FIRE IN GREY-STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 23 October 1882, Page 2

FIRE IN GREY-STREET.

A sinO-.-storied tenement situatrd in Grey-street, between Foster's boot factory and Gilbeit's butchery, which stands at the comer of Brewer's Lane, narrowly escaped destruction by fire last night through the accidental upsetting of a lighted kerosene lamp. Just before 9 o'cbck, the occupant, Mr Jamas Clarkson, n dealer in second-hand clothes, was about to descend the short flight of steps that lead from the back door Io the yard, when he stumbled, and a krrosene lamp he held in bis baud fell upon the floor and broke to pieces. The oil instantly caught fire and spread rapidly oyer theflooH Mr Clarkson. hurriedly sought to grasp the portion of the lamp containing the wick, aud to extinguish tbe blazing mass, but ho only managed to hum his hand. Seeing that he: was powerless to arrest the spread of tbe fire, he ran into the back room where his little sou was sleeping, Bnatched tho child out of bed, and rushing with hira to the y«rd lustily gave ont the alarm. A man named John Riordau and another whoso name we have not learnt answered the call almost immediately. Guided by tho glare of the fire they forced an entrance to the house by the fiont door, nnd throw opt into the street aquaurityot clothing that thiy found tanging on pegs, in : doing which they wore scorched severely by the advancing flames, Meanwhile the Grcy-slreet iiiebcll had been rung vigorously and a crowd quickly assembled, whiie tbo Fire Brigade alio promptly answered the summons, as well nsaporse of polic. and a detachment of the Naval Brigade under Capt, Le Roy aud Lieut. Smith. At this time the flames had burnt thiou^h tbe ceiling to the roof, but tho Fire Brigade very soon had a powerful jet of water playing upon- them, and from that stage the fire steadily abated, and iv a quaner - of -an - hour or »o, wa-. completely extinguished. The adjoining tenement, which is occupied by a general dealer named Marks was not injured. Mr N. Sims is tho owner of the prop _ty. Clarkson's furniture and stock are insurfd iv the Colonial for £75. It is very fortunate that tbe fire wa« so speedily checked, as ihe consequences must have been disa-trous hod it been allowed to spread io the adjacent buildings. The Fire Brigade are entitled Io praise tor their promptitude and enrr_etic exertions. ' ", There are six tenements iv the block, two ol which front Grey.street, and the'lot ac insured for £600,