Ark

From the Dover Telegraph, 10 January 1863.

DESTRUCTION OF "THE ARK" TAVERN.

The unusual alarm of "fire" disturbed the repose of the inhabitant at the Pier end of the town about 2.15 a.m. on Wednesday morning last, and flames were seen bursting from the first floor window of "The Ark" in Beach Street opposite the “arrival” entrance of the South Eastern Railway Station. From the particulars we were enabled to collect at the time it appears that at two o'clock the policeman on duty (Jas. Johnson, No. 10.) passed through the narrow passage which runs by the side of the house into Sevenstar Street, and detected neither flame nor smell of fire.

The premises fronting Sevenstar Street have, at some by-gone period formed part and parcel of "The Ark" (formerly The Kent Arms Inn), but the portion of the house at the back or Beach Street has long been let as a private dwelling, and sub-divided into lodgings. About 2.06 a.m. the wife of a man named Oxley was aroused by one of her children, who had become alarmed at the loud cracking of wood and an unusual warmth in the apartment; she awoke her husband, who immediately gave an alarm to his neighbours, and secured the safety or his own family when he had ascertained the proximity of the danger.

The cry of "fire" was heard by two railway-guards (Abbott an Hilder) at the South-Eastern terminus, who were sleeping their time away until the departure of 4.30 a.m. train; two porters (Etall and Skinner) were also on the premises having but just previously attended to a landing of passengers from the boat, &c. One of the porters immediately proceeded to the residence of Mr. Carter, who has the superintendent of the Company's fire engine, whilst the others ran to the engine-house, and with no little exertion drew out the engine to within an effective distance of the burning house. By this time Mr. Way (the vigilant superintendent of the S.E.R. terminus), and Mr. Carter had arrived. Finding it impossible to obtain water from the town-mains, the doors of the station were thrown open, and the hose attached to the tank-pipe by which the locomotive boilers are filled front the enormous reservoir. It is to this promptitude the preservation of the surrounding neighbourhood may be mainly attributed.

The flames, had, however, obtained a complete mastery over the interior of "The Ark" — from the back room on the ground floor they penetrated a chamber on the first floor and into the apartments above, a strong current of air carrying them along the short passages and into the front rooms. The thin partition-walls offered but frail resistance to the devouring element, which soon burst into the premises No. 38, Sevenstar Street, and numerous residents in this densely-populated neighbourhood removed the most valuable portions of their furniture with an immense amount of danger.

The arrival of Superintendent Coram at the head of the police fire-brigade, and a large party of Volunteer firemen with the apparatus (followed by the fire-escape, which, however was not required), and the additional force of water poured upon the flames, speedily checked their progress. In the course of an hour they were suddenly subdued as to relieve all apprehension concerning the adjoining property; and at 4.30 the guards departed by the morning train, in their wet and dripping garments.

As soon as it was possible to effect an entrance, the origin of the fire was at once apparent. In front of the fireplace in the bar-parlour lay a partially consumed form upon which remained a number of burnt domestic articles as they had been placed to dry before a partially extinguished fire.

It was not a little singular, however, that the landlord and his wife (Mr. and Mrs. Ebor Emery) slept at an adjoining cottage, that the rooms (as far as may be judged by the deuris) had little furniture of importance.

The bar and cellar are entirely uninjured — these being the only portions of the place that are not entirely destroyed. The premises were insured for £500, in the Atlas office.

Mr. W. Jacobs, the local agent, has expressed by public advertisement his appreciation of the services rendered by the employees of the railway and the police.