axmore and his men at once entered the burning house, which by that
time was nearly gutted. I stood outside looking on, but soon became
anxious to know what was doing inside, and attempted to enter. A
policeman stopped me, but at that moment Flaxmore came out like a
half-drowned rat, his face streaked with brick-dust and charcoal.
Seeing what I wanted he led me into the house, and immediately I found
myself in a hot shower-bath which did not improve my coat or hat! At
the same time I stepped up to the ankles in hot water! Tons of water
were being poured on the house by three powerful engines, and this, in
passing through so much heated material had become comfortably warm.
The first thing I saw on entering was a foaming cataract! This was the
staircase, down which the water rushed, breaking over masses of fallen
brickwork and debris, with a noise like a goodly Highland burn! Up this
we waded, but could get no further than the room above, as the upper
stair had fallen in. I was about to descend in order to try to reach
the roof by some other way, when a fireman caught me by the collar,
exclaiming--"Hold on, sir!" He thought the staircase was about to fall.
"Bolt now, sir," he added, releasing me. I bolted, and was out in the
street in a moment, where I found that some of the firemen who had first
arrived, and were much exhausted, were being served with a glass of
brandy. If there were any case in which a teetotaller might be
justified in taking spirits, it would be, I think, when exhausted by
toiling for hours amid the heat and smoke and danger of a fire--
nevertheless I found that several of the firemen there were
teetotallers.

There was a shout of laughter at this moment, occasioned by one of the
firemen having accidentally turned the _branch_ or delivery pipe full on
the faces of the crowd and drenched some of them. This was followed by
a loud cheer when another fireman was seen to have clambered to the roof
whence he could apply the water with better effect. At last their
efforts were crowned with success. Before midnight the fire was
extinguished, and we drove back to the Paddington Station at a more
leisurely pace. Thus ended my first experience of a London fire.

Accidents, as may be easily believed, are of frequent occurrence.

Accidents.

There were between forty to fifty a year. In 1865 they were as
follows:--

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