TERRIBLE FIRE IN LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9252, 30 November 1891, Page 3

TERRIBLE FIRE IN LONDON.

In the early hours of October 16 the East End of London was the scene of a disastrous fire, which resulted in the deaths of no fewer than five persons. The scene of this outbreak was a small six-roomed house, numbered 401, West Ferry Road, Millwall, tenanted by Mr J, Walker, and sub-let to Mr F. W. Hoare, Mr M. Le Butt, and Mrs Annie Missen. At twenty minutes to two o'clock it was discovered that tho back room on the ground floor was in flames, and the cry of " Fire 1" soon resounded through the house. Tho stairs took fire very rapidly, and those occupants who ran out of the burning bailding before this happened, looked in vain for any signs of the people who were known to be above. These were Phoebe Walker, the aged mother of tho occupant of the house, Mrs Annie Missen, and he: three children — Violet, Phoebe, and Charles. The fire alarm was rung into the fire station at the juuetion of East Ferry and West Ferry roads, Isle of Dogs, and the manual engine and escape were at once despatched to the scene. The firemen, on their arrival were informed that it was believed there were people in the house, and while one contingent immediately set the deliveries from the standpipes to work others endeavoured to enter the upper win • dows. By this time, however, the place was like a furnace inside, and all chance of persons being alive in the place was hopeless. Tho firemen made repeated efforts to enter, but were beaten back by the flames and smoke. It was not until the water thrown into the building had had some effect in checking tho strength of the fire that an entry could be effected. It was then discovered that the whole of the unfortunate persons bad been suffocated, and were lying in different positions in the rooms upstairs. In the course of half-an-hour the fire was effectually overcome, but not until tho place had been practically destroyed. The affair caused great excitement in the neighbourhood, and a very large crown collected.