1.
For the Kents of Wicklow Town.
I've been meaning to type this up for a while, Marie. Apologies for the delay.
Destructive Fire In Wicklow.
Messrs. Kent’s Mill Burnt Down.
One of the most deplorable and destructive conflagrations which has occurred in Wicklow town within the past fifty years, took place last Saturday evening. At 4.15 the extensive flour mill belonging to Messrs. Kent and Sons, and situate at the extreme end of the South Quay, was observed on fire, and within the short space of two hours and a half the massive block of buildings was a complete wreck. How the fire originated is still a matter of conjecture, but the most probable solution is that one of the “journels” of the machinery in the screen room on the fifth storey set fire to the surrounding woodwork. The mill premises consisted of a large stone building, five storeys high, covering a considerable portion of the ground. In addition to this building, there was a large meal-store, engine-room, boiler –house, and the detached steam bakery premises. To the fact that the engine-room and boiler-house were under a separate roof from the main building, and that the wind was blowing in an opposite direction, may be attributed their safety from the flames. The bakery also escaped, and business is still carried on there. The engines and boilers are valued at £1,000, and the fine combination of machinery within the main building, which was erected a short time ago by Messrs. Simon, of Manchester, was valued at £3,300. It is regrettable that all this machinery has been rendered absolutely worthless by the fire, and a few days ago a number of the mill hands were engaged in clearing the debris. The lofts contained a large quantity of flour and other milling stuffs, and, as before stated, the top or fifth storey was used as a screening-room.
The particulars of the fire are as follows: - The mill was working as usual all day on Saturday, and at four o’clock work ceased, the mill closed, and the hands paid off. A few minutes later some sailors standing on what is known as the “Bank,” over the mill, observed smoke issuing through the roof on the south-east corner, and the volume of smoke increasing, an alarm was raised. A sailor named Davis entered the bakery and informed the clerk, Thomas Mullen, who was the only mill hand near at the time. Mr Mullen promptly entered the building, which had only been vacated a few minutes previously by the workmen, and ascended to the screening room. He was, however, forced to retire immediately, owing to the dense smoke, but on a second attempt he gained a footing, and succeeded in opening the front door and affixing the chain used for hoisting flour. Several other workmen and sailors then reached the loft, and with the help of a few others below a number of buckets of water were hauled up, and thrown where the fire was visible. A miller named Keogh pluckily cut the water-pipe in the top storey, but it being only an inch thick its effect on the fire was insignificant, consequent on the absence of a hose to direct its course on the immediate spot where the fire existed. Within ten minutes from the time the alarm was first given, flames burst through the south-east end of the roof, and though the men worked hard it was manifest to everyone that their efforts to save the building were futile. The wind was S.S.E., and the flames spread so rapidly that within two hours and a half the structure was a mass of ruins. Mr. M. S. Kent, Mr. Robert Kent, and Mr. R. Armstrong, were early on the scene, and their permission having been obtained by a number of volunteers, a quantity of flour, etc., was removed from the lower storeys. In fact, this enterprise was attended by the greatest danger to the gallant fellows, who almost risked their lives in their anxiety to save property. Slates were flying about in all directions, and the burning premises were not vacated until the second storey had collapsed.
