3-047-064 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Fire at the City Flour-Mills in Upper Thames-Street, [London, seen from the River Thames], 1872. This building [belonging to Messrs J. Hadley and Co.] stood a little below Blackfriars Bridge...Along the western side was the creek or dock, in which barges could be unloaded. An immense quantity of grain, said to amount to 200,000 quarters, was stored in these mills...It was in the third floor that the fire broke out. The alarm was given to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, in Watling-street, where two engines, one a powerful steamer, were got out, and in less than five minutes were on the way to the fire..On arriving they found the greater portion of the third floor in flames ...floating engines...to the number of thirty in all, with upwards of 200 firemen, under four superintendents, were in attendance...The floats got as near to the burning premises as the condition of the tide would allow. A good supply of water was obtained, but the fire, in spite of every effort, spread gradually through the upper part of the building. The floors one by one gave way with a tremendous crash...When the fourth floor came down, several of the firemen, who were plying their hose below, were struck by the falling ruins. Two were badly hurt, and one was killed'. From "Illustrated London News", 1872.