| Show A Great Conflagration in London LONDON Dec 30A terrific confiagra ion is now 2 p m raging in this city The scene of the fire is Queen Victoria and Thames streets near Blackfriara bridge Numerous warehouses are blazing London seems destined to suffer one of the largest most destructive fires in its history of recent years Fourteen fire engines were soon upon the pot The firemen did their utmost but with little success to check the course of the flames A high wind blowing materially mate-rially added to the fury of the flames while hindering fireman in their efforts to save property Terrible sheets of flame and clouds of hot smoke frequently whirled dangerously near them The large wholesale whole-sale fur manufactory of Revillion Freres 12 7 to 141 Queen Victoria street was doomed shortly after the fire gained strong headway Following this a large copper warebouee ajiumber of f ncy goads stores and the Gulchor Electric Light and Power company building were also a complete prey to the flames The flames spread rap idly on all sides as i there were no fire mon of fire engines present Immense crowds of people gathered on the bridges over the Thames and in the streets running down to the river where a good view of the conflagration could be had Many expressed the hope that this disaster would at least bring about a reform in the London fire brigade As the fire progressed it spread to the headquarters of the Salvation army the Salvationists working like beavers in their efforts to place the records and property in a place of safety At 4 p m the tore is rapidly spreading in all direc tions All buildings from the corner of Bennetts hill to No 135 Queen Victoria sereetare either blazing fiercely or else are smoldering ruins The fire originated in the building of Davidson Sons paper manufacturers and bag makers at 1H Queen Victoria street This building is a largo structure and is completely gutted as also was that of Adolph Frankar Sc Co manufacturers of I pipes and importers of tobacco The old Bennot church on Upper Thames street a amous Welsh church also caught fire at 430 p m What would be termed in New York four large blocks of buildings are in l flames and burning steadily At 5 this afternoon S1 Bennetts church was completely destroyed The firemen managed to save the headquarters of the Salvation army and it was then announced an-nounced the fire was under control Two million dollars it is milon dolrs estimated will cover the loss A later examination of the burnt district shows that St Bennetts church an old Welsh worshipping place was not entirely d destroyed at first thought Besides a high wind tho today weather was ox tremely cold the water freezing all over the fire apparatus and firemen There was no loss of life and few accidents among the firemen The total loss is 3000000 |
