A fire broke out on the premises of the Harp Hotel, Strond Street on Saturday evening about 9-30 and it assumed very alarming proportions at first. It appears that about 9.30 the bookkeeper heard a sound as if an explosion and rushing out of her office found the top of the landing in flames. She immediately raised the alarm and got a neighbour to telephone the Police Station. Police Constables Baker and Danson were quickly on the spot. It was found all communication with the top floor were cut off and great fears were expressed for the safety of Miss. Miller sister of the proprietors who was in one of the upper rooms. Noting the danger Police Constable Baker at once ran off to fetch the fire escape. Police Constable Crockford was soon at the burning building with the hose reel from the drainage works. In the meantime Police Constable Danson who was left in charge succeeded with assistance in rescuing Miss. Miller and a visitor at the house, both of whom found their retreat cut off and had to jump out of one of the first floor windows into Limekiln Street.
The hose reel was sent from the Fire Station at Queen Street but in the meantime Mr. Lanham, foreman of the packet yard, and Mr. Haydon resident engineer at the Oil Mills with commendable promptitude fixed their private stand-pipes at the Oil Mills and Packet Yard. They got to work at the back of the hotel and greatly assisted the Fire Brigade. But for the timely aid rendered by these two gentlemen much valuable property might have been destroyed as Mr. Lanham was the first to play water upon the burning building. Valuable assistance was also rendered by Mr. J. B. Cass, London Chatham and Dover Railway Superintendent, who living adjacent to the scene of the conflagration was very quickly on the spot and was instrumental in saving the account books of the hotel, the cash bow and till money. Mr. Cass also had the railway fire engine brought to use and instructed his men then on duty to render every assistance. He also offered the hospitalities of his house to Mrs. Morely and others. The fire was ultimately extinguished after eleven o’clock. It is supposed that it originated in the linen room where a number of sheets and other articles were being aired.
While Superintendent Sanders was directing the operations of his men inside the house the staircase gave way beneath him and he fell through but likely without sustaining hurt. Five rooms on the first floor consisting of the private office, linen, sitting, smoking and storerooms were entirely gutted and the contents destroyed. The staircase leading to the second floor and the various passages and corridors were very much charred, as were also the doors and portions of several other rooms. Heat and water considerably damaged the furniture in the bedrooms while the bar parlour kitchen. Water and smoke also damaged coffee room and other domestic offices on the ground floor.
No. 8 Strond Street that although a separate house, forms a portion of the hotel and is rented by Mrs. Morley, was slightly damaged by smoke and steam. The buildings and contents were insured in the Guardian Fire Office in which Messrs Worsfold and Hayward are the local agents. Notwithstanding the serious damage done business will be carried on as usual at the hotel. (1890)
