....
All other fires sink into total insignificance, however, compared with the calamitous conflagration which destroyed both houses of Parliament, This fire of fires, broke out at twenty minutes before seven o'clock on Thursday evening, the 16th of Oct., when an immense body of flame suddenly burst forth from the lower end of the House of Lords.
I was called to the scene of action about seven o'clock, from observing a deep crimson hue in the sky, which pretty well indicated both the situation and magnitude of the conflagration, although there was a strong twilight at the time, and the moon was shining with great brilliancy. On arriving in Old Palace-yard, about half-past seven, I found the House of Lords, and suite of rooms facing the Yard, enveloped in one vivid mass of flame; the House of Commons soon after ignited; and the fire, fanned by a strong south-west wind, gradually extended to the Commons' committee-room and waiting-room, &c.
Several engines had arrived, and were stationed by their foremen in Old Palaceyard, as was supposed, under the idea "that they could never be wrong when they laid their engines abroadside the burning buildings." The water, though at first rather scant, was afterwards tolerably plentiful; the engines were well manned, and worked with great spirit, but their powers were for some time sadly misapplied.
Several of the firemen mounted the portico in front of the building, pouring their jets of water upon parts that were in a state of most intense combustion, while it was evident enough to all but themselves, that they were exposing themselves to great danger without a possibility of being useful.
Several engines belonging to the London Fire Establishment were in full work by half-past seven, when that from Watling-street station arrived, with Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent, who immediately commenced a survey of the fire, for the purpose of placing the men and engines under his command in the most advantageuos [sic] positions. Mr. Braidwood was not long in forming his "line of battle," and all the force of the combined Establishment present, became actively engaged with their elemental foe.
Soon after eight o'clock, the flames were advancing towards the square turret at the corner of St. Margaret-street, at the uppermost window of which several persons appeared, and in the most earnest manner implored assistance; two or three ladders were at hand, but they all proved too short to reach the window; a call was immediately raised for the brigade ladders, and it was most promptly answered. Several lengths of scaling ladders were instantly brought to the spot, and the two first ladders were scarcely put together when Mr. Braidwood came up. Length after length was added, until six had formed a ladder of the requisite height. The joining and raising of six ladders is a work of some minutes; while it was steadily proceeding, the most intense anxiety was depicted on the countenances of all the spectators, and when at length the ladder reached the window where the unfortunate persons were collected, a simultaneous shout of applause burst from the assembled throng. The persons thus rescued proved to be Lord F. Fitzclarence and some soldiers; his lordship was the last to descend.
The promptitude with which the ladders were brought up, and the steady masterly style in which they were elevated, reflect much credit on Messrs. Adams, Carter, Elderton, Moore, and George and Henry Rose, who, under the direction and with the assistance of Mr. Braidwood, effected this movement. These ladders were very extensively employed at this fire; their construction has been fully described at page 184 of your 22d vol.
Long before eight o'clock great apprehensions were felt for the safety of Westminster-hall, and it at length became evident that the fire had extended so much in that direction as to place it in the utmost jeopardy.
To effect the preservation of this venerable building appeared to be a strong and universal feeling, and the most extraordinary efforts were made on its behalf. Mr. George Colf (late foreman of the Alliance) of the Farringdon-street station, ran his engine into the body of the Hall, and was quickly followed by Mr. E. Bourne, of the Waterloo-road station; two other engines, placed in New Palace-yard, supplied the former with water.
The firemen ascended by means of a ladder to a lead flat outside the great window of the Hall, and kept up a continued deluge upon the flames that confronted them.
Several noblemen present being extremely urgent for the preservation of the finely-carved King's Arms, it was lowered from its place, and lodged in safety, by W. Free and T. Colcomb.
Perhaps the fire experienced the most determined resistance and most decisive check at this point. The public press, speaking of the conduct of the firemen, observed, "their exertions were all that could be expected from zeal and manliness."
"Distinctlier there
We saw and heard with what hydraulic skill
The dreadless fireman combated the flame,
Unheedful he of peril. There we saw
The fragile rafters blazing at his feet;
And the hot lead on his broad helmet fall
Like rain-drops dripping.
A distinguished gentleman, who was present for a length of time, writes as follows:- "I gave all my attention to the Hall, and it is due from me, who was almost constantly present on the lead flat outside of the great southern window of the Hall, from a little after seven o'clock until half-past ten, to state, that the preservation of this, our country's pride, is solely attributable to the unrelaxing and brave exertions of two men of the names of FREE and SOLOMONS, belonging to the London Fire Establishment, whose engine was stationed in the body of the Hall; and to two other men, of the names of WEST and WILLIAMS, belonging to the County Fireoffice, whose engine was stationed in Palace-yard, and made to play on the spot I have mentioned, by means of the hose being conveyed to the Hall through the narrow passage that leads into the Yard under the south-western corner of the Hall." Wm. Free had his helmet burnt upon his head, and his coat covered with melted lead; his hands were also much burnt, but he most heroically kept his post, although at the time much indisposed from a violent cold, caught at Messrs. Powell's fire, in Laurence Pountney-lane, on the preceding Thursday; he ultimately suffered a severe illness in consequence of his exertions, from which he is only just recovered. Josh. Solomon, his comrade, received a severe blow on the head from some falling timber, and was carried to the hospital much injured. Another intrepid fireman belonging to the establishment, John Hambleton, is still confined to the hospital, where lie has been suffering with exemplary patience and fortitude the consequences of a double compound fracture of his leg, and the preservation of his life reflects the highest credit on hismedical [sic] attendants. His brother, Edward Hambleton, was with him at the time of the accident, and had a most miraculous escape.
I most sincerely hope that the extraordinary exertions of these individuals will not be suffered to go wholly unrewarded; a promise of future recompense was made at the time, by the gentleman whose words I have quoted, and I hope the circumstance will not entirely escape his memory.
While some portion of the men belonging to the Fire Establishment were thus occupied in effecting the preservation of the Hall, a great number were engaged with equal zeal at various other points. The courts of law, which were for some time in imminent danger, were wholly preserved. The fire attained a considerable head in the Speaker's house, and nearly half of it was destroyed; but the firemen were eventually, victorious. At a very early period of the evening, three engines were placed at the corner of Abingdon-street, for the purpose of saving, if possible, the library and committee-rooms of the Lords, and the Parliament offices adjoining; this was a work of much difficulty, but it was happily accomplished.
Not to occupy more of your valuable space by entering into further detail, I may briefly state, that the conduct of the firemen belonging to the united offices was such as to merit the highest praise: the Establishment mustered twelve engines (exclusive of the floating engine) and sixty-four men. There were also present about eighteen parochial, fire-office, and other engines, acting independently of each other, under their respective foremen, whose mismanagement created considerable confusion.
This circumstance gave rise to a very general feeling among those assembled, and one that was somewhat strongly expressed by the public prints, that "for the first two hours of the fire, although there were engines enough, and the men were actuated by a zeal and hardihood which cannot be too much commended, yet there was scarcely such a thing as systematized command or intelligent direction amongst them." "In fact, while the individual exertions of the firemen were most admirable, their general management was execrably bad; subjected as it was on so important an occasion to full exposure, it would have been most ludicrous, but that it seemed fraught with disastrous consequences."
It was unfortunate, but wholly unavoidable, that at the fire in question, the evils of the old independent mode of proceeding were most strikingly evident, while the great and important advantages of the co-operative system were not so apparent. This arose from the circumstance of the men belonging to the United Establishment combating the flames at close quarters, and therefore at points not visible to the bulk of the spectators. All those persons, however, who, like myself, had an opportunity of observing the exertions made simultaneously at various points, will bear ample testimony to the judicious and zealous exertions of the firemen, and the skill by which they were directed.
There were many circumstances that combined to render the suppression of this fire exceedingly difficult; and it is quite certain, that but for the extraordinary efforts of Mr. Braidwood and the men under his command, the fire would have extended much farther; in fact, it is difficult to say where it would have ended.
It is but justice to state, that several of the engines engaged gave great assistance to the combined force. The Norwich Union Society's engine, and one of Bramah's construction, brought by the Royal Horse Guards Blue, were admirably worked and skilfully directed.
The London Fire-Establishment continues steadily to improve, and its advantages begin to be better understood, and more fully appreciated, by the public at large. The men have on every occasion shown the greatest alacrity and zeal, and have conducted themselves in a most praiseworthy manner. The skilful management of Mr. Braidwood has given such effect to the force under his command, as to render far more efficient protection to lives and property than could possibly be accomplished by the more numerous independent bodies on whom this duty formerly devolved.
But it is matter of extreme regret, and reflects no small disgrace on those concerned, that this protection should be permitted to depend entirely on the spirit and enterprise of a few trading companies! Such, however, is the fact.
....
I remain, Sir, very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM BADDELEY.
10, Wilderness-row, Goswell-street, Jan. 31, 1835.
Source: The Mechanics' Magazine, Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette, Volume 22 Pages 352 - 356