DESTRUCTION OF THE LIVERPOOL LANDING STAGE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1931, 14 October 1874, Page 4

DESTRUCTION OF THE LIVERPOOL LANDING STAGE.

[fkom the home news.] The most disastrous fiie that has occurred in connection with the port of Liverpool throughout all the period of its instoiy broke o«6 on. July 2B> aadreaulted in 1&e total ctesfrttciroa <?£ foe }au&ing- > stage, the most extensive and magnificent structure of the kind in the world. The fire broke out about ] 0 minutes past 3 p.m., and so rapid was its spread that in less than half an hour afterwards the entire population of both sides of the river were made aware of the fact by the rising of dense volumes of smoke that in the neighbourhood of the river a fire of great magnitude had broken out._ It was generally supposed, in the first instance, that one of those great blocks of warehouses which face the river, and which are so suggestive to visitors of the vastness of the trade of Liverpool, formed the scene of conflagration, and as fires within these structures are far from being rare events, few people troubled themselves for the moment to inquire further into the matter. Fears also arose that some vessel in dock had taken fire. Soon, however, the incredible story went round that it was the landing-stage which was on fire ; but the possibility that a floating structure, could be the scene of a gigantic conflagration could scarcely find place in the ordinary mind. But the smoke arose in great volumes, and after a brief time it became known that, in spite of the ample supply of water, there was every probability that the splendid promenade was doomed to destruction. Liverpool will not soon forget the alarm this looming mass of smoke rising from the river at first occasioned. The afternoon was fine, clear, bright, and warm. There had been showers during the forenoon. The afternoon settled, into the clearness that as a rule follows rain, and the scene on the river was in. consequence as cheerful and gay as it usually is in ordinary times. The river itself was thickly studded with craft, ferry-boats, and tugs innumerable, plying their ordinary trade. In mid river were three or four magnificent ocean steamers — the Parthia, a Cunard liner, outward bound ; two Allan steamers, one of which also had her voyage before it; and the huge steamship Spain, of the National line. The landing-s:age itself had been immensely thronged duriug the day, and it was in the very height of the commotion that the alarm of fire was raised — an alarm that left the leaat posBible interval for saving anything from inevitable destruction. The whole length of the stage, which had been recently completed by the addition of a new portion joining the old George's, and the more recent Prince's stage, was nearly a quarter of a mile. The cost of the structure was nearly a quarter of a million sterling. It is conjectured that the origin of the fife was a gas explosion underneath the newly-added portion/ which was being fitted with gas pipes. The fire spread quickly underneath the deck of the stage, catching the timber work over the pontoon. In 1847, the engineering skill of ' Sir William Ciibitt put an end to the antiquated system of embarkation that had existed on. the shoals of the Mersey for many years. He designed the George's landing-stage, and that structure, which occupied a considerable time in formation, was on the Ist of June of that year fixed to r the mooring to whi-h it is attached until a few days ago, when it was removed ?to make. way for a stage so adapted as jto I join that portion of the structure whijjh was destroyed on July 28. It consisted principally of 39 iron pontoons and j a wooden decking Bin. in thickness. In length" it was 507 ft., and in width 180 ft. 9in. Its weight was 2,000 tons, and; it could bear 40,000 persons. With, the bridges, the total cost of the:stage, which was built under.the superintendence !of the officers of the Dock Committee, j a body which at that, .time , performed the duties of ' the present 1 Dock- "Board, was about L 40,000. The fire continued to burn throughout ithenight. There was little hope of saving anything except the new pontoon bridge, which/ runs far in (towards the street;" This structure in itself is valued at about r L 25,000. The loss occasioned by the disaster will, we believe, fall almost entirely on the Dock Board, from whom no intimation has been given as to any portion of the structure being covered by insurance. Some legal questions may arise betwen them and Messrs. Brassey and other contractors as to whether the latest '•'■.■ additions were formally handed over to the board. So admiriably did the George's stage fulfil the purpose for which it was intended, that it was decided to provide additional accomodation of the same kind. Accordingly, Sir W. Oubitt's services were again brought into requisition, and from designs furnished by him the Prince's stage was constructed. The total cost of the fabric was about L 140,000. It was opened on the Ist September, 185?. Notwithstanding the extent of the accomodation provided by the two stages, one of which was devoted to river and the other to coasting and foreign traffic, it soon became apparent that still further improvements would become necessary, and various schemes were proposed for the im- j provement of these and the extension of . the stages. One was at last selected, and two years ago the operations embraced in the design prepared by Mr G. F. Lyster, the engineer to the board, commenced. The chief features of his scheme were the union of the two; stages and a floating bridge extending from the Btreet known as the New Quay. A few weeks since, as has already been stated, -the George's stage was moved and united with the Prince's stage, and a structure was thus formed that was unrivalled in the world. It was upwards of 2,000 ft. in length, joined by seven bridges, one of which, the Pontoon-bridge, is 590 ft. in length and 38ft. in breadth. The principle adopted in the construction of the Prince's and George's stages was employed in that of the additions that were made to it, the woodwork of which was impregnated with creosote for the purpose of rendering it less liable to the action of the water, and tar was plentifully used between the planks and elsewhere, and this, of course, .made the upper part of the structure exceedingly inflammable. Messrs. Brassey and Co., Birkenhead, made the pontoons for additions to the main stage. Mesara, Vernon and Caper, Liverpool, provided those on which the great bridge rests. The Dock Board said they would complete the woik within three years, and when just j about to fulfil that promise, their intention has been frustrated. Upwards of L 159,000 was the estimated cost of the latest scheme in its integrity. I It wbb from the river that the full extent of the fire could best be aeon.

The spectacle was grand and would have been terribly so had darkness prevailed instead oE the sky being clear and unclouded. The wind was light from the north-west, but gradually freshening, and it carried the smoke with it southwards. At this time a portion, of the stage to the southward of the embankmant was framing brightly, the flames being red and clear, with comparatively little smoke, while the northern half was wrapped inimpenetrable smoke, through whichlurid flames played only at intervals. Just beyond could be seen the tall masts of the shipping in the Priuce's Pock. The quays, both to the north and south, were crowded with spectators. The appearance of the river and the boats moving to and fro remained little changed throughout, but as the fire progressed, the Cheshire stage and the Cheshire shore became nearly crowded as the opposite one, rendering tli3 appearance of the whole scene when the fire was at its height, one of a very remarkable character. The most striking feature of the scene was the immense piles of burning timber flying about the ceutre of the stage ; these blazed grandly, and stood out against the dark background of smoke ; with smoke dense, impenetrable ; unbroken on the one hand, and a stretch of steadily burning woodwork on the other. At certain points men might be seen plyiug axes a 9 though endeavouring to sever the various sections of the stage, but tney worked fruitlessly. In this way the fire continued burning for many hours.