Warehouse Fire at Bootle
Terrible injuries to firemen
About noon yesterday a terrible fire broke out in a cotton warehouse in Effingham St, Bootle, and such was the hold that the flames gained over the cotton and other goods stored in the building that up to 10pm over 50 firemen were actively engaged in combating the fire. For some time the fire gave no sign of proving difficult to overcome, although from the very first it was evident that the work of extinction would be of no ordinary difficulty. The portion of the building affected by the fire stands at the top of an enormous block of warehouses which, without any intervening space, although of course with dividing walls, reaches from Derby Rd to Regent Rd. The warehouse, strictly speaking, fronts neither thoroughfare, because on the few yards of land which separate it from the street shops have been built. The shops in Derby Rd are separated from the upper side of the warehouse block by a very narrow passage, barely wide enough to allow a man walking through it in comfort. The warehouse which is built on a slope between Miller's Bridge and Effingham St, is seven stories high, and towered considerably above the shops. The fire was first noticed in the 4th storey, at the Effingham St corner. Word to the Bootle Fire Brigade was instantly despatched by means of the invaluable street alarm, the Brigade were quickly on the spot under Superintendent ROBERTS. Followed by the two engines the Clemmey [which bore the brunt of the pumping work] and the Ibbs. The Liverpool Salvage Brigade, with appliances lost no time in coming to lend assistance.
It is an axiom among firemen that in a cotton warehouse all that is above the seat of the fire must burn. The fire was an illustration of this, slowly but surely the flames attacked all which lay above them and the three top floors succumbed in turn. The tremendous amount of water which was poured into and hurled against the glowing cotton had a scarcely appreciable effect on the flames, and despite all that the firemen could do the side walls began to catch fire heat from the interior and to bulge and "buckle". Meantime everything stored beneath the 4th storey, cotton, malt, flour, the first largely predominating, had been effectually preserved from the fire above by being deluged with tons of water. The fire spread in two directions, judged from street level, the fire seemed, while spreading along the upper side of the warehouse parallel to Derby Rd, also to spread downwards towards the river and take in the upper floors of two sections of the warehouses. The fire was fiercest along the upper edge of the warehouse, and when the roof fell in, those who were standing on the roof lower down could see into a great pit of fire which sucked up the streaming water as a sponge would rain. Bit by bit the upper side showed signs of giving way, and all the inhabitants remaining in the shops were hurried away. Late in the afternoon with a deafening crash the lofty wall, with its red hot bricks, fell heavily of the roofs of the smaller property. The result was that the roofs gave way too, and the rear of the shops were smashed in, leaving only the portion facing the street standing. Entering the shops cautiously from the front the firemen found the narrow passage entirely blocked with pots, bricks and slates, and mingled in the mass pieces of cloth, silk neckties, collars, glass and pasteboard boxes, hundreds of articles that had been on the shelves of the shops which suffered most damage, those of Messers STUART, Clothiers and Mr MEAKIN, draper. The partial destruction of the shops proved an assistance to the firemen, they were able to direct the hose upon the mass of burning cotton, with streams descending from above and great spurts making their way into the cotton from below, very gradually the fire yielded to the water. Soon after the fall of the wall it was noticed that the cellars at the bottom of the public house, which is on the corner of the block of shops, was giving forth smoke and flame, on inspection, it was found some of the ignited cotton had been crushed into the cellars by the falling bricks, the cotton was removed and this danger averted.
With the utmost heroism every man engaged upon the work of extinguishing the fire had striven manfully hour after hour, all in some danger, the majority in positions of the direst peril. When those working on the Effingham St side of the warehouse found that the huge wall when it fell had not injured a single man, and believed that the fire had damaged property alone, they were speedily to be to be undeceived. In addition to the hoses being turned upon the burning building from the hands of the firemen perched upon the roof, it was found necessary, in order to save the Miller's Bridge side of the building to play on the wall and through the apertures in the wall from the steps of the fire escape, because a man standing in the street could not direct the stream of water a sufficient height with sufficient force. The two men engaged upon the escape were Fireman Robert IRVINE and Fireman PATON. IRVINE, a tall brawny Shetlander of great physical strength, perhaps the most powerful man in the Brigade, was standing at the top of the escape, and PATON, a younger man, tall, and of splendid build, was a few steps below him. The escape was not leaning on the warehouse, but had been erected upon itself, so to speak, and was propped up according to usage. The moment the wall began to fall, hundreds of people who were standing on the canal bridge could plainly see it toppling over and disclosing the blazing interior of the warehouse. They immediately raised a great shout, and it was supposed that hearing this shout, which was followed immediately by the crashing of the walls upon the shop roofs, the men on the escape, being prevented by their position from seeing what had occurred twisted slightly to the left to try and catch a glimpse of what lay behind the wall at which they were working. It is believed that this movement of their bodies, coupled with the difficulty of holding a hose which is pouring out water steadily caused the subsequent disaster. All that the crowd say was the escape suddenly tilting over one of its wheels, and falling sideways upon the ground, one wheel above the other, hurling the two men from a height of about 40 feet, violently to the stones beneath. IRVINE was injured severely, his upper lip completely severed, his head partly crushed and his whole body covered with bruises and bleeding. PATON was also in a terrible condition and at first sight his life seemed as much in jeopardy as IRVINE'S. Examination at the Borough Hospital to which both men were conveyed, showed that IRVINE was all but dead and would not be expected to last the night, PATON, who had fallen from a lesser height, had not been so seriously injured. Dr WILLIS, medical officer to the brigade attended both men, and in the evening thought it just possible PATON would pull through. IRVINE is married and has seven children, PATON is single.
It is a curious fact that only on Thursday evening both men, together with others in the brigade, signed and agreement with the Bootle Corporation which assigns to their families £500 if they should lose their lives in the service of the brigade. Although comparatively recent additions to the brigade both men were well known in the borough and were extremely popular. IRVINE was brought up to the sea, and it is related of him that returning to his remote northern home after a long voyage he found every member of his family down with scarlet fever, and not a doctor in the place. With the earnings he had brought with him he hired a schooner, and sailed to Scotland and brought a doctor back with him. The hire of the schooner and the expenses of the doctor cost the sturdy Shetlander many pounds.
There were engaged in fighting the fire all through yesterday, and the greater portion of last night, all the permanent and auxiliary members of the Bootle Brigade, under Superintendent ROBERTS, who nobly vindicated the choice of the Watch Committee in making him the successor of Mr G. W. PARKER, The Liverpool Savage Corps, under Messers YELLAND and JONES, also rendered services of inestimable value, and their efforts were well seconded by the local police under Chief-constable CUMMING and Inspector FERGUSON. Although the men kept the wrecked warehouses under continual streams of water during the night, the fire was out, it spread no further by 10pm. The cotton inside the building belonged mostly to Messers RALLI Bros, estimated at 3000 bales. The warehouse is the property of Messers D and L. HUGHES, the damage caused will not fall much below £33,000.
Liverpool Mercury, Aug 1st 1892
Death of Fireman IRVINE
Fireman Robert IRVINE, who was pitched from the top of a fire escape at the warehouse fire in Effingham St, Bootle on Friday afternoon, succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of yesterday morning. For some time after his admission to hospital he suffered great agony, but for the last half dozen hours of his life he was quite unconscious. Fireman PATON, who was injured at the same time as IRVINE, is making gradual progress towards recovery.
Liverpool Mercury, Aug 3rd 1892
Fatal accident to a Bootle Fireman
Mr S. BRIGHOUSE county coroner, held yesterday at the Bootle Coroner's Court an inquest on the body of Robert IRVINE fireman, who died on Sunday in consequence of the injuries he received during the progress of the warehouse fire at Effingham St on Friday. There were present the Mayor, Mr J. VICARS, Councillor Isaac MACK, chairman of the Watch Committee, Mr W. H. HICKSON, assistant town clerk, and Superintendent ROBERTS of the Fire Brigade.
Peter IRVINE, dockgateman, Sir Howard St, said the deceased was his brother, he had been in the Bootle Fire Brigade about 9 months and was 38 years of age. Formal evidence of death being given by the hospital nurse, the inquiry was adjourned to the 19th inst.
Mr MACK expressed his sincere regret on their loss to the family, Fireman IRVINE had proved himself a faithful servant, respected not only by his comrades but by all who knew him. The Mayor and foreman of the jury also passed on their deepest sympathy.
The funeral will take place today, the cortege starting from Bootle at 3pm, to reach Anfield Cemetery at 4pm.
The Funeral of Fireman IRVINE
At Anfield Cemetery, in the presence of several thousand people, there were laid to rest the remains of Fireman Robert IRVINE, of the Bootle Fire Brigade, who lost his life in the recent great fire in Effingham St, Bootle. A brief service having been held in the deceased's late residence in Campbell St, by the Rev A. C. GRIEVE, Queen's Rd, Presbyterian Church, the procession started for the cemetery in the following order :-
Detachment of the Bootle police force under Inspector LESLIE, accompanied by Inspector BENNETT representing the Birkenhead Constabulary.
The Liverpool Constabulary Band, Mr CRAWLEY conducting followed, playing on route, Dead March in "Saul", Funeral Marches 1 and 2 [Beethoven] and the Funeral March of the Maltese Fencibles.
Then came a manual engine bearing the coffin.
Slightly in front of the manual were Firemen M. ROBERTS, WELSH, RADDY and B. ROBERTS.
The horses were led by Fireman H. COLEMAN and E. A. V. COLEMAN, and driven by Engineer REVELLE.
The coffin was covered in the Union Jack, which was almost hidden from sight by a mass of exquisite wreaths. At the head of the coffin the helmet of the deceased was placed in just the same condition in which it had been picked up, stained with the dust and water, and with a deep dint in the front.
Close upon the rear of the manual were the following who later acted as bearers :- Firemen TURNER, WATERMAN, STEAD, COLLINS, SLOAN and COLE.
Superintendent ROBERTS and Engineer MORRISON came next, just in front of the steamer Ibbs, upon which were Engineer JOHNSON and Fireman RUTHERFORD [driving], and by the side of which walked Firemen MULLENS and ANTROBUS.
The remainder of the fire brigade and the turncocks of the Liverpool Water Committee, under Superintendent SHIMMIN, followed Then in two private cars came the relatives and friends of the deceased, Mr Peter IRVINE [brother], Robert and Willie IRVINE [sons] and Messers John MOORE, Andrew MOORE, Robinson CHAMBERS, COCHRAN, MACKIE and FINDLASON.
A manual from the Liverpool Brigade in charge of Engineer TURNER, accompanied by a detachment of the brigade came next, followed by a detachment of the Liverpool Police Force, and then in the order came the Liverpool Salvage Brigade, with manual under Superintendent JONES, Great Crosby Fire Brigade, West Derby Fire Brigade, Waterloo Fire Brigade, and members of the Hoylake, Accrington, St Helens, Oldham, Birkenhead and Wigan Fire Brigades.
Then in carriages, the Mayor of Bootle, Mr John Vicars, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, Aldermen CAIN and HOWARD, Councillors, Isaac MACK, PLATTA, ASCROFT, LYON, JOHNSON, BREWSTER, THOMPSON, QUAYLE and GERAGHTY, Dr SPRAKELING, Messers J. W. and C. E. MEAKIN, Harris FINEBERG, [late captain of the Crewe Fire Service who has signified his intention of giving a benefit performance for the widow and family of the deceased at the Muncaster Theatre in September] and Adam PATON father of the other fireman, who was injured simultaneously with IRVINE.
The route to the cemetery was lined with spectators, the bulk of whom crowded after the procession when it had entered the gates. Order in the cemetery was maintained by Inspector HODGSON. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev J. H. COLLIE, who in the course of a brief address, said they were gathered together under the shadow of a great calamity, to show the regard for one who had fallen at his post, nobly, bravely, doing his duty. While they at all times appreciated the services of those who formed part of a fire brigade, it was only when lives were lost that they could fully realise the extremely perilous work which fell to the firemen. He was exceedingly glad to be present that day to speak what he knew of his brother. He was a warm hearted, gentle man, who knew his Lord and Saviour and was not ashamed to own it.
Among the wreaths upon the coffin were two from the Bootle Brigade, one from the Liverpool Brigade, and one from the Salvage Brigade, and others from the firemen and friends of the north docks police, the West Derby Fire Brigade, the Crosby Brigade, and Mr BYCROFT, [Derby Rd]. The cost of the funeral will be defrayed from the benefit fund of the Bootle Brigade, which is added to year by year from the proceeds of the annual concert.
Liverpool Mercury, Aug 20th 1892
Accident to a Bootle Fireman
Mr S. BRIGHOUSE county coroner, held yesterday at the Bootle Police buildings, an adjourned inquest on the body of Robert IRVINE fireman, who was fatally injured on the 29th July at a fire in Effingham St, Bootle. The inquiry had been adjourned so that other firemen who fell from the escape with IRVINE might be able to attend and give evidence.
Mr H. ROBERTS said that he was the superintendent of the Bootle Fire Brigade. At the fire in question the escape was standing in Miller's Bridge, on a slope, one wheel being 2 inches lower than the other. When he left it he considered it perfectly safe, as there was props on each side to steady it. Witness instructed Firemen MITCHELL and PATON to go up the escape and play on the burning warehouse. He did not see the accident as he was in Effingham St at the time. In reply to the Coroner, witness said that the escape could not have been fixed in any more effective manner to prevent accident. He suggested that it should have longer legs. In answer to a juryman, the witness said that he thought that the same thing would have occurred if the escape had been on level ground.
Ernest L. PATON deposed that he had been a fireman with the Bootle Fire Brigade about nine months. He and MITCHELL were on the escape playing on the fire when their hose was broken by the fall of the warehouse wall. Afterwards he and IRVINE went up the escape, IRVINE led the way. In about ten minutes after they had been up he felt the escape shake, and afterwards it heeled over and almost immediately fell. In reply to the foreman of the jury, Mr ROBERTS stated that the water was at the time being pumped from the steamer Ibbs, and the pressure was about 55lb.
Witness PATON said that he did not notice any vibration in the ladder owing to the pressure through the hose.
The court was informed by Mr ROBERTS that it was a usual and proper course for men to use the escape for the purpose of saving life.
Foreman MITCHELL stated that he was up the escape first when it was fixed in Miller's Bridge, and was going up again when IRVINE passed him and took his place. Witness was satisfied that the escape was safe. Deceased was about three stone heavier than the witness, and his boots and clothes were wet and heavy. Nothing from the burning building struck the escape. The crowd shouted when a large quantity of masonry from the building fell.
The jury, after consultation, found a verdict of "Accidental death" and suggested an improved method of supporting the escape.
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