tremendous crash. For an instant the whole area was illuminated, and the
next moment a volume of smoke and ashes was sent forth which involved
for a short time everything in darkness and obscurity. From that time
till half-past ten portions of the roof kept falling in, till from the
lantern tower to the east window the blue vault of heaven was the only
canopy. The molten lead from the roof during this period poured down in
torrents.
Soon after ten o'clock an engine arrived from Escrick Park, near York,
the seat of Paul Beilby Thompson, Esq., M.P. That no time might be
lost, that gentleman's beautiful grey carriage horses were yoked to his
engine, and it was driven into the city with the utmost promptitude.
About half-past ten another engine arrived from Tadcaster, and was
immediately got to work. One of these engines was brought to the east
end, and played into the choir through an aperture made in the lower
department of the window; another also played for a short time through
the farthest window at the north-east end.
As great alarm was felt lest the east end of the Minster should fall, a
part of the staff of the 2nd West York Militia was placed to prevent the
public from passing in that direction; the inmates of the opposite
houses had previously removed their families. Providentially, however,
this alarm turned out to be unfounded. This fine window--the largest, we
believe, in England, if not in the world--was only very partially
injured.
The floor of the choir was strewed with fierce-burning timbers, and
resembled a liquid lake of fire; it was heated completely through, and
the vaults below glowed with a radiance that occasioned a general cry
from those who could get near, of "The vaults are on fire." But the heat
now began sensibly to abate, owing partly to the quantity of water
poured upon the burning timbers which covered the floor of the choir and
the Lady's Chapel behind the altar screen, and partly to the removal of
the burning rubbish from the bases of the pillars, which latter being of
limestone, were very much injured by the action of the fire. The rafters
of the roof, and other immense pieces of timber, were converted
literally into charcoal, and were removed to the nave and into the
Minster-yard.
About noon the fears of the fire spreading any farther were removed; but
the engines continued to play for hours after upon the mass of fire and
flame on the floor of the church. Great efforts were also made to save
the beautiful screen which divides the nave from the choir, and this was
effected, for that ornament of the Minster was only very slightly
injured.
About two o'clock the engine of the Norwich Union Company, with the
requisite number of men, arrived from Leeds. They had been barely two
hours on the road, and in less than three minutes after the engine
stopped in the Minster-yard it was at work. Two other engines arrived
from Leeds shortly after. A fourth arrived about four o'clock.
When the fire was so far got under that no fears were apprehended of its
extending beyond the choir and chancel, several parties were admitted
into the nave to view the spectacle. Some ladies were amongst them, one
of whom was heard to exclaim, on viewing the awfully splendid yet
distressing scene, "What a subject for Martin!" alluding to the
celebrated painter. Little did she then think that Martin's brother had
occasioned this terrible conflagration.
The crowds of people who flocked to the scene of this calamity continued
to increase all the afternoon, and it was found necessary to place
constables at the Minster doors, to prevent the influx of persons
desirous of seeing the state of the edifice; many arrived from a
considerable distance, and it was quite impossible that more intense
feelings of anxiety and distress could have been evinced than were
displayed by the inhabitants of York, who from their infant days had
been accustomed to consider the Minster as their boast and glory.
A great-aunt of mine has often described to me the overwhelming
sensation it caused. Her father, a man of remarkable self-restraint,
wept like a child. The feeling in many a home was as if some accident
had befallen and carried off a dearly-loved relation.
There was gloom that day on every countenance, and in the early part of
the day a sort of stupor appeared to pervade all ranks; people were
overcome by the greatness of the unexpected calamity, and seemed
scarcely to know whether to consider as real the events which were
passing around them, or whether they were under the influence of a
dream.
During the whole of the afternoon the workmen and others were busily
employed in removing the fallen rafters and other rubbish from the
choir. Most of these were carried out into the Minster-yard, which was
thickly strewed from the south door to the vestry with the fragments of
the roof, blackened and reduced to charcoal. Within the nave a
detachment of the Dragoon Guards was drawn up to prevent intrusion
there, and a guard of the staff of the 2nd West York was mounted for the
same purpose, as well as to secure the ornamental portions of that part
of the structure from damage. The floor of the nave was strewn with
fragments of the roof which had been brought from the choir; and against
one of the pillars lay the remains of the organ--a few fragments of the
gilt pipes and a portion of the iron work. A dense mass of smoke still
rose from the embers, on which several of the engines continued to play
during the night. The fire was not totally extinguished when the shades
of evening drew on, for occasionally a fitful flash of lambent flame was
seen struggling with the gloom, but was quickly extinguished by the
water from the engines directed to the spot.
During the evening the silence which reigned around, only broken at
intervals by the tread of the sentinels or the occasional remarks of a
passenger, formed a striking contrast to the bustle and confusion which
had prevailed during the day. About ten o'clock men were observed with
lanterns visiting every part of the roof, to see that all was safe; and
the night was passed without any further alarm.
A word as to the extent of injury which the sacred building sustained.
The roof of the central aisle, which was of exquisite workmanship, was
entirely destroyed from the lantern tower to the east window; this roof
occupied a space of 131 feet in length by 45 in breadth, and was 99 in
height from the floor of the choir. In the interior, from the organ
screen to the altar screen, all the beautiful tabernacle work, the
stalls, galleries, bishop's throne, pulpit, &c., were entirely consumed.
The altar screen was so much injured that it was obliged to be taken
down. Of the monuments, several were damaged either from the effect of
the fire or the falling of the timbers of the roof.
It is impossible to conclude this part of the subject without alluding
to the remarkable circumstance that one of the lessons appointed to be
read on the Sunday after this calamity at the evening service was the
64th chapter of Isaiah, being the Church's prayer to God. It was
singularly applicable to the fire which destroyed the Cathedral; one
verse especially--"Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers
praised Thee, is burned with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid
waste." Few in the congregations assembled in the numerous churches of
York on the Sunday evening heard it unmoved. Another thing, thought to
be a coincidence, but which is certainly a very remote one, was that the
Cathedral was fired by Martin on Candlemas Day, using one of the
wax-candles employed in the choir during evensong.
Various reports as to the origin of the fire circulated in York. Some
supposed it originated from the gas, others attributed it to the candles
left alight in the organ loft or in the vestry of the clergy. But others
suspected it was the work of an incendiary, and they were confirmed in
this belief by finding the knotted rope which had been left by Martin,
and was discovered early in the morning.
On Monday evening a committee of inquiry was formed, consisting of
clergy and gentlemen. They met at the Residence; and the vergers,
workmen, and other individuals connected with the Minster, underwent a
rigorous examination. The investigation was continued on Tuesday and
Wednesday, and the strictest secrecy was observed in the proceedings; in
the course of which it was ascertained that the rope was cut from the
one which is attached to the prayer-bell, and that not with a knife, but
by being chafed with a sharp stone. It was also ascertained that the
window was opened from the interior; and a bunch of matches, burnt at
both ends, was found among the rubbish, and afterwards a pair of
shoemaker's pincers. The matches were found under the rubbish of the
burnt organ; the pincers on the stool of the window out of which the
knotted rope was suspended. The fact was also proved that several
anonymous letters had been sent to the vergers; and also that the
parcel, with the letter and pamphlet before alluded to, had been found
in the Minster by a person from Hull. A gentleman was despatched to Hull
to obtain possession of these documents; but in the meantime they had
fallen into the hands of Mr. Isaac Wilson, of that place, who with great
promptitude came to York and laid them before the committee.
Mr. Pardoe, the active police officer of York, was employed to ascertain
to whom the shoemaker's pincers belonged, and they were owned by Mr.
Lawn, at whose house Martin had lodged. Other circumstances formed a
chain of evidence so complete and conclusive as to leave no doubt that
Jonathan Martin was the incendiary, and hand-bills were issued on
Thursday offering a reward for his apprehension. Pardoe had been
despatched to Leeds in pursuit the previous day, with a warrant from
Archdeacon Markham, which on his arrival was instantly backed by the
Mayor of the borough. For the rest of the day and during the night
Pardoe and the whole force of the police were employed in endeavouring
to find a clue to the retreat of the incendiary. They were not
successful; but on Thursday morning his wife was taken into custody
while vending the "History of his Life." When discovered by the
officers, she expressed her surprise at the charge against her husband;
and after admitting that he left that town on Saturday morning, said
that she understood, on his departure, he was going into the
neighbourhood of Tadcaster; that she had not heard of him since; and
that she had experienced great uneasiness at his long absence. She added
that his place of concealment, or anything further connected with the
affair, was totally unknown to her. She was kept in custody at Leeds, in
her own house, in the charge of two constables, who obtained possession
of all Martin's books and papers.
On Thursday morning information was received which caused an express to
be sent off to the neighbourhood of Pontefract, where an active and
diligent search was commenced. A clue was obtained, which led to the
belief that the incendiary had passed through Pontefract on the road to
Wakefield. The Mayor of Pontefract ordered the police of that town to
afford every assistance to the gentlemen in pursuit, and he was traced
to Polston toll-gate. From the information there obtained it was
supposed he had taken the direction to Heath; and the pursuit was
immediately followed up in that direction, and continued through most of
Friday. It was reported in the evening about seven o'clock that Martin
had been captured about five miles from Bedale, and would be brought
into York by the Carlisle Express coach. The coach was half-an-hour
beyond its time, and the streets were filled with crowds of anxious
spectators, who waited in the expectation that the incendiary would
arrive by it. Many persons went out of Micklegate Bar, and ran alongside
of the coach till it stopped in Coney Street. It was then found that the
report was an erroneous one, for Martin was not there; nor was it true
that he had been captured.
On Saturday morning it was ascertained that the police had been on a
wrong scent, as Martin had proceeded to the north instead of to the
west; and about half-past nine o'clock that morning an express was
received stating that he had been arrested the previous evening near
Hexham. The following are the particulars of his flight and capture:
Martin left the Minster, as has been stated, a little after three
o'clock in the morning. He proceeded to Easingwold and got a pint of
ale; from thence to Thirsk, at which place he arrived at eleven o'clock;
from Thirsk he went to Northallerton, where he arrived about three
o'clock in the afternoon in a state of apparent fatigue. He remained
till evening with a brother in-law who resided there, and expressed
great anxiety to get on to Hexham to see a friend. At nine that evening
he left Northallerton in a coal cart, in which he travelled all night
till he arrived at Joft-hill pit, near West Auckland, on the Watling
Street road. The next morning he proceeded to Alensford, on the Derwent,
where he slept on the Tuesday evening. He left Alensford about eight
o'clock on the Wednesday morning, and stopped at the Riding Mill, where
he had a pint of ale; from thence he proceeded to Corbridge, where he
arrived about twelve o'clock, and had half-a-pint of ale; and then went
to Cadlaw Hill to his friend Mr. Kell, where he arrived about two the
same afternoon, being the same place where he sought refuge when he
escaped from the asylum at Gateshead. Martin remained there till eleven
o'clock on Friday morning, and during his stay he expressed a great
anxiety to see newspapers.
The handbills giving a description of Martin's person, and offering a
reward for his apprehension, were circulated in all parts of the North;
and one of them fell into the hands of Mr. Stainthorpe, a sheriff's
officer, of Newcastle, who knew him. Mr. S., on Friday, the 6th, having
to go to Corbridge, heard that Martin had returned home, but did not at
that time know there was any charge against him. Returning to Hexham,
where he kept a public-house, Mr. S. found the handbill lying on the
table; and he immediately saddled his pony and set off to Mr. Kell's,
where he felt satisfied he would find him. The house, called Cadlaw
Hill, is situated between Stagshaw Bank and Hexham, on the north side of
the Tyne. It is a house situated by itself, and had Martin not been well
known in the neighbourhood, it might have afforded concealment for some
time. On alighting he inquired of a young woman who was standing at the
door if Jonathan Martin had got home. The family, it would seem, were
not aware of the crime he had committed, as the bailiff was readily
answered in the affirmative. On receiving this information he bolted in,
and found Mr. Kell and Martin sitting together, the latter engaged in
reading a hymn-book. They both rose on his entrance, and he, accosting
Martin, asked, "Is not your name Jonathan Martin?" He immediately
replied, "Yes, it is." On which Mr. Stainthorpe said, "You are my
prisoner." Martin displayed very little emotion, nor did he even ask why
he was made a prisoner. Mr. Kell was greatly surprised, and asked Mr.
Stainthorpe what Martin was charged with. He replied he was not at
liberty to tell him; but that he should require his assistance to convey
the prisoner to Hexham, on reaching which place he would give him every
information necessary. Mr. Kell readily agreed, and the prisoner as
readily seemed disposed to take the road. The first question he asked
Mr. Stainthorpe was, "Do you belong to York?" Mr. Stainthorpe replied in
the negative, and cautioned him not to say anything that might criminate
himself. On their coming in sight of Hexham, from which Cadlaw Hill is
distant nearly four miles, Martin, pointing to Highside House, two miles
from Hexham, said, "Yonder is the house in which I was born;" and seeing
the church of Hexham, he exclaimed, "That is a fine old church. Did the
Catholics build that too?" On the way Martin asked if any York papers
came to Hexham. And also he said to Mr. Stainthorpe, "Am I advertised in
the Newcastle papers?" On being told he was, and also that he was
charged with burning York Cathedral, he readily said _he had done it_;
and he added, "As soon as I knew I was advertised, I intended to tell
everything." On reaching the House of Correction, Martin's bundle was
opened, when it was found to contain part of the valuable crimson
fringe, &c., which he said he had cut away from the pulpit, or some part
of the Minster, a small Bible which he had brought away at the same
time, and a piece or two of the painted glass of the Minster. An old
razor was found in his pocket, with which he said he cut the crimson
fringe, &c., and with which also he struck the fatal light by which he
was able to fire the Minster. There were found also seven copies of his
Life, but only one penny of money. He appeared up to the moment of his
apprehension to have been profoundly ignorant of the extent of the
injury he had occasioned; but on a gentleman telling him he had totally
destroyed the Cathedral, his countenance brightened, and the news seemed
to exhilarate him. He exclaimed, seemingly pleased, "Have I?" After he
was lodged in the House of Correction an express was sent off to York
with the intelligence.
It was whilst he was in the House of Correction at Hexham that Mr.
Wilson (of whom mention has been made) visited him, in company with Mr.
Stainthorpe. Mr. Wilson asked him whether his desire to see the
newspapers at Cadlaw Hill arose from an anxiety for self-preservation.
He replied, "None whatever;" but as he was ignorant what effects had
been produced by the fires he had kindled, he was anxious to know; on
which Mr. Stainthorpe said the damage was estimated at £100,000. He
coolly said, "If it were not for the glory of God, if that could be
promoted, £200,000 would not have been too much, and that in his opinion
it would have been well if all the Minster had gone together, as the
worship carried on in it was idolatrous and superstitious." He declared
that he was quite happy and fully resigned to his situation, and "would
give himself up into the hands of the Lord."
Such had been the demonstration of popular feeling shown by the persons
collected at different times to wait the coaches coming in when Martin
was expected, that the magistrates very prudently arranged that he
should arrive in York early on Monday morning, and that the examination
should take place immediately on his arrival. It was as near as possible
half-past three o'clock when Mr. Newstead and Pardoe arrived with their
prisoner in a post-chaise at the Session House in the Minster-yard. He
was taken into the room occupied by Harrison, the keeper of Peter
Prison, where he seated himself on a chair with his hands clasped, his
feet elevated on the fender, and his eyes closed. Mr. Pardoe asked him
if his feet were cold; to which he replied "Yes"; and this was the only
word he spoke till the examination commenced. He was dressed in a blue
coat and trousers, with a drab great-coat. He had by no means the
appearance of a "stout man," as described in the bill; but the person
where he lodged said he had fallen away very much in that short period.
It was half-past four o'clock when everything was arranged for
examination. The magistrates took their seats on the bench, and Martin
was placed at the bar; the warrant under which he was apprehended was
read over to him, and the depositions of witnesses were also read.
It is unnecessary here to give the evidence either on this occasion or
at the subsequent trial. On being asked what he had to say for himself,
he made the following confession in a firm tone of voice:--
"The reason that I set fire to the Cathedral was on account of two
particular dreams. In the first dream I dreamed that a man stood by me
with a bow and a sheath of arrows. He shot an arrow, and the arrow stuck
in the Minster door. I then wished to shoot, and the man presented me
the bow, and I took an arrow from the sheath and shot, and it struck on
a stone and I lost it. In the second dream I dreamed that a cloud came
down on the Cathedral, and came over to the house where I slept, and it
made the whole house tremble. Then I woke; and I thought it was the hand
of God pointing out that I was to set fire to the Cathedral. And those
things which were found on me I took lest any one should be blamed
wrongfully. I took them to bear witness against myself; I cut the
hangings from the throne, or cathedra, or whatever you call it, and tore
down the curtains."
Here he stopped rather abruptly, and being asked whether he had anything
more to say, he replied, "No."
During the whole of the proceedings Martin appeared perfectly calm, and
stood with his eyes closed nearly the whole of the time, his head
inclining over the right shoulder.
His committal was then made out, and signed by Mr. Dickens, the
chairman, and the Rev. D. R. Currer, and he was removed to the City
Gaol, and given into the custody of Mr. Kilby, to remain till the
Assizes.
After Martin was committed to the charge of the gaoler on the morning
of the 9th of February, he breakfasted and went to bed. His sleep was
sound and tranquil, and he awoke much refreshed and in good spirits.
Strangers were not admitted to see him. Next day he appeared greatly
depressed, and was very anxious to avoid public observation. He attended
prayers in the chapel during the morning. The next day, however, he
refused to attend the chapel. Subsequently he was visited by the Rev. G.
Coopland, the chaplain, in his day-room, who found that so deeply rooted
was his aversion to the Liturgy of the Church of England as to leave him
no reason to doubt that a forced attendance during the chapel service
would be much more likely to prove injurious than beneficial to his own
mind. Besides, he thought it not at all improbable that were he
compelled to attend, he might consider it his duty to interrupt the
service, and publicly to protest against a mode of worship which he
deemed unscriptural. Under these circumstances his attendance at chapel
was not enforced. He frequently prayed and sang hymns, and when the
order was relaxed by which strangers were prohibited from seeing him, he
entered very freely into conversation with them. He still pretended to
be favoured with extraordinary visions. On one occasion he said he
dreamed that two angels appeared to him in prison, one of whom told him
to apply his lips to the tip of his wings, which he did, when he was
immediately conveyed beyond the walls of his prison.
His brother arrived in York about ten days before the Assizes commenced,
to make preparations for his defence. The defence intended to be set up
was insanity; and a number of witnesses were collected with a view to
support this plea. Dr. Wake, at the request of his brother, visited him
on Friday, the 20th. Up to this period his conduct had been extremely
mild, and his feelings composed; but a little change had been observed
for a day or two previous, and that night, about twelve o'clock, he
attempted to make his escape. He slept in what was called the Hospital
Room--a room in which there were two beds, a person who was appointed as
his guard sleeping in one of them, and Martin in the other. The guard
fell asleep about half-past eleven o'clock, and was soon after awoke by
a knocking, apparently outside the room. Not apprehending anything, he
went to sleep again; and Martin, having torn his bed-rug into lengths,
tied them together, and formed a rope about nine yards long. He fastened
this round his ankles, and having on only his shirt and his drawers, he
ascended the chimney. An iron grate which was fixed in near the top
prevented him, however, from getting to the outside of the prison, and
he was obliged to descend again. He then placed his sooty shirt under
the bed, swept the soot into the same place, and put on his flannel
dress, and retired to bed. The attendant, on awaking about two o'clock,
found him up, but he soon lay down again; and both rose at half-past six
o'clock. Almost as soon as the door was opened Martin bolted out, and
went into the yard. His attendant, alarmed, followed him, and found him
washing himself. The state of the room and of his person, together with
two bricks being laid in the fire-place, proved the fact that an escape
had been attempted. Indeed, when charged with it, he did not deny it. He
said, if he had been a smaller person he should have effected his
escape; but that it was the "will of God" he should make the attempt,
and be frustrated.
Of course, after this, a closer watch was kept upon the actions of the
prisoner.