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Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 30 Dec 1885

Page 8 Column 1 and 2

DISASTROUS FIRE IN TAUNTON.

On Thursday afternoon a most disastrous fire occurred in Taunton, the house of Mr GODDEN, hardwareman, in East-street, being gutted with a rapidity that created alarm, while the utter inefficiency of the arrangements for coping with the conflagration were the subject of indignant comment on the part of all who gathered in the vicinity of the ill-fated house. Mr GODDEN's business included an oil department, benzoline and petroleum being kept in small quantities in cisterns on the right and counter in the shop. About a quarter before four on Thursday afternoon, Mrs GODDEN was engaged with some customers in the china and glass department, and Mr GODDEN was attending to a boy who had come to purchase some benzoline and petroleum; a moment before he had lighted a lamp to hang up in the centre of the shop, and when the boy came in he set the lamp down abut two yards from the oil cisterns. The benzoline cistern was nearly empty, and it was necessary to tip it up; Mr GODDEN did so, and it is believed that while he was doing this the lighted lamp was overturned, for upon his turning towards it he was confronted by a large sheet of flame. Mr BURMAN was passing at the time, and he describes the conflagration as of the nature of a lightning flash, the flame spreading enormously before he had time to cross the road, and within two or three minutes the whole shop was on fire. Mr GODDEN was so startled by the sudden blaze that though he rushed from the fire immediately his arms were burning, the flames being extinguished by his assistant, Mr CREASE. The women whom Mrs GODDEN was serving made their exit without delay, and Mrs GODDEN ran upstairs to fetch her child, and by the time she returned the shop was ablaze. Every attention was turned to getting some empty oil barrels, &c., up the garden out of harm's way, and in the meantime the firebells were rung. There was no chance of saving anything in the house, the inflammable character of the stock enabling the conflagration to make rapid headway. The hose was soon on the spot, and a body of police under Supt. JEFFS, but the latter were unable to cope with the crowd that was rapidly attracted to the spot while the two or three tiny jets which the firemen were able to play with barely reached the first floor windows, so that the fire quickly gained such a hold upon the building that there was nothing to be done but to let it burn itself out and to protect the surrounding property. Immense sheets of flame threw out intense heat during the next hour and a half, and as in the course of half an hour the fire brigade was enabled to get one good jet of water, attention was turned to the protection of Mr Van TRUMP's premises which were in imminent danger. A few extincteurs and some hand grenades were brought into play, and it was attempted to put on two jets from the standpipe, which however gave way under the pressure. About four o'clock the fire engine was brought round, but it was so dilapidated that it was nearly half and hour before it was got to work; soon after the engine from Norton brewery, which had been sent for by Mr RODWELL, also came in and was got into action. The chief attention was given to Mr Van TRUMP's house, as the house on the western side of Mr GODDING's had been entirely cleared, as were several cottages up the court. About five o'clock the fire burnt itself out, but the engines were intermittently used for some hours afterwards. Mr GODDEN suffered the utter loss of stock, furniture and cloths, value about £1,000, but the Albert-hall suffered but little, and he is insured to the extent of £250 for stock-in-trade in the Lancashire office (Mr CREASE, agent), and for £100 in the West of England office for the billiard room. The house is, we understand, the property of Rev. H. L. BARNWELL, and it is also insured. Mr Van TRUMP also suffered some damage. Valuable help was rendered by about 50 men from the barracks, who came down by Major WALSH's instructions.

Later investigations show that Mr Van TRUMP had a narrow escape; the wall between the two houses was about 15 inches thick and very strongly built, otherwise the fire must inevitably have spread to the adjoining property. The roof of Mr Van TRUMP's house caught fire, and at one time the whole building was in imminent danger, but the rafters were of elm and did not readily ignite, and the danger was averted. Some zealous but ignorant individual broke one of the large plate glass windows in the shop because he fancied he saw fire inside – a proceeding calculated to promote a conflagration had there been any truth in the supposition. The heat was so great at one time that the place glass window of Mr FOLLAND's shop on the opposite side of East-street was cracked. The excellent work done by the police in protecting the property cannot be too highly commended, and it will be gratifying to all to know that so little pilfering took place. Some miscreants, however, did take advantage of the confusion, and it is satisfactory to know that the energy of Acting-Sergeant BROWN and other constables brought the offenders to justice, as will be seen by the report elsewhere. The scarcity of water has been explained by the fact that after the full pressure had been concentrated on the main in East-street, the whole of the cisterns in that district – one at least holding 1,000 gallons – had to be filled before the full benefit of the concentration was felt. The police and firemen were on duty all night, and on Christmas morning it was seen that the front wall of the house was in so precarious condition that instructions were given for its demolition; this dangerous work was accomplished during the day without accident, though there were several narrow escapes. The scene of the conflagration was visited by a great number of people during the holidays.

ROBBERIES DURING THE FIRE.

At the Shire-hall on Monday, before the Mayor (Alderman PENNY) and Mr R. A. KINGLAKE – in a crowded court, George ADAMS, mason, living at No. 9 house, No. 5 court, King-street; Thomas Edward PRING, labourer, Mount-lane, and Sarah Ann PRING, his wife, were brought up in custody charged with stealing 14 paraffin lamps, nine benzoline lamps, three dozen burners, two galvanised iron tubs, two chairs and one lamp bracket, the property of John GODDEN, of East-street, Taunton. Thos. Edward PRING was further charged with receiving some of the property knowing it to have been stolen.

Mr Supt. JEFFS briefly opened the case, and said that he had pleasure in commending the conduct of the Taunton people generally in connection with the sad fire which occurred on Christmas eve; he believed this case they had before them was the only case of robbery which occurred on the premises. Anyone more cruel he could not imagine, than that people should take advantage of the confusion at the fire to further impoverish one who was already losing so much of his property. He thought they would have no difficulty in this case, and he must ask that such punishment should be awarded as would be a warning to others.

Acting-Sergeant BROWN said that he was on duty in Mount-lane on Christmas eve, at the back of Mr GODDEN's premises, at half-past eight o'clock. He saw the female prisoner beneath the wall of the premises, and asked her what she was “up to.” She said, “Nothing; I've got nothing; you can search me.” Just then he heard a sound in Mr GOODEN's garden, and he let the prisoner go on down the lane. He waited there, and soon after ADAM's head appeared above the wall; he pulled his head back, and immediately afterwards he jumped over the wall. Witness ecured <sic> him, and told him he would be charged with being on enclosed premises for an unlawful purpose. He replied “I have been helping at the fire; you know that.” Witnes <sic> said, “Yes, but you were up there pretty well an hour ago. He handed prisoner to P.C. RICHARDS to be taken to the police station. Shortly after eleven he went with Acting-Sergeant COLES to the prisoner ADAM's house in King-street; his wife handed him two cane-seated chairs. About a quarter to twelve he went to PRING's house in Star-plat, Mount-lane, and found PRING and his wife in a downstair room; he told the woman that in consequence of information received he should apprehend her on a charge of stealing two chairs in company with her brother George ADAMS. She replied “I haven't stole any chairs.” He then said to the husband, “I shall search your house now.” He said, “All right, you are welcome to search.” He told PRING to accompany him on the search, and they commenced down stairs. PRING said he would not go with witness, but his wife came with him. In a cupboard down stairs witness found two galvanised iron tubs, fourteen paraffin lamps, nine benzoline lamps, one iron lamp bracket, three dozen lamp star burners with rings, and three pieces of moulding. He then further charged the woman with stealing the articles he had found. She said, “I never stole them; I bought them.” Witness asked where, and she told him that was her business. To the husband witness said, “You will have to go to the police station with me on a charge of receiving these articles well knowing them to have been stolen.” He replied, “All right, take me for the lot; I'll stand to it; don't take her” (pointing to his wife). He then took them both to the police station. He produced the property which he had since shown to Mr GODDEN. He would add to his earlier evidence that while he as on watch he saw the prisoner, Thomas Edward PRING, come up the lane and turn back again about five yards from prisoner, before ADAMS came over the wall. On Christmas morning he visited Mr GODDEN's premises, and two or three yards from where ADAMS came over the garden wall there was a paraffin lamp and a benzoline lamp; there was no other property lying near.

Mr John GODDEN identified some of the articles produced, and had no doubt that others formed part of a large stock which he had. Some of the things had his private mark upon them.

Prisoners were then put on their trial and elected to be tried by the magistrates; ADAMS pleaded guilty, and the others not guilty.

Ann PALMER said that on Christmas Eve she was at her house at Mount-lane, and her little boy told her something had fallen down. She went out and found Mrs PRING, who said her brother had gone into Mr GODDEN's to fetch his coat.

Ellen CLENCH said that about a quarter to eight she saw the female prisoner coming from the direction of the fire towards King-street with a couple of cane-seated chairs.

Elizabeth PEARCE said she saw the female prisoner near the Coach and Horses; she tapped her sister-in-law (Mrs ADAMS) and said she had left two chairs outside her door.

The prisoner ADAMS said that he had been helping at the fire and moving the things, and had he not had some beer he should not have done it. Thomas E. PRING said he know nothing about it until the police came in and found the things theres; he was as “innocent as a lamb.” The female prisoner said she had the things to take care of for her brother, till he fetched them.

The Mayor said that they had seriously considered the case, which was a very serious one, as it was not an ordinary case, but the public must be protected in a case of this kind and they decided that ADAMS must be committed for two months, and PRING and his wife one month each. PRING said he would rather do the two months himself, so that his wife might go home and look after the eight children. The magistrates said that they would suspend judgment on th <sic> woman, though entering judgement against her.

Mr KINGLAKE said that he must commend the police for their activity and energy in the whole matter, and he must also mention the valuable assistance rendered by the men from the barracks.

Supt. JEFFS said he had to speak with the utmost satisfaction at the way in which his men worked.

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<NOTES: George ADAMS son of George ADAMS and Ann NORTHCOTT, married Mary Jane SEARLE
Sarah Ann ADAMS daughter of George ADAMS and Ann NORTHCOTT, married Thomas Edward PRING
Thomas Edward PRING son of James PRING and Joan TOLLER, married Sarah Ann ADAMS>