TREMENDOUS FIRES AT WOOLWICH AND NEW CROSS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1797, 27 November 1862, Page 4

TREMENDOUS FIRES AT WOOLWICH AND NEW CROSS.

Shortly after midnight yesterday 27th August, a lurid glare overspread the south side of th< river, and quickly showed that a fire of no sin ill magnitude was raging. In a short time messengers arrived at the fire stations, arnounein» that a fire had broken out at the premises ol Mr. C. Willii.ins, lailwav carriage Guilder to the London and Biigbtou Company, situate ai New Cross. In a very sh>rl period the engines from Souihwark bridge road, with two land steam engines, were on the spot under the; direcdon of Mr Henderson, the chief officer ol the 13 division, with a strong body of firemen who got to work, but owing to the scanty supply of water at fiist obtained from the mains of the Kent Company, but little impression was made upon the fiie. In a very short time the entire range of premises, 270 feet long by 40 feei broad, and nearly 50 feet high, were one m.iss of flames, the firemen, however, kept to tbeii work, and ultimately the fury of the fire wax subdued, but not before the building and contents of the drpemes shops, together with a large and valuable stock of timber in the yards was entirely destroyed, The origin of the fire is unknown, and the suffeiei is believed not t be insured. Following this tire, a telegraphic mesbage was received at the Southwark biiiige road and other stations, stating- ihut a wosi disbstrous fire had broken out at Woolwich. Engiues were .it once set off, when it was found that the fire was furiously raging iv the premises iv the occupation of Mr. Winy, hosier, «cc, 72, Ohurchhi.l, Woolwich. Without any delny a good supply of water from the Kent Company's mains having beeu obtained, torrents o. water were thrown on to the burning house. Notwithstanding all that was done the fire seized hold of the house and shop ol Mr. Bannister, upholsterer, No. 73, and then rapidly gained a mastery o?ei the adjoining premises, No. 71, in the occupation of Mr. D. Dove, tailor, &c. The fire u»w assumed a most alarming aspect, and the brigade, aided by the engines from the Dockyard, kept in a most praiseworthy manner to their work, which was ultimately rewarded by the subjugation of the fire.