400 feet high, has shared the same fate. The fire appears to have originated in the north-eastern wing, from which ife spread rapidly towards the main body of the building, along the flooring and. other woodwork, which in the tropical end had become exceedingly inflammable. It afterwards extended to the great water tower, the floors of which, at different stories, and the gallery -were for several hours burning at the same time. One theory as to the cause of the fire supposes it to have originated in a place used as a paint and storeroom in the north-east corner of the building, and near the water tower. Adjoining that roomtheboiler of a powerful steam-engine used in pumping water was housed, a slight wall separating the two. After the fire a hole was found in the parti ion, and the firebox of the boiler had been driven fr dttt its place in the direction of the wall. It is thought that some one in charge of the boiler may have banked np his fire, closed the door of the furnace, and left the place. The effect of the fire so banked up might be to generate g«is, for it would act like a retort; but still the gas, if generated, would simply burn, and not explode, unless mixed with atmospheric air. It is further suggested that the damper connected with the boiler may have admitted sufficient air to cause an explosion, and that the firebox, driven from its position against the wall, may have made the breach which was afterwards found in it, and set the paint room on fire.