A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
[" THE SPECTATOR," OCTOBER 27TH, 1838] On Monday evening, between six and seven o'clock, a fire broke out in the residence of Mr. Colenzo, Mathematical Master at Harrow School ; which was not extinguished till much property had been destroyed in various ways. From Mr. Colenzo's house the fire soon reached that of Mr. Wordsworth, and other buildings near to it. The supply of water was scanty, and almost every thing valuable belonging to Mr. Colenzo and Mr. Wordsworth—books, pictures, plate, linen, and clothing—was consumed. The boys boarding in Mr. Colenzo's house lost all their clothes and books. One boy, named Cunningham, dangerously ill, was removed with difficulty. The hose of some of the fire-engines was cut in several places (so as to prevent their working), by thieves who came from. London to plunder. the burning houses. No serious personal injury was suffered by anybody ; and most of the property was insured, chiefly in the County Fire-office. The damaged buildings were in the same style as the school' itself, and had been recently renewed at a considerable expense.
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