From the Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 8 September, 1866.

SUDDEN DEATH.

On Tuesday last a sudden death occurred at the "Victoria Tavern." On Monday Mr. James Francis Janes, a window blind manufacturer, of Aldergate Street, London, arrived here from Margate, and took up a temporary abode at the above mentioned house. He was shortly afterwards taken ill, and in 38 hours he was a corpse. He was buried the next day.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 13 November 1869.

DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION. IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

One of the most alarming and destructive fires that has ever taken place in this town occurred on Wednesday night last. It commenced in or near the premises - a large wooden building - the property of Mr. Charles Hoult, mast and block maker, which were very speedily consumed, and the flames spreading rapidly communicated with the blocks of buildings on either side, continuing their work of destruction on the right as far as the Harbour gates, and on the left till they approached the premises of Mr. Josiah Reeves, another mast and block maker, which only escaped demolition by the timely pulling down of two storehouses adjoining. Had not the progress of the fire been by this means stayed, the consequences would perhaps have been the destruction of half of the town.

The total number of buildings that were consumed is said to be no less than 71, of which 25 were inhabited houses of larger and smaller dimensions, the remainder consisting of storehouses, workshops, and business premises. The principal of these buildings are the premises belonging to Mr. Hoult, as before stated, those occupied by Messrs. Daniels Brothers, sail makers, and Mr. J. Graves, sail maker, the Auction Mart belonging to Mr. J. T. Reeves, a large building belonging to Mr. J. Camburn, which is used as an office by the Whitstable Maratime Assurance Association, the "Victoria" public house (in the occupation of Mr. Marsh) and cottages adjoining, some ten houses pointing to Harbour Street, including the house and premises occupied by Mr. Woolley, baker, and the beer house in the occupation of Mr. Wheeler. ("Spread Eagle") All these and others were totally destroyed, and the scene of ruins which was afterwards presented was indeed sad to behold.

The spectacle which the conflagration produced during the time it was raging is beyond description. An eye witness - an old inhabitant of the town - speaks of it apart from the serious consequences which attended it, as truly magnificent as beheld from the Rock, and he states that the flames, extending as before described, so lighted up the sky that objects at a great distance might be seen almost as at midday. Seldom has this demon of destruction executed its direful work with such rapidity as on last Wednesday evening, which may be imagined from the fact that the fire did not break out till half-past ten, and that by half-past two the ruin was complete. Still this may be understood when the character of the majority of the buildings - composed as they were chiefly of timber and thickly tarred from top to bottom, with roofs covered with asphalte - is taken into consideration, and also the fact that the fire was urged on in its fury by the force of the wind, which was blowing strong from the North at the time. It is only surprising that the destruction was not even greater, and it is certainly fortunate that the shipping in the harbour, of which there was a considerable quantity, escaped.

The alarm had no sooner been given than the town Fire Brigade were on the spot with their engine, and in about a couple of hours four other engines arrived - the Kent and Norwich from Faversham, and the Kent and Phoenix from Canterbury - but they were unable to render assistance for some time for want of water, the only supply being from the sea, and the tide happened to be low at the time. When at length water could be procured all the engines went vigorously to work and did excellent service in checking the progress of the fire and ultimately putting it out.

As may naturally be supposed the excitement occasioned in the town was intense. Many were fearful that the wind might come round, as is often the case, from the East, and if this had happened other portions of the town would have been exposed to a similar fate as that which is now a mass of charred and blackened debris; consequently a large number of the inhabitants, though residing at distances from the immediate vicinity of the fire, took the precaution to remove their furniture and goods to places of greater safety, for which purpose carts, barrows, and all kinds of conveyances were brought into requisition, and loads of furniture were to be seen going about in all directions.

We regret to say that only in a few instances were the household goods of the occupiers of the demolished buildings rescued, but by far the greater portion of them lost all they possessed, having time only to escape with their lives. As the poor creatures turned out of their homes a most distressing scene was presented, many having barely sufficient clothing to cover them, and yet the night was as cold and bleak as the depth of winter. By some means they got shelter; those who were able to afford it doing so most cheerfully. Several persons lying dangerously ill had to be removed on stretchers and other means, and we regret to have to add that one of them, a young woman, the daughter of Mr. J. Waters, died before she reached the house of a friend, to which she was being taken. Another of the sufferers was a young woman who had only been confined a few hours before the occurrence of the fire. She was taken out of her residence in a state of unconsciousness, produced by fright, and in that state she remained for a considerable time afterwards. A young man, the son of Mr. Beckett, who had for a long time been stretched upon a bed of sickness, was removed upon a stretcher to the house of Mr. Robert Pettman, sen., in the High-street, and it was reported on Thursday that he, too, had expired, but on enquiry we learned that this was not the case, although the sufferer was in a very low condition.

To estimate the value of the property destroyed with any degree of correctness at present would be impossible, but we are informed upon good authority that it cannot fall short of £10,000. Most of the house property was insured, either in the Kent or Norwich offices, and we understand that by far the greater portion of the loss will fall upon the latter. As may be supposed the household goods of only a small proportion of the occupiers of the houses were insured, so that the consequences to them will be serious in the extreme. We sincerely trust that their case may be taken up by some influential gentlemen of the town, and that something may be done to alleviate their distress.

The origin of the fire is involved in mystery. Of course various reports are in circulation, but which is true it is impossible to decide. We must not omit to state that Mr. Walker, the active Superintendent of the Kent Constabulary of the Home Division, with a good staff of men, arrived on the spot soon after the outbreak and rendered efficient service in protecting the property of the inhabitants which was exposed to depredation.

In concluding our report of this sad disaster, we can but notice a very injudicious act on the part of the gas directors in giving instructions for the gas to be turned off at the works, the effect of which was to add to the consternation which prevailed by putting the town in utter darkness; and persons who were desirous of securing their property, instead of having "light in their dwellings," were obliged to do the best they could by groping about in the dark. What the motive for this proceeding could have been is a mystery, and should, we think, be explained.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 20 November 1869.

THE SUFFERERS BY THE LATE FIRE.

As we anticipated, little time has been lost in forming an organisation in behalf of the sufferers by the late fire, who in number are upwards of seventy, and whose distress is all that destitution can create. On Monday evening last a public meeting of the inhabitants was held in the Music Hall (which was kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. T. G. Browning), for the purpose, as the notice stated, of considering what steps should be taken to help the sufferers by the fire. The attendance was large, and comprised most of the leading townspeople and representatives of all religious denominations.

The Rev. H. W. Bateman, having been voted to the chair, opened the proceedings by referring to the recent calamitous fire, which had, he said, brought destitution and distress upon many families. He then proceeded to read a list of the most pressing cases calling for public help, as follows:

In Harbour-street: Carden, (beachman), wife and two children; lost everything but a few clothes, a bed, and two or three chairs.

Widow Carden and daughter; lost everything.

Robertson (seaman), wife and three children; saved only a few clothes and a chair or two.

Carlton (seaman), wife and infant; lost all but a few clothes.

Geo. Bryson (baker) and four children, and Geo. Bryson, wife and four children; both families lost nearly everything.

On the Wall: Widow Walker; lost all, barely escaping with her life.

Walker (seaman), wife and three children; lost all but a few clothes and a bed.

Fogg (shoemaker), wife and four children; lost nearly everything.

Smith (seaman), wife and two children; lost everything.

Hall (seaman), wife and one child; lost nearly everything.

Rigden (labourer), wife and eight children; saved but little.

Foreman (journeyman sail maker), wife and two children; saved about two-thirds; thrown out of work.

Marsh (journeyman mast maker) and wife.

Bishop (seaman) and wife, lodging at "Victoria Inn," belonging to Dover; lost everything.

Jenner (shoemaker); lost stock of tools, value £3.

Continuing his remarks, the rev. gentleman said he was pleased to see so large a meeting, and he was particularly glad to see upon the platform the Rev. W. J. Andrew, the minister of the congregational denomination in this town. He further mentioned that he had called upon the Rev. Mr. Vint, and the Rev. Mr. Danzy Sheen, the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist ministers, for the purpose of inviting them also to attend, and they would gladly have done so but for the previous engagements which necessitated their absence from town that evening. He felt quite sure that the pressing necessities of the numerous cases would excite the immediate sympathy of the meeting, and that steps would be devised for securing the assistance which was so much needed.