Great fire in Dublin

Great fire in Dublin

22 Jun 1875

Further Particulars

As might he expected, the scene of the conflagration was visited by many thousands of the citizens on Saturday and Sunday. From the report of tho police, it appears the estimated loss to the owners of the property consumed amounts to £30,000. There were in the bonded stores 5,000 hogsheads of whiskey, brandy, and casks of wine, of which only 61 were saved. The casks were rolled into the Coombe, and the result was that six men were arrested in a beastly state of intoxication several more being conveyed to hospital.

It is stated that cupa. porringers, and other vessel were in great _requisition to scoop up the liquor as it flowed from the burning premises, and disgusting as it may seem, some fellows were observed to take off their boots and use them as drinking cups. What was the result?

Eight men were carried in a comatose state to Meath Hospital twelve to Jervis street. Hospital; three to Stevens’ Hospital, and one young man to Mercer’s Hosp. over these numbers do not represent the entire of the persons put hors de combat by the drink. Most melancholy of all, however, it is to state that two young men named Matthew Healy aged 28 of 124. Church-street, and Thomas McNally of Bridgefoot street, about the same age, have succumbed to the fatal influence of a overdraught, and have meet an untimely end.

Healy died in the Meath Hospital yesterday morning at 3 o’clock’ and McNally only survived till half past 9. They were both corn porters. It is reported that a third fatal case has occurred in a private house. In the other cases the patients were treated in tho usual way, and having recovered were discharged on Saturday morning, perhaps, sadder and, it is to be hoped, wiser men. There is a rumour that one man has died in bis own residence from the effects of drink and it is not at all improbable, if the whole truth were known, that many more have suffered from the effects of drinking the whiskey that flowed from the burning premises.

The liquors stored in the warehouse belonged to several owners, but the heaviest loser will be Mr. Malone. It appears that the Bonded Stores were inspected by an excise officer at 4.45 p.m., and at that hour all appeared safe and well. At half-past eight the alarm was given. With the promptitude that is always displayed by the members of the Metropolitan force on occasions of emergency, Acting-Inspector Dowse and Police Constable Luke Toole, hailed a car, which happened to be that of John Conway, badge 1,200, and they drove like the wind to Winetavern street to give notice to the Fire Brigade. It will give some notion of the celerity with which tho movements of the police and the brigade were conducted to state that in 15 minutes Captain Ingram, Lieutenant Boyle, and the men of tho force, with one steam engine and four baud engines were on the spot. As stated above, they were of little use, the Captains of tho Brigade wisely abstaining from using his hose on flaming whiskey.

It is a matter of some surprise that the fin did not melt tho soldering of the gas pipes, and so cause new complication and increased danger. On Saturday Mr. North, Inspector of the District, and Mr. Waterfield, also an inspector, attended, with some labourers, and cut off tho service pipes as a measure of precaution. Hold the liquid fire permeated down and caused a breach in one of the gas mains, the result would, no doubt, have been awful, by causing explosions and spreading the flames in such a thickly populated portion of the city. Providentially, we are spared the harrowing task of reporting the horrors attending tho loss of human life—if we except tho cases of the two unfortunate men who unfortunately yielded to tho temptation offered by the flowing whiskey, and for too free libations paid the forfeiture of their lives.

It may be mentioned as a curious circumstance that, the whiskey let loose from tho exploding casks, percolated tho Boil, and covered the waters of the Poddle River, which runs underneath Ardee street. The flames being communicated to the alcohol created explosions, which laid tho long-hidden portion of the rivulet bare. We are happy to state that Mr. Malone’s portion of tho property destroyed, including both bonded stores and their contents in Cork Street and Chamber street were more than covered by insurance. Apropos here, it may be mentioned that on Saturday the insurance office had almost more than they could to receive forms of application for insuring. The Lord Mayor, who was present during the fire, was greatly pleased with tho conduct of tho military, the police force, and the vast multitude of citizens who were attracted thither. At ten o’clock the stream of burning liquor, two feet, wide and six inches in depth, which ran along the channel on one side of Millstreet, had reached fully a quarter of a mile from where the fire broke out. The flaming fluid then extended to a house opposite Worrenmount Mills. The water played only added to the flame. His Eminence Cardinal Cullen has written to the Lord Mayor expressing his sympathy with tho sufferers by the fire, and enclosing a subscription of £10.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT

On Saturday crowds of people passed through and examined the streets marKed by the ravages of the conflagration, and it is questionable it in scene of such shocking desolation has ever been observed in Dublin. The road and pathways in Chamber-street, Cork-street, Ardee-street, and Mill-street were almost completely blocked up with loose bricks, charred woodwork, mud, tar, and general bricks. Most of tho places where the flames had taken greatest effect were very properly fenced in to prevent tho near approach of curious visitors, for the house fronts and walls in many quarters were in a tottering, crumbling. and very dangerous condition. The bonded stores of Mr. Malone have been completely destroyed; not a vestigo of the building remains safe here and some of the more massive iron supports, girders, or pillars, and the stone wails.

The general space within is covered to depth feet with iron hoops, tho only remnants of the whiskey hogsheads which they encircled; but by far the most melancholy spectacle which tho district presents is tho appearance of the gutted and blackened houses which adjoin. The windows, roofs, doors, and in many places the complete fronts, have been burned away, and inside may be seen traces of the little comforts of the late occupiers.
In one case nothing is left but a charred and broken chair or pallet; in another an empty bird’s cage, a few cups, a shattered ornament or flower-pot, and other such side, suggestive signs.

Many houses, although but little marked, are in a perilous condition, and it would unquestionably be a wise and charitable act if something were done to better tho condition of the poor people of this district by improving the wretched dwellings which they inhabit. What caused the fire has not up to the present transpired, and probably it never will.

Various statements are made, but none amount to more than mere rumour and speculation. It is even doubtful where it originated, and whom first observed tho flames covered a considerable space. A narrative of the facts, collected from the most reliable sources, will be of interest. At a little after half-pa3t eight o’clock word was brought ta the Newmarket police station that a fire had broken out in Mr. Lawrence Malone’s bonded whiskey stores in Chamber Street, which, it may be mentioned, cover an area extending from tho latter street to Cork Street, and in which 5.000 hogsheads of whiskey were stored, together with a considerable number of wine and brandy flasks.
It is stated that. Mr. Lynn, Supervisor of Excise, locked up and left the stores in apparent safety on the previous evening, at about a quarter before 5. Acting Inspector Dowd, 13 A, and Police constable Luke Toole, were the first who received official intimation of the occurrence, and tho latter was promptly despatched to the Fire Brigade Office, Winetavern Street. Captain Ingram, Lieutenants Boyle, Byrne, and the men of the brigade, were “and other quickly on tho scone with the steam engines, and four lines of hose attached.

Water was plentiful. In fact, the burning promises were surrounded, so to speak, with a supply; it was to be had at Cork Street, Chamber Street, and the corner of New Street; but the flames had worked their way with fearful and uncontrollable violence and rapidity; tho hogsheads had burst, the spirits flowed from a hundred channels into the streets, and tho application of water would but have added to and aided the inevitable destruction which ensued.

Meanwhile, every effort was made by the captain, officers, and men of the brigade to stem tho torrent; the ground was cut up, intercepting channels were formed, and with a most commendable bravery and fearless activity they worked as hard as men could work to retard the progress of the blazing liquid which flowed irresistibly onward. A dense crowd of citizens had flocked from all sides, attracted by the intense glare of tho light which covered the sky with a purple hue, and it is gratifying to he able to say that unlike tho displays of disorder which characterised the occasion of the Thomas Street fire, the mass of people wore most peaceful and orderly, and, when opportunity afforded, of offered rather than impediment to the police and officers. Of course, there were, as there must over be some exceptions; but the exceptions in this case were astonishingly few; when the vastness of tho crowd is considered. Neo words can describe the terrible effect of the burning vessels of whiskey, forcing their way along, amid the cries and shouts of the people, and the sudden booming of exploded hogsheads, he bursting of which at intervals reminded the hearer that fuel was be in each moment added to tho fire.

The stream of spirit flowed on with horrid rapidity through Cork street, Chamber street, Ardee street and Mill street, carrying instruction in its course, and here it may be said that, had this matters wore, it was by the merest accident that the destruction of property was not ten times greater than it was. Had he breeze been stronger or in a different directiou it is terrible to think of the havoc which must have inevitably followed the sea of flame. In Mill street, for instance, there are, in the direction of tho side fortunately escaped, extensive ten yards the Warrenmount Mills, stores, and immensity of woodwork, all of which are surrounded by clusters of small houses and other buildings, or the safety of Warrenmount Convent the gravest apprehensions were entertained, aid many and anxious inquiries were made as to its position, but it fortunately was nninjnred.

Of course tho brigade was helpless to save the houses, and their exertions were necessarily confined to prevent, if possible, the onflow of the whiskey. In Mill street a plan was adopted which proved as effectual at least in keeping tho destruction within bounds. On the suggestion , we understand, of Mr. Crolton, jun., supervisor of waterworks, an embankment formed of wet tan and stuff token from neighbouring yards was placed in front of the approaching spirit, and in this way the burning stream was kept back. Similar steps were taken elsewhere, and thus the devastation which could not be prevented was as leas held in limit, and then the fire burned itself out, eating up with fearful and ravenous avidity everything that came within its range.

The whiskey lay in many places in deep pools, and many of tbe crowd men, women, and indeed, it must be added, even children, eagerly lapped up the scorching drink. This, however, was the only matter in which the conduct of even the lowest and roughest people present was reprehensible. Tho Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, who was summoned from the Gaiety Theatre at 10.40. attended immediately to received word of the occurrence, and remained until an advanced hour. Two of the brigade men had a narrow escape. They were occupied on the upper story of a house beside the bonded store, helping each other to pass up a hose. Whilst thus engaged the roof fell with a crash, one of the men escaped by jumping down the staircase, the other was jammed in the window, but providentially got down without suffering anything more serious than a severe shock and a few bruises

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