The great Fire in London.
The huge pile of ruins caused by this fearful disaster continues as unapproachable as ever.
Even with all the assistance afforded by the late heavy rains, and the continuous streams of water which are poured on them on all parts from the mains by night and day, the heat they give off is so intense that it is impossible to penetrate beyond a few yards in side the blackened walls from the land side.
Nothing dare approach them from the river.
In the centre several large cellars of oil and tallow are blazing as furiously as ever.
The glare of these flames, which are unseen during the day, shines out as brightly as before with night fall when, of course, the alarm is spread that the fire has again started on a fresh career of destruction.
There is, however, we are happy to say, not the least danger of such additional loss.
All the ruins on the outskirts (except, as we have said, those next the river) are not only cold, but well saturated with water.
The burning cellars in the centre, which cannot be reached must burn themselves out, and, from what is known of their contents, a long time must elapse before this takes place, if they are left to themselves.
The chiefs of the brigade, however, are of opinion that in a day or two more they will be able to get the hose sufficiently forward to reach even these centres of five; and if so, we may soon hope to see the last embers of this tremendous configuration extinguished.
The cellar full of tallow, beneath the warehouses, which lean so fearfully over the spot where
Mr. Braid wood's body was discovered, has almost burnt itself away.
Since Monday evening the nose of three engines has been pouring in streams at one end, and driving the greatest mass of fire it contains out at the other, in the centre of the ruins, where it is important for further mischief.
So great has been the quantity of water poured in here, that the vaults have been almost flooded, and an immense quantity of the melted tallow floated completely out.
The body of flames at this point is now so much reduced that the firemen have been enabled to advance far enough to reach with water the walls at the end of the vault, through the aperture of which the mass of flame has been pouring since Saturday afternoon, and which are therefore almost white with heat.
Tremendous clouds of steam are thrown off here as the jets of the hose fall upon the brick work.
Unfortunately, however, this side of the warehouse is as much out of the perpendicular as the front, and is still certain to become so as the mass of brick work contracts in cooling; so that, even when the fire is entirely extinguished, the imminent danger will prevent the spot being used as a base of operations for penetrating further towards the centre, where the great vaults still boil and flame unchecked.
Adjoining the cellar which has thus been partially extinguished is another, stored entirely with lard and bacon.
This has never been on fire, though to judge from the hot jets of steam that have been issuing from the loopholes since Sunday, the contents must have been as effectually overdone as if the flames had actually found their way in--
London Times, July 9.
