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Crabble Paper Mill Burnt Down Exciting Scenes.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE.

 The fire was first discovered about five minutes to one.  The employees who consist mainly of 120 girls who are engaged in the rag sorting and preparing had been at dinner about half an hour.  They dine in a room called the dining hall at the Dover end of the works, and so far as can be ascertained some of those who had gone out on the green at the back of the Mill saw smoke arising from the centre building in which the rags are sorted and in which are situated the rag bins.  The alarm was promptly raised and the men who are engaged at the mill at once commenced to cope with the outbreak.  The fire was then in the centre of the building. 

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKS.

Consist of three long buildings.  The first on the bank of the river is the rag-boiling house and is built of brick, and has an upper floor.  On the railway side of this is the rag sorting room with the rag bins.  This is built with brick sides and iron galvanised roof.  Still nearer the railway is the rag store, in which about 120 tons of rags in bales were stored, the building being galvanised iron, the two latter buildings being about 100 yards long.  At the end of the two latter buildings is the rag-dusting shed.  In this shed new machinery had been fitted up and had only started the previous day.  Close to this building and between it and the London Road adjoining the road were the stables, and just on the river side the steam boiler house.  As we stated the fire was in the centre of the rag-sorting house, and the first thing done was to order the women to form a chain to hand along buckets of water.  They are frequently practised at this, and they promptly obeyed the orders and water was passed rapidly to the scene of the outbreak.  But the room was filled with rags, most inflammable, and wooden bins and the buckets were useless.  In three minutes those in charge of the operations had to give the word to desist and for everyone to clear out.  So rapidly did the flames spread that the last man out was nearly caught by them.  It is stated that the women worked hard, pluckily, and with great courage.  After they had to clear out they became more excited and had to be prevented from going into the sheds to save their clothing, which had been deposited there. 

Meanwhile the Police had been informed of the outbreak by a telephone message from Buckland Mill.  The information was a little indefinite and the Inspectors Fox and Lockwood, with several firemen set off to Buckland Mill, which they imagined was the scene of the fire.  On the way the hose reel at Buckland Fire Station ( Union Road ) was obtained but on going further it was found that it was Crabble Mill and not Buckland Mill that was alight.  There is a standing order that when a fire occurs at Crabble the fire engine shall be at once sent there as there is not enough pressure of water in the hydrants at that place to put out a fire.  The fire engine was at once  sent for when the scene of the fire was ascertained.  On arriving at the Mill the Police found that the Mill hands had fixed two standpipes with their own fire hose and were playing the water on the flames although the pressure was very feeble.  The police at once fixed their standpipe in the Lower Road .  

The pressure was very slight the water only just spouting out.  The centre building was then well alight in the centre and the flames were spreading rapidly.  The Mill authorities informed the police that they wanted the rag boiling house and the rag dusting room in which the new machinery was, and the steam boiler house to be saved, and asked them to direct their attention on these.  If at this time there had been good pressure, it is quite possible that that might have been done, although the construction of the buildings in which the fire was, made this somewhat difficult.  The buildings were all roofed with corrugated iron and the fire was unable to get through.  It is well known that if a fire breaks through the roof it does not spread, but it could not do so in this case and consequently the only event was to spread along these long buildings, which it did with tremendous rapidity.  The difficulty in regard to the pressure of water is due to the fact that owing to the height of Crabble  compared with the reservoirs at the Waterworks the only way to get a strong pressure at Crabble is by cutting off the rest of the town and concentrating the pressure on that position.  The turn-cock was informed directly the outbreak occurred, but in order to concentrate the pressure it is necessary to shut seven or eight valves at three or four different localities extending from Maison Dieu Road to Priory Street. This was done as promptly as possible but until it was accomplished very little could be done to confining the fire.  

The police received the alarm at 1.5 the brigade arrived at the fire within 20 minutes, which considering that over a mile and a half had to be covered was not bad.  At 1.45 the fire engine arrived from Queen Street , a mile and three-quarters distance and about the same time the full pressure of water was obtained.  By that time however, the fire had extended along the whole of the rag sorting building had reached the rag stores and set alight the rag-dusting room, whilst the floor of the rag boiler house was on fire.  But the stables and the steam boiler house, which were close to the long building, had been saved by the tremendous exertions of the police, the mill hands and other assistance.  The saving of the boiler house was a great accomplishment as it was feared that if this building, which was very near the main outbreak were to catch fire the boilers would explode.  Directly the engine arrived it was put to work on the Lower Road deriving its water from the river, and the hose from this was employed in keeping the fire in the rag boiler house under control.  The hoses from the standpipe, which about 1.40 had full pressure, were devoted to saving the boiler house on the opposite side of the road to the rag dusting machinery building.  This latter was a mass of flames, giving out a fierce heat.  The heat seemed likely to melt the solder that holds up the electric wires of the tramway, and orders were given for the current to be cut off.  The house on the opposite side also was very warm and water had to be played on it.  The doors of the stables, which were close adjoining did catch fire but the full pressure of water now had its effect and the fierceness of the fire was knocked out and the stables saved.  The rag sorting room was at this time blazing up some 20ft or 30ft high as the roof collapsed and the flames got free vent.  The rag store alongside was a mass of flames from end to end and soon began to collapse.  

The fierce heat made it very difficult for the firemen to get near with the hoses, and the only means of saving the rag boiler house was to get up to the windows on the river by means of ladders and direct the hoses through the windows on to the burning floors.  Later on, as some control of the fire was obtained in this building, a hose was brought into the building and the fire effectively played upon.  But these firemen had to be re-called as the end wall of the building towards River cracked on either side, and at other points the walls of the building began to crack badly and looked as if it would collapse.  But by the time the fire in it had been subdued sufficiently to save it, the hoses directed on it through the windows were enough.  It is of course needless to say that a big crowd had been attracted to the scene and although there was practically no one to keep them in control, they caused no hindrance, and offered in the majority of cases  very useful assistance.  The R.G.A. had about three o’clock been asked to send their engine to assist, and this was brought down from the Castle by a detachment under the command of Lieut. Bath within 20 minutes.  On arriving at the Mill it was hauled in by the soldiers, helped by numerous assistants, round to the back of the Mill, and obtained its water from the river.  Its hose and that of the Police fire engine were then directed on the rag store and sorting room, and the flames from these two buildings knocked out as far as possible.  Of course the great mass of rags were still a smouldering heap of fire, but the flames were all knocked out. 

By four o’clock the fire was in hand and there was no fear of further damage being done.  Unfortunately, the greater part of the Mill had been gutted before an efficient supply of water was obtained, but directly this was available the fire was prevented from spreading.  The big brick building, although showing signs of collapsing did not do so and the cracks did not extend further.  At 6.30 the R.G.A. engine left, and an hour after the Police engine was withdrawn, three firemen being left at the Mill on duty with the Mill staff.  The rags continued to smoulder all night and occasionally had to have the hose turned on them to prevent them breaking into flame, but they were always kept in hand. The rags have continued to smoulder and at times require playing on with the hose.  On enquiry at the Mill yesterday, we were informed that up to the present state no estimate of the damage has been fixed, nor has any decision been arrived at as to the re-building.  The Buckland Mill relies on Crabble for the supply of rags and it seems probable that they will be shut down in consequence of the supply being cut off, although it is hoped that other arrangements will be made.  As to its origin the police report is “unknown” but it is surmised that the rags were rather too closely packed and overheated and caught fire owing to spontaneous combustion.

POLICE FIRE REPORT.

The following is the official report of the Police Fire Brigade. Chief Constable Knott reports that at 1.5 p. m on the 10^th inst. a telephonic message was received at the Police Station from Messrs. Wiggins Teape’s, Buckland Paper Mills, stating that a fire had broken out at Crabble Mill.  Inspectors Fox and Lockwood, with several firemen were immediately despatched with the reel from the Buckland Fire Station and on arriving found that the fire had broken out in a rag bin, the buildings being well alight.  The Mill employees from whom the water was being played on the fire had fixed two standpipes.  The police also fixed a standpipe in Lower Road , but the pressure of water was not sufficient to be of much service.  At 1.45 p. m the engine from the Queen Street Fire Station arrived and was at once got to work from the river.  But in the meantime the fire had spread to the surrounding buildings.  Attention was directed to the stables, the engine room, and the main building containing the boilers, which were practically saved.  At 3.15 p. m in response to a telephone message to the Royal Garrison Artillery the fire engine from the Castle under the command of Lieut. Bath R.G.A. arrived, and was also got to work from the river, the fire being practically extinguished by 6 p.m.  The engine returned to the castle at 6.30 and Queen Street at 7.30. Sgt. Campany and two firemen were left in charge. 

Origin unknown.  Damage – two buildings containing about 150 tons of rags and one building for rag dusting, together with contents and machinery completely destroyed.  Main building, machines, floors, etc. seriously damaged.  Engine room and stables slightly damaged.  Insurance – building and contents with Messrs Hogg and Robinson 101 Leadenhall Street and Liverpool and Globe, and other Offices.  Brigade in attendance.  The Chief Constable, Inspector Fox, Lockwood and Palmer.  Police Sergeants Scutt, Cook, Campany, and Hambrook and 25 firemen.

There were also 64 persons whose names were taken assisting in extinguishing the fire besides many others who rendered great assistance, especially several Bluejackets who were at Dover on leave.”

THE PREVIOUS FIRES.

There is no record of Crabble Paper Mill having been previously destroyed by fire, but the associated Mill at Buckland Bridge has been destroyed twice by fire, the first time about the year 1790, after which it was enlarged and improved, and it was again totally destroyed on the 25^th September 1887 after which it was re-built by Messrs, Ashdown and Hobday, and subsequently very much enlarged by Messrs. Wiggins, Teape and Co. under the management of Mr. Hobday.