An outbreak of fire, which might have had disastrous consequences occurred early yesterday morning at the factory of Messrs. Hyde and Co., Ltd., Glassbrook-road, Rushden. As it was, considerable damage was done.

  The fire was discovered at about 2a.m. by a police-constable in the department of the factory situated at the most remote point of the street, and the constable at once gave the alarm. A message was sent to the police-station, and thence by telephone to the telephone exchange and on to the fire-station. The caretaker at once called the Fire Brigade by the electric calls. This was at 2.16a.m. At 2.21 five men were on their way to the scene of the outbreak with the hose-cart, and the engine followed at 2.30. Horses having in the meantime been procured from Mr. Jas. Sargent, of the livery-stables, Duck-street, by telephone. Ten members of the Brigade were present, including Capt. F. Knight, Secretary G. R. Turner, Fireman C. E. Bayes, Engineer J. T. Colson, and Firemen Wheeler, Underwood, Whiting, Sparrow, Twelvetree, and Green.

  Prior to the arrival of the Brigade, excellent work had been done by neighbours in the way of checking the flames by means of buckets of water. The town water was turned off at the time, but the soft water cisterns, &c., in the vicinity were utilized as sources of supply. The Brigade, on their arrival, at once got on the roof and cut away a portion, allowing a more direct application of the water to the flames. Their efforts were at length successful, and no other means except those mentioned were utilized. Before the work was completed, the town water supply had been turned on, but there was no occasion for its use. The engine was, however, fixed in position, ready for emergencies, and lengths of the new hose were fixed to a standpipe at the top of Brookfield-road. The facility afforded in fixing the apparatus by the new instantaneous couplings was much appreciated by the Brigade.

  The members of the Brigade were able to leave the factory at 4.15 a.m., the fire then being quite out and everything safe.

  The roof of the last bay of the factory, together with interior woodwork, was burnt, and a considerable quantity of stock, &c., was spoilt by fire and water. The cause of the outbreak is not known, but it is surmised that a quantity of waste material under the engine tank ignited through spontaneous combustion.

  The damage is estimated at about £150, and is covered by insurance in the London, Liverpool, and Globe Office, of which Mr. J. Wykes Ashdowne is the local representative.

An earlier fire