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Ruins of the Late Fire at the London Docks, 1858. Creator: Unknown
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Ruins of the Late Fire at the London Docks, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Ruins of the Late Fire at the London Docks, 1858. The fire...originated in the South Stack Warehouse on the South Quay building, several floors high, each filled with gutta percha, saltpetre, sugar, jute, cider, hemp, ropes, cochineal, saffron, and drugs of great value. To save warehouses containing such combustibles as these proved impossible, and the flames soon got complete possession. The engines arrived very quickly, but torrents of water made no impression on the flames...Just as the conflagration was at its height the gutta percha and indiarubber ran in a state of ignition amongst some tons weight of saltpetre...three tremendous explosions occurred. The effect was appalling. An immense sheet of fire shot almost halfway across the basin, and the heavy concussion that shook the earth led to a belief that the whole range of the South Stack was coming down. The central division was blown to atoms...A number of men were injured by falling bricks, but none, we are happy to say, seriously. Immense stores and property were destroyed, the value of which has been variously estimated at from £150, 000 to £300, 000'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858
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Media ID 36375826
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Accident Aftermath Chemical Damage Damaged Debris Destruction Dock Docklands Tower Hamlets London England Docks Emergency Services Explosion Explosions Fire Brigade Hose Hoses Incident London Docks Rubble Saltpetre Warehouse Warehouses Wharf Flammable Inflammable
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting image captures the aftermath of the devastating fire that engulfed the London Docks in 1858. The origin of the fire was traced back to the South Stack Warehouse on the South Quay, a several-storied building filled with valuable commodities such as gutta percha, saltpetre, sugar, jute, cider, hemp, ropes, cochineal, saffron, and drugs. With such combustible materials at stake, saving the nearby warehouses proved to be an impossible task. As the flames took hold, the engines arrived swiftly, but their efforts were in vain as torrents of water made no impact on the inferno. Just as the conflagration reached its peak, the gutta percha and indiarubber stored in the warehouse ignited amongst tons of saltpetre, leading to three massive explosions. The impact was catastrophic. An enormous sheet of fire shot almost halfway across the basin, and the earth shook violently, leading many to believe that the entire South Stack range was collapsing. Though several men were injured by falling bricks, fortunately, no one was reported seriously hurt. The destruction wrought by the fire was immense, with estimates of the damage ranging from £150,000 to £300,000. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the destructive power of fire and the devastating impact it can have on people and property.
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