Chapter III

Destruction of Royal Exchange--Sale of the salvage--Spring-heeled Jack and his pranks--Lord John Russell's hat.

As a sad pendant to the Civic festivities at the close of 1837 comes the destruction by fire of the Royal Exchange on the night of the 10th of January following.

It was first noticed a little after 10 p.m., when flames were observed in Lloyd's Coffee Room in the north-east corner of the building, opposite the Bank, the firemen of which establishment were soon on the spot, as well as many other of the metropolitan engines. But, before any water could be thrown upon the building, it was necessary to thaw the hose and works of the engines by pouring hot water upon them, as the frost was so very severe; so that, by 11 p.m., all Lloyd's was a mass of flame. Nothing could be done to stop the conflagration, it having got too great a hold, and great fears were entertained that it would spread to the Bank and surrounding buildings, the which, however, was fortunately prevented. The Lord Mayor was present, and a large body of soldiers from the Tower assisted the Police in keeping the crowd away from the immediate scene.

It must have been a magnificent sight, and somewhat curious, for amidst the roar of the flames, and until the chiming apparatus was destroyed, and the bells dropped one by one, the chimes went on pealing "There's nae luck about the house," {23} "Life let us cherish," and "God save the Queen." The fire was not completely got under until noon the next day, but, practically, the building was destroyed by 5 am., and, so bright was the conflagration, that it was visible at Windsor--twenty-four miles off, and at Theydon, in Essex, a distance of eighteen miles; whilst from the heights of Surrey on the south, and Highgate and Hampstead on the north, the progress of the fire was watched by crowds of people.

The following account of the Exchange after the fire is taken from the _Times_ of 13 Jan.:

"Yesterday afternoon the ruins of the Exchange were sufficiently
cooled to allow the firemen and a party of gentlemen, amongst whom we
noticed the Lord Mayor, Mr. Alderman Copeland, several members of the
Gresham Committee, and other persons connected with the mercantile
interest, to inspect them. In consequence of the loose fragments of
stone work belonging to the balustrades and ornamental parts of the
building being covered over with ice, the difficulty of walking over
the ruins was very great, and the chief magistrate fell more than
once, receiving sundry bumps. The lofty chimnies standing appeared
to be in such a dangerous condition, that they were hauled down with
ropes, to prevent their falling on the people below. The iron chests
belonging to the Royal Exchange Assurance Company could be distinctly
seen, from the area, inserted in the walls. Ladders were raised, and
they were opened, when it was discovered that their contents,
consisting of deeds and other papers connected with the Company and
their insurances, were uninjured. This afforded much satisfaction to
the directors. Another iron safe, belonging to Mr. Hathway, whose
office, under the tower, was consumed, which was also in a recess in
the wall, was opened at the same time, and a considerable sum in
francs and bank-notes was taken out.

"The walls of the west wing of the building, which seemed to bulge
outward, were shored up in the afternoon, and they are not, now,
likely to fall. Cornhill presented a most desolate appearance, the
shops, from Finch Lane to the termination of the street near the
Mansion House, were all closed, and the place presented a deserted
and desolated appearance; which, contrasted with the bustle hitherto
observed during business hours, and the sight of the ruins, forced
very unpleasant reflections on the mind. Barriers were placed at the
Mansion House end of Cornhill, and across that part of the street
between Finch and Birchin Lanes, and no person was allowed to pass
except the firemen and persons on business. All the avenues leading
to Cornhill were also blocked up in like manner; and, at each
barrier, police officers and ward constables were placed to prevent
people passing. Various schemes were devised, by numerous
individuals, to pass these barriers, and sums were, occasionally,
offered to the police to be allowed to visit the ruins, but without
effect. The City police kept the thieves away by their presence and
activity, and the conduct of the people was, yesterday, very quiet,
forming a contrast with the disorder got up by the swell mob on
Thursday last. Those who viewed the ruins at a distance appeared to
wear an air of melancholy, and no fire has occurred, for centuries,
which has caused more universal regret.

"On searching the ruins under the Lord Mayor's Court Office, the
great City seal was picked up, with two bags, containing 200 pounds
in gold, uninjured. On this discovery being communicated to the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen, it caused much gratification, it having been
rumoured that the Corporation would lose their Charter by the loss of
the seal, but we did not hear it explained how this could be.

"Owing to the great body of fire underneath the ruins at the
north-east angle of the Exchange, it was impossible for the firemen
to ascertain, until a late hour, whether any injury had been done to
Lloyd's books, which were deposited in a large iron safe inserted in
the wall. Two engines had been playing on it during the latter
portion of the day. In the presence of several of the Committee it
was opened, when it was discovered that the fire had reached the
books, and partially consumed them. In the drawers were cheques on
the Bank of England to a large amount, and also Bank of England notes
to the amount of, it is said, 2,560 pounds. The notes were reduced
to a cinder, and, on the drawers being opened, the air rushing in on
the tender fragments blew them over the Exchange. They were,
however, very carefully collected, and the cinders of the notes were,
with much trouble and caution, put into a tin case, which was taken
to the Bank, and the words 'Bank of England,' with the numbers and
dates, were distinctly traced. The amount will, in consequence, be
paid to the owners. From what information could be obtained from the
gentlemen who took possession of the box, and who were understood to
be underwriters, it was the usual custom of the secretary not to
leave any money or notes in the safe, but to deposit the money in the
Bank, which was done on the evening the fire took place. The money
and notes above mentioned, and which were found in the safe, belonged
to a subscriber who, on the afternoon of Wednesday, asked permission
to deposit his money in the safe until the next day, which was
acceded to by the secretary. Some idea may be formed of his state of
mind on arriving at the Exchange on the following morning, to see it
on fire, and he was in a state of distraction until the finding of
the cinders of the notes yesterday, which has, in some measure,
calmed his feelings. The underwriters are severe sufferers, having
left sums of money, to a large amount, in their desks, which, no
doubt, will never be recovered.

"During the confusion on the discovery of the fire, in removing some
books from a room in the north-east corner, in addition to 500 pounds
in Bank of England notes, which were taken to St. Michael's Church,
twenty sovereigns, in a bag, were thrown out of the windows. The bag
broke, and the sovereigns rolled about the pavement; they were all
picked up by the mob, who appropriated them to their own use.

"It is firmly believed that the overheating of the stoves caused the
disaster which the nation has now to deplore. Wednesday was an
exceedingly cold day, and large fires had been kept up from morning
till night in the building. There is no doubt the fire had been
spreading, to some extent, in Lloyd's rooms, long before it was seen
in the street. Some few months back, two watchmen were on the
premises all night, but, on the miserable plea of economy, they were
discharged, and the sacrifice of one of the finest buildings in the
Kingdom has been the consequence. We believe that most of our
cathedrals and large public buildings are left without watchmen
during the night, and we hope that the fate of the Royal Exchange
will bring about a change in this respect."

The merchants, who used to congregate "on 'Change," were accommodated in the Guildhall, and the members of Lloyd's met at the Jerusalem Coffee House--but these arrangements were, afterwards, modified. The Royal Exchange Insurance Coy. took Sir James Esdaile's house, in Lombard Street.

_Times_, 4 Ap., 1838:--"THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.--Yesterday, the first day's sale of the materials of the Royal Exchange took place. It produced nearly 2,000 pounds. The porter's large hand-bell (rung every day at half-past four p.m. to warn the merchants and others that 'Change ought to be closed), with the handle consumed, and valued at 10/-, was sold for 3 pounds 3/-; the two carved griffins, holding shields of the City arms, facing the quadrangle, 35 pounds; the two busts of Queen Elizabeth, on the east and west sides, 10 pounds 15/-; the copper grasshopper vane, {27} with the iron upright, was reserved by the Committee; the alto relievo, in artificial stone, representing Queen Elizabeth proclaiming the Royal Exchange, 21 pounds; the corresponding alto relievo, representing Britannia seated amidst the emblems of Commerce, accompanied by Science, Agriculture, Manufactures, etc., 30 pounds; the carved emblematical figures of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, 110 pounds. The sale of the remainder of the materials, etc., it is understood, will take place in about a month."

In the Mansion House Police Court, on 10 Jan., the Lord Mayor announced that he had received five letters relative to an individual who was going about the metropolitan suburbs frightening females to such an extent that they were afraid to go out at night, as they were met by a man, who, under different disguises, would suddenly appear before them, and as suddenly disappear with terrible bounds, which earned him the name of "Spring-heeled Jack," and he inspired such terror, that the recital of the victim had to be taken with caution. Whoever he was, or why he so acted, was never known, as he was never taken; but, certainly, robbery had no part in his escapades, for he was quite content with paralysing the poor women with fright.

The first facts I can gather about Jack are at the latter end of 1837, at Barnes, where he appeared as a large white bull; at East Sheen he was a white bear; he then visited Richmond, and after having terrorised that town, he went to Ham, Kingston and Hampton, where he was clad in brass armour, with large claw-like gloves. Teddington, Twickenham and Hounslow were all visited by him, and at Isleworth we hear of him wearing steel armour, in which he seems to have been attired when seen at Uxbridge, Hanwell, Brentford and Ealing. At Hammersmith he took the form of a huge baboon, and as such was seen in the moonlight, dancing at Kensington Palace, ever and anon climbing over the forcing houses. He varied his localities frequently, one day being at Peckham, another at St. John's Wood, and anon at Forest Hill.

This about brings up to the time of its being mentioned by the Lord Mayor, the consequence of which was that a Committee was formed at the Mansion House for the purpose of receiving subscriptions and deciding upon the best means of capturing this erratic genius. Probably feeling that he had sufficiently terrorised the districts before mentioned, he turned his attention to the East end of London, and particularly favoured Bow. A case is given in the _Times_ of 23 Feb. A gentleman named Alsop, living between Bow and Old Ford, appeared before the police magistrate at Lambeth Street (then the Thames Police Office) accompanied by his three daughters, one of whom stated that at about a quarter to nine o'clock on the evening of the 21st February, 1838, she heard a violent ringing at the front gate of the house, and, on going to the door to see what was the cause, she saw a man standing outside, of whom she enquired what was the matter. The person instantly replied that he was a policeman, and said, "For God's sake bring me a light, for we have caught Spring-heeled Jack here in the lane." She returned to the house, and brought a candle, and handed it to the man, who was enveloped in a large cloak: The instant she had done so, he threw off his outer garments, and, applying the lighted candle to his breast, presented a most hideous and frightful appearance, vomiting forth a quantity of blue and white flame from his mouth, his eyes resembling red balls of fire. From the hasty glance which her fright enabled her to get at his person, she observed that he wore a large helmet, and his dress, which appeared to fit him very tightly, seemed to her to resemble white oilskin. Without uttering a sentence, he darted at her, and catching her partly by her dress and the back part of her neck, placed her head under one of his arms, and commenced tearing her clothes with his claws, which she was certain were made of some metallic substance. She screamed out as loud as she could for assistance, and, by considerable exertion, got away from him, and ran towards the house to get in. Her assailant followed, and caught her on the doorstep, when he again used considerable violence, tore her neck and arms with his claws, as well as a quantity of hair from her head; her story was fully corroborated by her parents and sisters, and her injuries, which were very considerable, bore unmistakable testimony to the truth of the assault.

At the same police court, on 8 Mar., 1838, a Miss Scales deposed that as she and her sister were walking in Limehouse, about half-past eight in the evening, on coming to Green Dragon Alley, they observed some person standing in an angle in the passage. She was in advance of her sister at the time, and just as she came up to the person, who was enveloped in a large cloak, he spirted a quantity of blue flame right in her face, which deprived her of sight, and so alarmed her, that she instantly dropped to the ground, and was seized with violent fits, which continued for several hours. In this case no violence to the person was done.

He had a literature of his own. I know of three pamphlets on the subject; one, from which is taken the accompanying illustration, is entitled "Authentic particulars of the awful appearance of the London Monster, alias Spring-heeled Jack, together with his extraordinary life, wonderful adventures and secret amours. Also an account of his horrible appearance to Miss N--- and his singular letter to the Lord Mayor of London."

[Picture: Spring-heeled Jack. Awful representation of the London
monster]

There is much more to be related of Jack, but space will not permit; but, whether too much attention was beginning to be paid to him with a view to his capture, or whether his love of mischief had died out, cannot be told; but certain it was that nothing was known publicly of this singular being after April, 1838, having kept London in a ferment of excitement and terror for about six months.

There is an amusing police case anent Lord John Russell's hat.--_Times_, 8 Feb.:

THAMES POLICE COURT.--Yesterday, a poor woman, named Mary Ann Blay,
who stated that she resided at Limehouse, applied to Mr. Ballantyne
and Mr. Broderip, the magistrates, to request their interference
under very odd circumstances. The applicant stated that, about three
or four months ago, she was on her way home from Poplar, where she
had been purchasing some vegetables, when she saw something black
lying on the ground. She first supposed it was a piece of coal, but,
on stooping to pick it up, discovered it was a hat. She walked
onward, with the hat in her right hand, until she reached the
Commercial Road, when she was met by a policeman, who asked her where
she had got the hat. She informed him that she had picked it up at
the corner of the New Road, and the policeman looked at it, and saw
the name of Lord John Russell in the inside. He demanded the hat of
her, and, on her refusing to give it up to him, he seized the hat,
and took her into custody. She was locked up in the station houses
and, on the following morning, was brought before the sitting
magistrate at that office. The justice, after hearing the
policeman's statement, directed her to be discharged, and gave orders
that the hat should be detained for a certain time, in the station
house; and, if no owner was discovered, that it should be given up to
her. She had, since, made repeated inquiries of the police, but
could obtain no information from them, nor any redress for the false
imprisonment she had suffered.

Mr. Ballantyne asked the applicant if she was sure the hat belonged
to Lord J. Russell.

The woman said there had been a whitebait Cabinet dinner at Mr.
Lovegrove's, West India Dock Tavern, Blackwall, on the night she
found the hat, and Lord John Russell was one of the party.

Mr. Ballantyne: Well, I don't understand how his Lordship could lose
his hat at the corner of the New Road.

The woman said it was supposed that Lord J. Russell had put his head
out of the carriage window, and looked back to see if his friends
were following him, when his hat fell off his head, and, as he was a
Lord, he would not stop until it was picked up again (laughter).

Mr. Ballantyne: What do you want me to do in the matter?

The applicant said she wanted to know to whom the hat belonged.

Mr. Ballantyne: Why, I should say it belonged to Lord John Russell.

The woman said the hat was worth a guinea, and that if she had
accepted 5/- from the policeman, and given it up to him, he would not
have taken her into custody. She thought it was very hard to be
subject to such tyranny because she had picked up Lord John Russell's
hat, for she had done no harm to the crown of it. She supposed Lord
John Russell was in liquor, or he would have ordered his carriage to
stop, and picked up his hat. (Roars of laughter, in which the
magistrates could not help joining.) "You may laugh," said the
woman; "but it's all true what I say; you may depend upon it, the
Ministers don't eat whitebait without drinking plenty of wine after
it, you may be sure. (Increased laughter.) I don't know why the
gentlemen laugh, I am sure. I was locked up all night away from my
husband and children."

Mr. Ballantyne said it was very singular the woman could not
recollect what night it was she picked up the hat, and the number and
letter of the policeman who took her into custody.

The applicant said she was too much alarmed at being locked up in the
station house, and brought before the magistrate, to recollect what
night it was, or the policeman's identity.

Mr. Ballantyne said it was a very odd affair, and he would direct the
books to be searched to ascertain when the woman was brought before
the magistrate.

Soon afterwards, the woman was again brought up.

Mr. Ballantyne said, it appeared from the minutes that she was
brought before him on Tuesday, the 3rd of October last, on suspicion
of stealing a hat, and that the policeman said that he had stopped
her at two o'clock in the morning with the hat in her possession. It
appeared that he had discharged her, but no mention was made of the
hat belonging to Lord John Russell. If that fact had been mentioned
to him, he would have ordered the hat to be restored to his Lordship
immediately.

The Applicant: I am sure it is his Lordship's hat. There is Lord
John Russell inside of it, quite plain; it's a new one.

Mr. Ballantyne: Very well; an inquiry shall be made about the hat,
and you can attend here to-morrow, and we will let you know what has
become of it. I think Lord John Russell has the best claim to the
hat, if he has not already got it.

The sequel:

_Times_, 10 Feb.:--On Thursday, Mary Ann Blay again appeared before
Mr. Ballantyne upon the subject of Lord John's hat. She adhered to
her old story, that the hat had the noble Home Secretary's name in it
when she picked it up, but it had, subsequently, been torn out, after
it was taken out of her possession. Mr. Ballantyne examined the hat,
and said it was a dirty, greasy hat--a boy's hat, and that he would
not give 6d. for it. The policeman who took the woman in custody
declared that the woman's statement was, altogether, a fabrication,
and that the hat never had the name of Lord John Russell in it. Mr.
Ballantyne said he would make no order about the hat; and, if the
woman thought she had been wrongly imprisoned, she might seek her
remedy elsewhere.