Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 3rd type, silver, reverse inscribed, ‘To George Elsden, F.E. Condr. No. 11, for intrepidity in rescuing life, August 15, 1862. Case 7439’, swivel straight bar suspension, with ornate brooch bar, good very fine £340-380

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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‘Yesterday morning, between 1 and 2 o’clock, a dreadful fire broke out in one of the lofty mansions in Cumberland Street, Hyde Park, belonging to Mr S. W. Barrett. The house stands nearly opposite the Marble Arch ... At the time the fire broke out there were more than a dozen persons sleeping in the house. They consisted of Mr and Mrs Barrett, their children, governess, lady’s maid, nurse, general servants, and butler. .... About 12 o’clock ... a light was seen in the kitchen by a police constable who was passing. On closer examination he found that the house was on fire. He instantly sprang his rattle and rang the bell. In a few moments the front door was unbolted and opened by a person in his nightdress, who turned out to be Mr Barrett. He was only there a moment, for he reclosed the door and bolted it, and was not again seen alive. Shortly afterwards piercing sceams issued forth from the top part of the house, and loud cries of “Fire! Fire!” “Help! Help” from the upper windows. The flames had seized upon the whole of the staircase, thus cutting off all means of retreat by the regular way. The only chance left depended upon the early arrival of the Royal Society’s fire-escape. Fortunately, Conductor Elsden arrived with his escape in two minutes after hearing the call, and was quickly followed by Conductor Hutchings with another of the Royal Society’s escapes. Upon getting in front of the building they could see the smoke rolling from nearly every part of it, and at several of the windows were women and children screaming frantically for help. Elsden placed his machine in front of the house, and at risk of his own life entered the different rooms, and brought down in rapid succession a little child, four women, and an old gentleman. While he was so engaged the other conductor, hearing screams proceeding from the next house, pitched his machine against it, and having passed through some of the rooms ... found the governess of Mr Barrett’s family there almost stifled with smoke. He at once brought her down the escape and also three other persons. As the escape conductors were engaged in front, John Parsons ... procured a ladder ... and placed it against the back of the burning house. He managed by its means to save the lives of Mrs Barrett, her infant, and nurse. From her recent confinement Mrs Barrett was little able to exert herself. .... Loud cries were then made for the conductors to enter building and rescue Mr Barrett and his two children, who were still inside. The conductors both made for the first floor, but the flames were rolling out and curling round the window tops with such fury that they were fairly driven back .... All hopes of saving the three persons known to have been left behind in the building were therefore at an end, loud piteous screams were heard, apparently proceeding from some portion of the ground floor. Here an attempt was made to enter but without success, and in a few minutes the screams ceased, ... It then became manifest that these three unhappy persons had perished. .... It then became evident that the unfortunate gentleman, after closing the door, ran up the staircase to his daughter’s bedroom, and, getting her in his arms, returned to the front door to escape into the street. In his fright he had forgotten that he had bolted it, and had fallen in his struggle to get it open. ... the other daughter, aged 4 years ... was found in her cot in her bedroom, which was unburnt. She appeared to have died from suffocation. ....’ (Ref. The Times, 16 August 1862).

Sold with copied extracts from The Times, and extracts from the Society’s Minutes which record that Elsden was awarded the Society’s Silver Medal and 20 shillings; Hutchings was awarded a clasp to his medal and 20 shillings, and Parsons was awarded a Testimonial.