'It is customary in the winter months, and
the custom has been followed for the past three or four weeks, for the caretaker to light
the heating apparatus about midnight on Saturdays, so that the building might be
thoroughly warmed for the services on the Sunday following. This practice was
followed on Saturday, and at 2am yesterday [Sunday] the caretaker went in to the heating
chamber and fed the fire. At that time everything appeared to be safe and quiet.'
'Shortly after four o'clock, however, Windsor [the
caretaker] was aroused by a rattling sound, which he at first thought to be falling hail.
As the noise increased in volume, the caretaker suspected something was wrong; and
having hastily slipped on some clothing he went outside his house.'
'The schoolroom at that time appeared to be full of smoke
and fire, and he immediately raised an alarm. PC Westlake, hearing of what was
occurring, ran to the Octagon Police Station. He arrived there at 4.40 [am], and
within a few minutes Inspector Farmer was at the scene of the disaster with the town reel
stationed at the Octagon.'
'On his arrival, Mr Farmer found that the door of the
building had been burst open, but even at that early hour the chapel was so full of fire
and smoke that it was impossible to enter, and after the lapse of a few minutes the flames
were belching forth at some of the windows.'
'Inspector Farmer saw that it was utterly useless for him
to direct his one hose on the edifice, and as the woodwork on the houses at the top of
Anstis-street was then smoking with the heat radiated across the road, he poured water on
the dwellings with a view to preventing any spread of the conflagration.'
'Meanwhile messengers had been despatched to the various
police stations, to the Town Fire Brigade, and the West of England Fire Brigade. The
town engine was brought to the scene by the police, assisted by some of the Post-office
officials, and was followed by the brigade in charge of Mr Walter Lethbridge, chief of
brigades.'
'The West of England Brigade, in charge of Mr Brooks, with
their hose cart, were also early at the fire, and assistance was rendered by the reels
from the Central and Avenue Police Stations. Next came a large detachment of Royal
Marines with their engine under command of Major V Tom, Captain and Adjutant Quill, and
Lieutenant Prendergast, and they rendered very efficient service, not only with their
engine, but in assisting the police in preserving order among the crowd, which, as the
fire proceeded, increased to a considerable extent. The marines were followed in
turn by the Naval Hospital police, with their engine, under the charge of Inspector Hann.'
'There was no lack of water; everybody seemed to work with
cordiality, and the disposition of the reels and hoses was admirable.'
'At five o'clock the interior of the edifice was a mass of
flames, and the heat on all sides was intense. On the eastern side of the chapel,
and with only two or three yards between the two buildings, is situated the Roman
Catholic Convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame, and opposite the western wall are the
houses forming one side of Anstis-street. The Convent, of course, from the first was
in extreme danger, and the sisters and lady boarders who form the inmates were in great
consternation. And not without cause, for notwithstanding the constant stream of
water poured upon the side of the building contiguous to the chapel, the framework of the
windows -- fortunately composed of iron -- was scorched, the glass broken, and the heavy
baize curtains with which the casements were shaded were destroyed by the heat.
Shortly after the reels were got to work Inspector Farmer directed the sisters and other
inmates to remain at the eastern end of the building and promised to warn them in case the
danger increased. This considerably allayed their forebodings, and they afterwards
rendered kindly and welcome aid in dispensing hot coffee and refreshments to the men who
were working in their neighbourhood.'
'Nor were they alone in these good offices, for the
occupants of the houses in Anstis-street and Wyndham-street were similarly exployed (sic)
during the fire.'
'The Town Brigade with a great deal of tact and energy
directed their attention chiefly to the front and western side of the chapel. The
engine from the Naval Hospital, with the assistance of a length of hose from the Town
Brigade, did excellent service on the eastern portion of the front. Mr Brooks, of
the West of England Brigade, on his arrival on the ground was informed of the whereabouts
and danger of the caretaker's cottage at the rear of the sanctuary, and immediately took
his men to the spot. This was a very important point, as, jutting out from the
chapel, it almost touched the eastern wall of the convent. By a well-directed supply
of water into the dwelling, though the wooden doorway communicating with the chapel was
destroyed, the caretaker's house and the two vestries remained intact. This was a
more important salvage than appears on the face of it, because the deacons' vestry
contained an iron safe in which were the papers and valuable documents connected with the
church, all of which were, of course, preserved. It should be added in this
connection that the Royal Marines rendered material and valuable assistance to the west of
England Brigade in saving the cottage and the vestries.'
