fatalities

FATALITIES & FIRES

"15 Sept 1879, Hans Rathgen, age 69, sugarbaker. Cause of death - shock to the system from scalds through having fallen into a pan of boiling sugar. Accidental. Middlesex Coroner's inquest held 18 Sept 1879" - from a death certificate from Ian Rathjen.

This was the reality of the sugar refining industry ... hot, exhausting and dangerous. Workers were expendable and continually exposed to the risks from boiling sugar, scorching containers, scalding steam, heavy objects, poor building design, and, of course, fire. The threat of fire was supposedly reduced with the introduction of steam processes early in the 19C, for Phoenix Fire Office charged double premium, and often much more, for the 'old process', but it was far from safe as the number of fires shows.
Health and Safety in the Workplace was still a long way off, and the lack of concern and responsibility is exposed in a series of Coroner's Inquests in the Whitechapel area around 1820, where the Coroners refused to place any blame upon the refineries by not naming them and simply using the phrase "... in a certain sugarhouse in the said parish ...", or upon the management by placing the responsibility on the workers by using the phrase "... accidentally, casually and by misfortune ...".

Below are lists of fatalities and fires, which will be added to as new evidence is found. Contributions gratefully received.

FATALITIES .....

BARRATT, John ... aged 52, labourer, scalded to death in boiler accident at Craven & Lucas, Duncan St, Whitechapel, 20 July 1843. Accidental death. (The Era)

BECK, John ... "Struck on leg by cask of sugar ..." Accidental death, 20 Sep 1820, at West India Dock, Whitechapel. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1088)

BLACK, John ... aged 42, a charcoal man at Hall & Boyd, died at the London Hospital from severe scalds following the boiler explosion of Monday 12 Nov 1855. Verdict - accidental death. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

BOHLMANN, Harmann ... a 52 yr old German sugar boiler committed suicide by hanging, after returning from the West Indies where he had been for eight months out of the year. (The Times 27 Nov 1887)

BOLTE, Jacob ... aged 29, killed in boiler explosion at Schurrier & Benson, London, 26 Jun 1863. (Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper)

BOSTOCK, William ... Large explosion at the Garston Sugar Refinery, Liverpool, on 30 Oct 1894, when 3 men were killed. William Bostock, the owner, died the following February. He had joined in a search for a missing man on the morning after the accident and helped dig through the rubble. When the body was found it was in a dreadful state. A traumatic experience for him no doubt. (Local Press)

BRYANT, George ... "Cask of sugar rolled on his leg ... at Poplar ... on 15 May ..." Accidental death, 21 May 1821, Whitechapel. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1263)

CLINE, John ... "... in the employ of John Sickling for about 6 months; whilst unloading a wagon fell with the pulley and a cask rolled over him." Broken ribs and serious injury to thigh - died in hospital. Accidental death. (The Morning Chronicle 16 Jan 1817)

CONNOR, John ... "That on the eleventh day of December [1819] ... the said John Connor being at work in a certain sugarhouse [in this parish] it so happened accidentally casually and by misfortune that one of the ceilings of the said sugarhouse gave way and fell upon him ... he did receive mortal bruises and fractures on the head and body ... he did languish and live in the parish from [that day] until the eighteenth of January [1820] ... when he did die ... the jurors do say that he accidentally came to his death and not otherwise." Inquest, 20 Jan 1820, Whitechapel. [By a huge coincidence, the Foreman of the Jurors for this Inquest was my 3xgt grandfather Henry Almeroth, age 25, grocer of that parish !] (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/0878)

COOTER, Charles ... "... of Germany. Working on repairs in Goodhart's sugarhouse on 10 Oct when fire broke out ... burned to death ... unlikely his body would be recovered" (Morning Chronicle 12 Oct 1860) [see below]

COPE, John ... "Pot fell on head while working in sugarhouse ... died instantly ..." Accidental death, 14 Aug 1822, Whitechapel. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1647)

CORDES, Frederick ... crushed in steam lift at Messrs Schwartz, Whitechapel, on 17 Aug 1874. (Daily News)

CORDES, Johann Diederick ... "... in the service of Hall & Boyd, Breezers Hill, London ... on Sat 30 March proceeded with a lighted candle to clean out a tank filled with charcoal. The morning was dark, and on removing the lid he placed his legs inside the tank, when the foul air ignited, and blew him backwards about ten feet against a wall. The deceased was found by Hermann Henckin and John Buck in a dreadfully disfigured state, being burnt over the arms, face and body to a considerable extent. He was taken home, and subsequently was conveyed in a cab to the London Hospital, where he lingered and died on Sunday evening last [14th]." Inquest - Accidental death. (The Daily News 18 Aug 1853)

DUHN, George ... a 61 yr old labourer at Martineau's in Christian St, discovered lying in a tank of boiling syrup. Verdict - accidental death. (The Times 26 Nov 1891)

ECKWORTH, Henry ... "Case of sugar fell on him from a truck ..." Accidental death, 10 Oct 1820, at London Docks, Whitechapel. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1100)

FILLING, Christopher ... "Fell through pulley hole in sugarhouse ..." Accidental death, 6 April 1821, Shadwell. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1226)

FREDERICHS, Heinrich ... a worker at Hall & Boyd, died at the London Hospital from severe scalds following the boiler explosion of Monday 12 Nov 1855. Verdict - accidental death. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

GEVERS, Christoff ... aged 48 residing in Cable St, "a top plate of one of the cylinders flew off, and striking against another machine, rebounded and struck deceased on the legs, cutting one off and fracturing the other." Killed at work at Martineau's, Christian St, on 3 April 1878. (Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper)

GOULDING, George ... age 31, a worker at Finzel's, Bristol, died in cistern explosion, 1865. He left a wife and 2 children. Verdict - "the material with which the cistern had been made was too thin." (BRO 36772 Box 6)

GRAMLICH, Jacob ... died in an accident at work in a Sugar House at 15 Christian St, St George in East on 27 Nov 1877. Following an inquest, his death certificate read ... "Labourer at a sugar refinery - violent - contused brain - crushed in a lift accidentally." (with thanks to Contributor 15)

GRIFFIN, Thomas ... died selflessly in an accident at work in a Battersea refinery in 1899. His memorial in Postman's Park, City of London, reads ... "Thomas Griffin - fitters labourer - April 12 1899 - in a boiler explosion at a Battersea sugar refinery was fatally scalded in returning to search for his mate." (from Ben Schott, Daily Telegraph, 4 Oct 2003) [I will visit and photograph this myself soon]

HENGE, Johann ... a stoker at Hall & Boyd, was given no hope of survival at the London Hospital following severe scalds received in the boiler explosion of Monday 12 Nov 1855. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

HICKS, Francis ... age 36, a worker at Finzel's, Bristol, died in cistern explosion, 1865. He left a wife and 8 children. Verdict - "the material with which the cistern had been made was too thin." (BRO 36772 Box 6)

HODGKINSON, William Henry ... "Inquiry into the death of William Henry HODGKINSON aged 17 employed at the sugar refinery of Messers FAIRRIE Vauxhall Rd. Deceased working at a sugar cutting machine and was caught in the belting he was carried round on the driving shaft and killed out-right. It was surmised the belt came off and the deceased tried to replace it while the machinery was in motion ; [verdict] accidental death." (Liverpool Journal - 18th Jan 1908)

HOLSTEIN ... a worker at Hall & Boyd, died at the London Hospital from severe scalds following the boiler explosion of Monday 12 Nov 1855. Verdict - accidental death. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

ISREAL, Johann ... a worker at Hall & Boyd, was dead on arrival at the London Hospital following severe scalds received in the boiler explosion of Monday 12 Nov 1855. Verdict - accidental death. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

IVES, William ... a boy at Cowan & Son, Barnes, died in pan explosion, 3 Jun 1863. (Bell's Life in London & Sporting Chronicle)

JONES, William ... "We mentioned in our last publication the awful and melancholy death of a man in consequence of a hogshead of sugar falling from a warehouse upon him and dashing his head to atoms. The name of the unfortunate man was William JONES. He has left a widow and six helpless children (one of them a cripple) who were solely dependant on his daily labour. He was once in a respectable situation in this town as a grocer, and was known to most of the trade. To add to the distress of this bereaved family, the whole of their furniture was sold on Thursday proceeding for rent: and every window and door taken out of the house, and the chimneys built up. Any donation will be recieved at this office; and we trust that an appeal, under such circumstances, will not be made in vain to the well known charitable disposition of the inhabitants of this town." (from Liverpool Mercury, September 1819 ... found on the Lancsgen List - BM)

LOADER, Robert William ... Killed by falling wall at Goodhart's fire, Ratcliff Highway, 28/29 Dec 1840. (Morning Chronicle)

LOHDUR, Joshua Dederick ... "The deceased, who was in his 57th year, had a few years since been in affluent circumstances as a sugar refiner, but owing to the great falling off in that, at one time, most flourishing branch of our manufacture, at the east end of town, he became reduced by degrees so as to be compelled latterly to keep a small green-grocer's shop for the support of himself, his wife and his children." The inquest held at the Comet public house in Christian St was told that he swallowed a drachm of prussic acid he had purchased from Mr Allen the chemist of Back Lane. A German by birth, Lohdur was generally respected locally. His disturbed state of mind led to the jury returning a verdict of 'Temporary derangement'. (from The Times, 25 September 1838)

LUTGEN, Henry William ... "Fell into scum boiler in scum warehouse ..." Accidental death, abt 1828, Whitechapel. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/3986/unfit)

MULLINSTEDT, Frederich ... a worker at Hall & Boyd, was dead on arrival at the London Hospital following severe scalds received in the boiler explosion of Monday 12 Nov 1855. Verdict - accidental death. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

MYERS, Henry ... aged 23, killed in boiler explosion at Schurrier & Benson, London, 26 Jun 1863. (Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper)

PAPEN, Luke ... "... employed at Macfie's sugar warehouse.", Liverpool, died 10 Jan 1859. He committed suicide by cutting his own throat with a razor. Reported in the Liverpool Mercury of 12 Jan 1859. (Ron Hurdus - family research)

PLUMB, John ... died following a boiler explosion at John Craven's, 3 Gt Garden St, Whitechapel, on 12 Jan 1861. (The Morning Chronicle)

POPLETT, John ... "... aged 35 ... employed at sugar refinery in Church St, Spitalfields ... lying on platform communicating with the lift, when the lift was lowered and he was struck on the head and killed instantly. Had not right being where he was. Verdict - accidental death.", died 14 Aug 1879. (The Times 18 Aug 1879)

REGAL, John ... died following a boiler explosion at John Craven's, 3 Gt Garden St, Whitechapel, on 12 Jan 1861. (The Morning Chronicle)

SAUER, Frederick ... "Fell through loop hole of sugarhouse to ground ..." Accidental death, 29 Jan 1821, Whitechapel. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1184)

SCHRODER, Carsten ... "Fell through pulley hole to ground ..." Accidental death, 24 Aug 1820, St George's in the East. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/E/1053)

SCHROER, John ... "... sugarbaker, 58 yrs old, committed suicide, 24 March 1889, Enfield." His suicide note states that his wife did not want him when he returned from America after 2yrs away seeking work. (Coroner's Inquest. LMA MJ/SPC/LAN/345a-e)

SELMER, John ... aged 33, died following a fall down snow-covered stone steps at Beaumont & Co, Gt Alie St, on 11 Feb 1847. Accidental death. (The Era)

SHERWOOD, Joseph ... crushed by falling hogshead. 22/23 April 1841. (The Times)

SLADE, Joseph ... age abt 33, a worker in Wellclose Sq, died in cistern explosion, 1865. He left a wife and 5 children. Verdict - "the material with which the cistern had been made was too thin." (BRO 36772 Box 6)

SMITH, Andrew ... died at the sugarhouse of Henry Ehlers on January 22 1745. John Reese was charged with his murder and his trial took place at the Old Bailey on 27 February 1745 ...
John Reese , of St. Mary Lestrand, was indicted for the murder of Andrew Smith , by giving him a mortal wound with a certain piece of wood called a cooler oar, upon the hinder part of the head, near the left ear, of the length of one inch and a quarter, and the breadth of half an inch, January 22.
He was a second time indicted on the Coroner's Inquest for manslaughter.
Henry Elers . The deceased was a servant of mine, and so is the Prisoner. About six weeks ago in the morning I was in the boiling-house (I am a sugar refiner, I live in the Savoy) I was with them two hours, from eight to ten, and did not hear of any dispute between them: when I came home between two and three o'clock, I heard of this misfortune that had happened. The deceased was a pan-man, a superior workman, and had double the wages of the Prisoner. I heard that this happened about twelve or one o'clock, when nobody was there but themselves. I went up to the deceased and spoke to him as he lay upon the bed, but he was not able to give me any answer with relation to what had happened.
Q. What was the deceased in his behaviour?
Elers. He was always addicted to quarrelling, but as to the Prisoner, during the time he lived with me, he always behaved civilly, and was not given to quarrel.
Daniel Deickman (surgeon.) On the 22d of January I was called between two and three in the afternoon to visit a patient who was very much hurt, and they believed the man was dying. I made haste, and found the patient in a dangerous condition; the blood ran out at his left ear, and out at his mouth too: upon the left side of his head behind the ear there was a contusion wound, of an inch and a quarter in length, and half an inch in breadth. I asked the deceased how he came by this misfortune, but he would give me no answer.
Q. Was he in a condition to speak?
Deickman. It will come by and by. I asked the people of the house how he came by that wound; they said he was fighting with the Prisoner at the bar. I asked the Prisoner if he had not given him this dangerous blow, and told him, I was afraid the man would die: the Prisoner answered me, he was very sorry for it if he should die, but he could not help it, for the deceased struck him twice before he struck him again. I asked the deceased, whether it was true what the Prisoner said; the deceased would not answer me the question, but doubled his fist, and said, "Hounsfoot" (that is a word of resentment), and I believe if he had had strength he would still have fought with him; so the Prisoner himself said, "Did not you strike me twice before I struck you?". He would not answer that question neither, but repeated "Hounsfoot". When he was in bed he vomited a vast quantity of blood; the convulsions seized him so strong, that three or four men could not hold him. I told Mr. Elers how it was, and desired he would send for another surgeon; so Mr. Pye was called, but he only assisted me; so we consulted, and I scalped his head in order to have trepanned him the next day, but he died that night.
[Q. What is "Hounsfoot?".]
The same as if he had called him dog in English. The deceased was a Swede.
Q. Do you think by the manner in which he pronounced the word Hounsfoot twice, that he could have spoke more if he had pleased?
Deickman. Yes; I believe he could; for he asked afterwards, whether his master was come home.
Q. Do you apprehend the contusion was occasioned by a blow or by a fall?
Deickman. I believe it was by a blow, for he vomited so much blood, that I believe the internal sinus was broke.
Q. Do you think the blow was given by a fist or by an instrument?
Deickman. I believe it was given by an instrument: the Prisoner had a hurt upon his hand, - it was done by an instrument to be sure.
Elers. There were two wooden oars broke - they are things that we stir the sugars with.
Acquitted of the murder, and acquitted on the Coroner's Inquisition.
The Jury found that the deceased died a natural death by the visitation of God.
(Old Bailey Online)

SPEAR ... "... a dreadful explosion took place at the sugar-baking warehouse of Mr Constadt ... the Engineer was testing the new boiler holding about 2000 gallons ... it overheated ... a general explosion took place, carrying in the awful crash utter destruction to the concern, and closing in the ruins more than twenty people ... many were dragged clear with dreadful lacerations and conveyed to the London Hospital ... three bodies were later removed, one being that of the son of Mr Spear, one of the partners in the concern ... the ruins later burst into flames, burning down the adjoining sugarhouse of the same concern ... more people were killed. A Coroner's Inquest sat on Thursday upon three of the persons killed, when the Jury returned the verdict, that the deceased persons came to their death - Accidentally, Casually, and by Misfortune." 1816, Well Street, Wellclose Square. (AGFHS Sugarbakers Guide)

TULLEY, Patrick ... a worker at Cowan & Son, Barnes, died in pan explosion, 3 Jun 1863. (Bell's Life in London & Sporting Chronicle)

TYE, James ... aged 30, engineer, scalded to death in boiler accident at Craven & Lucas, Duncan St, Whitechapel, 20 July 1843. Accidental death. (The Era)

WINDELER, Jurgen ... "Cause of death - Exhaustion due to scalds received by falling into sugar that had boiled over at Messrs Fairrie & Co�s refinery, Vauxhall Road on the 20th ultimo but who burned on the steam which caused the sugar to boil over. The evidence is not sufficient to ... " Died 7 July 1898 at 'The Northern Hospital', Liverpool. (Death Certificate. [ES])

WOOLLEY, John ... age 36, a worker at Finzel's, Bristol, died in cistern explosion, 1865. Verdict - "the material with which the cistern had been made was too thin." (BRO 36772 Box 6)

At Craven's, London ... two workmen scalded to death. 21 Jul 1843. (The Times)

At Messrs Foeltscher & Co, Suderberg, Prussia ... Boiler explosion. "Fragments of the boiler struck 33 workmen, four of whom were killed on the spot, six died whilst being conveyed to the hospital, and eight died the following day. The remaining fifteen were not out of danger when the account came away." 30 Sep 1847. (Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper)

At Wilson's, Glasgow ... fourteen workmen died in building collapse. 30 Oct 1848. ... James DOGHERTY, John ALFORD or HELFERTY aged 50, Thomas LOVE, Michael KING, Robert BAILLIE overseer, William CARNBRAE, Hugh HARVEY, John KINNEAR, Michael HAGGERTY, John McLEAN, Andrew BRADLEY, Richard GAGE, Charles GALLOCHER, John McGUIRE. (Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - from Glasgow Courier)

At Hall & Boyd's, London ... six workmen, listed above, scalded to death. 12 Nov 1855. (The Times 16 Nov 1855)

At Finzel's, Bristol ... four workmen, listed above, killed and 6 others injured in explosion. 1865. (BRO 36772 Box 6)

******

FIRES .....

"From St Michael's, Crooked Lane, ... [one of] two primitive fire engines, [this one] having an open cistern arrangement into which buckets of water were poured, and then squirted on a fire by a two-handled pump."
(- from "Down Thames Street" by Mark Rogers, 1921)

1718 Nov 2 .. Sugarhouse in Chiswell St, London. (Original Weekly Journal 8 Nov 1718)
1721 Nov 12 .. Mr Ashurst, Little Distaff Lane, London - consumed a new built sugarhouse. (Weekly Journal 18 Nov 1721)
1729 May 4 .. Trench, D, Queen St, Cheapside ... burnt down. (Daily Post 5 May 1729)
1734 Jan 24 .. Kidd & Harbin, Thames St / College St, London. "... and burnt the back part of the house, leaving only the front part standing, and many sugar loaves, and sugars in pots and pans that were refining, were burnt; damage is computed at 2000l and was occasioned by a servant leaving a candle too near the sugar syrups."(London Evening Post, same day)
1738 Jul 1 .. Kid & Harbin, near Three Cranes, Thames St, London. "... in four hours burnt and damaged over 20 warehouses and dwelling houses, with Mr Hill's Meeting House." And 2 days later ... "a fire broke out on the sixth floor of the new sugarhouse belonging to the same unfortunate gentlemen, which reduced it to ashes." (Weekly Miscellany 7 Jul 1738)
1749 .. .. .. Sugarhouse in Angel Alley, Church Lane, Whitechapel. (TH)
1750 .. .. .. Ogden & Co, Liverpool, burnt to the ground. (London Evening Post 15 Nov 1750)
1750 .. .. .. Danvers, Liverpool .. "Last Monday night about 11 o'clock a fire broke out at the Sugar House in Liverpool which burned with such violence that in a short space of time the building was entirely consumed ..." (Weekly Courant, Chester)
1754 May 8 .. Holliday, London .."Yesterday morning between 3 and 4, a fire at the sugar house of Messrs Holliday & Co at Puddle Dock, which burnt a great part of the house and other damages, but by the timely assistance of firemen & engines was prevented from spreading any farther." (London Evening Post)
1754 May 15 .. Barret, London .."The dwelling house and sugar house of Messrs. Barret and Co. sugar bakers, near Paul's wharf, in Thames-Street, were consumed by fire, and several persons, assisting the sufferers, were hurt: the presence of the lord mayor, Sir Robert Ladbroke, the sheriffs, and a guard of a party from the tower, were of great service on this melancholy occasion." (Gentleman's Magazine)
1757 Mar .. .. George Maquay, Dublin .."... was as violent as any thing of the kind that ever was seen. Losses exceed 5000l." (London Evening Post)
1761 Feb 10 .. Cope, London .."Early this morning a fire broke out at Mr Cope's, a sugar-baker in Thames Street opposite College Hill, which consumed the same, Fisherman's Hall, and another house adjoining, all fronting the street, and greatly damaged eight or nine more backwards." (Gentleman's Magazine)
1761 Dec 21 .. Payne, London .. "About midnight, a fire broke out in a sugar-bakehouse belonging to Mr Payne, near Puddle Dock, Black-Fryars, which entirely consumed the whole building, together with his dwelling house, and greatly damaged several others." (Gentleman's Magazine)
1762 Feb 10 .. Bellman, London .. "A fire broke out in Bellman's sugar-house, Little Carter-lane, which was soon reduced to ashes. Two adjacent houses were much damaged. -- The sugar-houses are so harzardous that we are told, some of the fire-offices will not insure them. Why then should they be tolerated in the most populous parts of this great city ?" (Gentleman's Magazine)
1763 (Jan 1) .. Bristol .. "A terrible fire broke out at a sugar-house in Bristol, by which the whole stock was consumed to the amount of �8000." (Gentleman's Magazine)
1769 (Jul 1) .. Derman, London .. "Mr Derman's sugar-house in Blackfriars, was burnt to the ground." (Gentleman's Magazine)
1775 Nov 1 .. Badger & Co, Princes Sq, London.(Lloyd's Evening Post)
1783 Nov 20 .. King Street Sugarhouse, Glasgow. (Glasgow Mercury)
1791 Dec 13 .. Mr Engell's sugar factory, Wellclose Square. (The Times)
1792 Oct 5 .. Mr Phillips sugar factory, Glasgow. (The Times)
1793 .. .. .. Hunter, Robinson, Wilson, Ritchie, Ramsey, MacCann & Macfie, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1793/4 .. .. .. William Coslett, Church Lane, Whitechapel. (LMA MJ/SPD/00137)
1795 .. .. .. Hunter, Robinson, Wilson, Ritchie, Ramsey, MacCann & Macfie, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1797 .. .. .. Messrs Coope & Co, Osborne Street, Whitechapel. (AGFHS Sugarbakers Guide)
1797 .. .. .. Walton & Detmar, Upper Thames St. (The Times)
1799 .. .. .. Fisher, East Smithfield. (burnt out) (The Times + Oracle and Daily Advertiser)
1799 .. .. .. Worsley & Heinekin, Queen St. (Oracle and Daily Advertiser)
1799 Apr 29 .. Messrs Chambers sugar factory, Gloucester. (The Times)
1800 Feb 1 .. Messrs Friecke & Endelman's sugar factory, in Thames Street, destroyed. (The Times)
1800 .. .. .. Messrs Lawrence & Walton, Leman St. (The Times)
1800 Oct 2 .. Messrs Atherton, Davis & Toundras sugar factory destroyed, Liverpool. (The Times)
<1801 .. .. .. Grobb, Thames St. (The Times)
1801 Jun 10 .. Warren & Co, Wood St. (Ipswich Journal)
1816 .. .. .. Constadt & Spear, Well St, Wellclose Sq. (AGFHS Sugarbakers Guide)
1819 Jul 29 .. Messrs Craven & Shutte sugar factory of Nelson St, Whitechapel. (TH & The Times)
1819 Nov 10 .. Messrs Seven & King sugar factory in Church Lane, Whitechapel. (The Times)
1820 .. .. .. Severn & King, Mulberry St, Commercial Road. (CUL PX1282)
1820 .. .. .. Ryder & Nasmyth, (Old Gravel Lane?). (Len Metzner Index )
1820 Oct 23 .. At sugarbakers in Old Gravel Lane - great loss of life. (The Times)
1821 Apr 6 .. Messrs Burnell & Gies sugar factory in Church St, Mile End - great destruction of property. (The Times)
1822 Jan 28 .. Messrs Rohde & Co sugar factory in Leman St. (The Times)
1822 .. .. .. Wm Macfie & Co, Elbe St, Leith. (Hutcheson)
1824 .. .. .. Mr Alderman Lucas of Osborne St, Whitechapel. (TH)
1826 Sep .. .. Mr Lange, New Rd, St Geo East ... fire, total loss, insured with Globe Fire Office. No personal injury. (Examiner 1 Oct 1826)
1826 Dec 27 .. Ledlard's sugar factory in Bristol. (The Times)
1827 Apr 25 .. Soulie, Jones & Co sugar factory in Bordeaux. (The Times)
1829 Jan 12 .. Webbs sugar refinery in Oldham St, Liverpool. (The Times)
1829 (Jan 22) .. Banks, Old Fish St. (The Times)
1829 Jan 22 .. Guppy's sugar refinery at Bristol. (The Times)
1829 Apr 22 .. Wm Macfie & Co, Elbe St, Leith. (Hutcheson)
1829 May 8 .. Weybeck & Co, Charles St, London. Total loss - 10,000l. (Morning Chronicle)
1829 Jun 4 .. Friend & Boden's sugar factory, Charlotte St, Commercial Rd. (The Times)
1829 Sep .. .. Walker, Brick Lane ... loss of �3000. No personal injury. (Examiner, 20 Sep 1829)
1829 .. .. .. Leith Sugar House (Macfie). (Glasgow University Archives)
1830 July 17 .. Mr Naysmith, Old Gravel Lane, premises destroyed, loss �3600. (Friday's Gazette, John Bull)
1830 Dec 14 .. J G Geller, William St, Liverpool " ... in a short time reduced to ashes ... twenty to thirty hogsheads of sugar rescued ... the warehouse itself was a very extensive erection, and the amount of property destroyed must be considerable." (Liverpool Mercury)
1830 .. .. .. Sugarhouse on the corner of Mansell Street, in Goodman's Yard. (AGFHS Sugarbakers Guide)
1830 .. .. .. Carsten Holthouse's sugarhouse, Back Lane, St Geo East. (NRO HOLT 272)
1831 Apr 1 .. Mr Farmer's sugarhouse, Osborne St, Whitechapel. (The Times)
1831 Aug 2 .. Stewart & Snidden, Dock St, London. (Newcastle Courant)
1831 Aug 4 .. Smith's sugarhouse, Dock St, London. (The Times)
1832 May 26 .. George & Harwood's sugar factory, Lower Thames St. (The Times)
1833 Jan 4 .. Bowman's sugarhouse, Gowers Walk, Whitechapel. (The Times)
1833 Feb 16 .. Wilde's sugar factory, High St, St Lukes. (The Times)
1833 Sep 19 .. Davis & Brown, Lower Road, Deptford. (Bell's Life in London & Sporting Chronicle)
1833 Sep 19 .. Dodge & Smith, Lower Road, Deptford. (Morning Chronicle)
1834 .. .. .. Mr Banks of Osborne St, Whitechapel. (TH)
1834 Sep 13 .. Watson's sugarhouse, Ratcliffe Cross. (The Times)
1835 May 14 .. Explosion of boilers at Bing's sugarhouse in Vauxhall Rd - 5 dead. (The Times)
1835 Nov 29 .. Mr Hill, Finny Lane, Atherton St, Liverpool. Little damage but uninsured. (Liverpool Mercury)
1836 .. .. .. Clayton & Thomas sugar refinery, Lower Deptford. (The Times)
1836 Feb 17 .. Large refinery in Fredericks Strasse, Berlin. (Caledonian Mercury)
1836 Mar 30 .. Miller's sugar warehouse, Hackins Way. (The Times)
1836 Jul 4 .. Mr Beriot's sugar works, Lille. (The Times)
1838 Feb 8 .. Messrs Licht & Cos, Pest, Hungary. (The Times)
1838 Aug 11 .. Messrs Petiots, Les Alouettes. (The Times)
1838 Nov 27 .. Mr Zabell, Dunk St / King Edward St, MENT (uninsured). (The Times)
1838 Dec 20 .. Albert & Co, Half Moon Alley, Whitechapel. (The Examiner)
1838 .. .. .. Francis Bowman & Son, Duncan St. (TH)
1840 Dec 28/29 .. Goodhart's sugar factory, Ratcliffe Highway. (The Times)
1841 .. .. .. Spiers & Wrede, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1842 .. .. .. Cope, London. (The Times)
1843 Dec 29 .. Martineau's sugar refinery, Goulston St. (The Times)
1843 Dec 29/30 .. Branker's sugar refinery, Liverpool ... total loss. (The Times / Morning Chronicle / Hampshire Telegraph)
1844 Jun 17 .. Craven & Lucas sugar refinery, Whitechapel. (The Times)
1845 Mar 3 .. George Jager, Blackstock St, Liverpool. Minimal damage - �25. (Liverpool Mercury)
1846 .. .. .. Messrs Grant & Baldwin, 17� St George's Place, Back Rd, St George's in the East. (Illustrated London News) [see below]
1846 .. .. .. James Fairrie & Co, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1846 Jun 11 .. Finzel's, Counterslip, Bristol. (Bristol Mercury)
1846 Sep 17 .. Macfie & Son, Bachelor St, Liverpool. (Northern Star and National Trades' Journal)
1846 Sep 21 .. Branker's sugar works, Liverpool. (The Times)
1847 .. .. .. Connal & Parker, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1847 Aug 26 .. Craven's sugar refinery, Whitechapel. (The Times)
1848 Jul .. .. Matthew Parker, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1848 Oct 30 .. Samuel Wilson & Sons, 71 Alston St, Glasgow .. "... a frightful catastrophe occurred in the city, by the falling of a large sugarhouse, by which 19 or 20 men were suddenly buried in the ruins, 14 of whom appear to have been killed ... all at work early morning as usual ... the building seems to have given way without a moment's intimation, as none within the walls had time to escape ... all 6 or 7 stories collapsed with only the gable ends standing ... by midnight only 6 men recovered alive. (Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - from Glasgow Courier)
1849 May 6 .. Wainwright & Co, Washington St, Glasgow. Totally destroyed along with neighbouring soap works and church. (Liverpool Mercury)
1849 Dec 22 .. Woosley & Co, New York. "... consuming the large refinery ... and other valuable property to the amount of $600,000, of which less than half was insured. Nearly 500 men are thrown out of employment by this disaster." (Glasgow Herald)
1849 (abt) .. James Watson, Alston St, Glasgow. (Hutcheson)
1850 Mar 21 .. Wackerbarth & Collins, East St George's Inn, near the London Docks ... almost completely destroyed. Loss estimated at �15-20,000. (Caledonian Mercury)
1851 .. .. .. Alexander & Thomas Anderson, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1852 Sep 10 .. Mr Braden, Denmark St, St Geo East, fire raged for up to 12 hours, loss �20-30,000. (Bell's Life in London & Sporting Chronicle)
1853 May 1 .. James Leitch, Wellington St, Liverpool. (Liverpool Mercury)
1853 Dec 9 .. H M Brown, Back Road, Shadwell. (Daily News)
1854 Jun 6 .. Goodhart's, St George's St, St Geo East. (Daily News)
1855 .. .. .. Hall & Boyd, St George's in the East. Boiler explosion - 6 dead.(The Times)
1857 Mar 8 .. Wm & James Ferguson, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1859 Feb .. .. Duncan's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1860 Oct 10 .. Goodhart's, Horseferry Rd, Limehouse .. Huge premises, total loss, one man killed. (Morning Chronicle) [see below]
1861 Mar .. .. Crawhall, Shultz & Co, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1861 Jun .. .. Walker's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1861 Aug 30 .. Harrison & Wilson, Upper Dock St, London. Loss - 30,000l. (Daily News)
1863 Jun 3 .. Cowan & Son, Barnes, Surrey, pan explosion, 2 killed. (Bell's Life in London & Sporting Chronicle)
1863 Jun 24 .. Walker's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1864 Mar 22 .. Crawhall, Shultz & Co, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1865 Jan 23 .. Murdoch & Doddrell, Port Dundas, Glasgow. (Hutcheson)
1865 Oct 18 .. Neill, Dempster & Neill, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1866 Dec 17 .. Deer Park Sugar Refinery, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1867 Dec 23 .. Blair, Reid & Steele, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1868 Aug 14 .. Paul, Sword & Co, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1868 Aug 19 .. Orchard's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
?? .. .. .. Martineau's, Christian Street, boasted the tallest chimney stack in London, which was twice burned down in 30 yrs. (AGFHS Sugarbakers Guide)
1872 Jun 18 .. A Anderson & Sons, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1873 .. .. .. P Kuck, Christian St. (The Times)
1873 Feb 25 .. John Walker & Co, Greenock. (Hutcheson) (The Times)
1876 Nov 14 .. Blair, Reid & Steele, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1877 Nov 19 .. Anderson's, Greenock. (Hutcheson) ... Cappielow Sugar Refinery, Greenock, an establishment which dates back to 1833. The damage is set down at about 50,000 l. But this is not the first occasion for the same refinery to suffer by fire. (Robert H James)
1879 Aug 16 .. Martineau's, 6 Christian St, London. Almost total loss. (Illustrated Police News) [see below]
1880 Jan 6 .. MacEachran's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1882 Jan 6 .. MacEachran's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1882 Jan 9 .. Havemeyer & Elder, New York.. (Online)
1889 Sep 7 .. Havemeyer, New York.. (Online)
1894 Oct 30 .. Garston Sugar Refinery, Liverpool - large explosion - 3 lives lost. (Local Press)
1895 Oct 3 .. Glebe's, Greenock. (Hutcheson)
1906 Oct 31 .. Havemeyer, New York.. (Online)

See also the losses, almost all to fire, recorded by the Phoenix Fire Office 1829-46, on the Phoenix page.

[References to 'The Times' have been found in Palmers Index to The Times at Guildhall Library or at The Times on-line site.]

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Glasgow 1725 .....

Special provision was made for the sugarhouse workers in Glasgow regarding their town guard fire duties ...

"The magistrates represented that in pursuance of a former Act, daited the 11th December last, they had mett with the proprietors of the sugar houses and had received in from them some proposals, viz. that upon the toun's exeeming their servants from keeping of the toun guard, in respect their labour and work in the sugar houses nessessarilly requires their working in the night time ass well as throw the day, they in liew theirof agree and condescend that the sugar house boyler of each sugar house shall be ready at all times when fire happens in the city, on their being advertised by drum or bell or first alarm therof to attend the magistrates and give their best help and assistance, the toun providing each suggar house with foir slings and stands and buckits, so that on the first occasiounne of fire, shall come to the place with them filled with water and they will observe the orders and directions of the magistrates and others whom they sall apoynt; which being heard by the Council they agree thereto and remit to the Dean of Guild and Decon Conveinar to provide the said slings, stands and buckits."

Extract from the Minutes of The Burgh of Glasgow, 11th December 1725, via; "Proud Record, The Story of the Glasgow Fire Service." Campbell Steven. 1975: Chapter II - Century of Progress, page 17, paragraph 3. (My thanks to Robert H James.)

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Copenhagen, 22 Jan 1757 .....

"Last week a fire broke out at the House of a Sugar Baker in the City, which burnt with such violence that all the efforts made to stop its progress proved ineffectual, and the whole new building, which was very large, was entirely reduced to ashes."

London Gazette 8 Feb 1757

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Fire at St. George's-in-the-East 1846 .....

"Shortly before three o'clock on Sunday morning, a fire occurred at the extensive sugar-refining house belonging to Messrs. Grant and Baldwin, 17�, St. George's Place, Back Road, St. George's-in-the-East, the whole of which, together with the valuable stock, in all upwards of �20,000, was entirely consumed. A fire taking place in the night time is always sufficiently alarming, but the consternation created in this instance may be readily imagined from the circumstance of a large building, about eighty feet in height, one hundred feet in length, and forty in breadth, being, within an hour after the above time, one mass of flame, towering several feet above the summit, and threatening destruction to St. George's Church, and the surrounding houses. Though the sugar factory is bounded by the Back Road on the north, Cannon Street [Road] on the west, Ratcliff Highway and St. George's Church on the south and east, yet it stood so far isolated from all as to keep them from injury. There was but little wind, and that being south-westerly, the parochial church was preserved.
The engines were promptly on the spot, and there being an abundance of water, immense streams were continually thrown upon the burning pile: but the flames had got too firm a hold; the contents were of too inflammable a nature to admit of the slightest check, and the flames rushed rapidly from the basement, where the fire commenced, to the seven successive storeys, until the whole mass was completely encircled in one sheet of fire; and about half-past four o'clock the roof fell in with an awful crash, partially smothering the fire, but only for a moment, as it again burst forth with redoubled fury. Subsequently a great part of the east front fell, and the south wall, with the lofty chimney, was expected to fall.
The immense stores are still partially standing, and that to the eastward, where the fire is supposed to have commenced, it is expected, contains a portion of the stock unconsumed; it is also anticipated that a portion in the lower floor may yet be recovered. The fire was not entirely subdued till nine o'clock in the morning, but throughout the day the engines were incessantly playing on the smoking ruins. The building is fully insured."

The Illustrated London News. Feb 28 1846, p.148.

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Goodhart's, 10 Oct 1860 .....

"A great fire at the premises of Mr Goodhart in Horseferry Rd, Limehouse. One man, Charles Cooter, killed, leaving wife and family in Germany.
The premises in which the fire commenced were about 400 ft in width, 200 ft deep and about 90 or 100 ft high ... the steam floating engine from Rotherhithe was kept at work for hours, as were seven land engines ... damages will exceed �50,000, the works being nearly the largest in the East End ... about 100 men, principally Germans, will be thrown out of work ... at one time, when the fire was at its highest, the flames could be seen issuing from nearly 200 windows and loop holes, and sparks and burning embers flying over the vessels in the Regent's Canal basin, Bethel Chapel, and Poter's boat building shops, extending as far as Narrow St and Tyers Alley ... the old, new and double houses all burned out, and many thousand tons of raw and refined sugar have been entirely destroyed."

Morning Chronicle 12 Oct 1860.

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Martineau's, 16 August 1879 .....

"On Saturday night, at twenty minutes past eleven o'clock, a fire occurred at the works of Messrs D Martineau & Sons, sugar refiners, 6 Christian St, St George's East. On arrival the firemen found that the flames had obtained a strong hold of the south west corner of the building, near the Blackwall line of railway which runs parallel to the sugar refinery ... fire spread rapidly and it was feared that the whole block of buildings, which cover several acres of land, would be destroyed. By midnight, thirteen steam land engines and six manual engines seemed to have no effect on the flames. The roof of one of the refineries soon after fell through and the flames shot up to a great height, illuminating the whole of the shipping in the London Docks. Soon after one o'clock the upper front walls on Christian St fell outwards and several persons had a narrow escape. The extensive machinery, costing several thousand pounds, fell through into the basement, and it is feared it is all destroyed by the action of the fire. By six o'clock the fear of the fire spreading to [further] adjoining premises was at an end. Damage : A building of seven floors, about 80 ft by 50 ft burnt out and roof off. Another building of seven floors burnt out and roof off. A building of ten floors, about 50 ft by 40 ft; five upper floors burnt out and roof off. A building of ten floors, about 60 ft by 30 ft; three upper floors and contents severely damaged by fire and part of roof off. Another building of ten floors, about 90 ft by 30 ft; contents severely damaged by fire and water (all adjoining and communicating). Front and back rooms, in tenancy of Mr J Wousnop, Christian St, burned out; a second floor and rest of house of six rooms severely damaged by fire and water and furniture damaged by removal. No.3 Christian St (opposite) belonging to Messrs C Wohlgemuth, sugar refiners; roof damaged by fire and breakage, contents by water. No.9 Christian St, roof damaged by fire and breakage, and furniture by removal and water. A building in Grove St, belonging to Mr D Martineau, roof damaged by breakage. Four engines were still playing water on a great body of fire at 9 o'clock on Sunday night. About 150 labourers were at work removing bags of sugar from the building. The Salvage Corps rendered valuable assistance and were the means of saving a vast amount of property. It is found that a large number of men, principally Germans, will be thrown out of employ. The front walls in Christian St were in a very dangerous condition, and they were shored up by order of the Board of Works. The damage is estimated at over �100,000 sterling."

The Illustrated Police News, 23 August 1879.

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