And speedily was heard the tramp of many feet hurrying to the
scene, and the shouting of anxious voices crying for help; and
presently the bells of St. Margaret's church close by, ringing
with wild uneven peals through the darkness, aroused all far and
near to knowledge of the disaster. For already the flames,
fanned by a high easterly wind, and fed by the dry timber of the
picturesque old dwellings huddled close together, had spread in
four directions.
One of these being Thames Street, the consequence was terrible,
for the shops and warehouses of this thoroughfare containing
inflammable materials, required for the shipping trade, such as
oil, pitch, tar, and rosin, the houses at one side the street
were immediately wrapped, from basement to garret, in sheets of
angry flame. And now flaunting its yellow light skywards, as if
exulting in its strength, and triumphing in its mastery over
men's efforts, the fire rushed to the church of St. Magnus, a
dark solid edifice standing at the foot of London Bridge. The
frightened citizens concluded the conflagration must surely end
here; or at least that whilst it endeavoured to consume a dense
structure such as this, they might succeed in subduing its force;
but their hopes were vain. At first the flames shot upwards to
the tower of the building, but not gaining hold, retreated as if
to obtain fresh strength for new efforts; and presently darting
forward again, they seized the woodwork of the belfry windows.
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