THE FIRE FIEND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 249, 20 October 1893, Page 3

THE FIRE FIEND.

DISASTROUS CONFLAGRATION,

PHCENIX FOUNDRY PARTLY

DESTROYED,

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £10,000.

: At .half-past eleven o'clock last night, a j ruddy tinb which gradually illumined tho , sky in the vicinity of lower Grafton Road, i and the subsequent pealing of many ) alarms, announced thab the tire fiend was , once again threatening destruction. Tho rapidity with which the glare increased in brilliancy betokened the presenco of a serious conflagration, and such ib proved to be. Before the fire was extinguished the valuable and extensive plant and half of the establishment known as the Phoenix Foundry (Messrs Georgo Eraser and Son's) hud been completely destroyed. Tho premises are in Stanley-street, in close pioximity to several other largo manufactories, which would probably have also been lost bub for the iavourablo circumstances. THE OUTBREAK. The outbreak was first discovered by tho watchman of the buildings, an elderly man named Robert Vorcoo, shortly after eleven o'clock. He noticed flames issuing from the second skylight in tho pattern loft, which was situate on bhe ton storey of the southern wing of the block, tho latter being in tho form of a quadrangle, with the connection on the wesb side and the gate facing Stanley-street. The watchman at once endeavoured to acquaint the Fire Bri:.»do station of tho occurrence by means of tho telephone, but the instrument refused to work, and valuablo timo was lost. The watchman then roused Mr George Frascr, whoso residence is close by, and the latter made a determined attempt to opon up communication through bho telephone, but tho flames and dense smoke whioh by thia timo had enveloped tho building, rendered his efforts futilo Luckily tho services of Mr P. A. Philips' tlephono, at his residence in Alien Road, wore available, and by thia means the Fire Brigade was intormod of the outbreak, alt-hong., it was towards midnight before bho Brigade arrived on the scone.' The Unities had then possession of the whole of bho wing, and woro rapidly spreading over tho entire block. ' By midnight llio flic was raging with intense fury, lighting up tho immediate vicinity in a lieroo yellow glaro, while the heavy crimson pall overhead must have been porcoptible tor miles round. Tho wholo of tho intorior of tho southern wing was simply ono ■LIVING SHEET OF FLAME. nto which tho immonso volumes of water —which wero soon pouring in continuous streams from half a dozen noz .1 es—seethod and hissed .vithout reducing tho heat to any appreciable extent, In fact, it soon boearno patent to tho liromon, polieemon and largo crowd who had rapidly eongrogatod, that that portion of tho foundry was doomed to complete destruction," and bhe liromon diroctcd their efforts to nullify the ed'ects of tho fire on the adjoining wings. The heat was intonso and thrso viewing tho truly magnificent sitrhb from a considerable distanco wore compelled to protect their facos. Thy oxertiona and trials of the liromon who were courageously lighting tho element almost on it. own ground, wero trying in tho extreme anil tho mon had to bo relieved at frequent intervals, Tho whole of tho surrounding district was Hooded with the dazzling and overpowering light, while tho reflection, which spread without interruption up the Grafton Road rise, brought tho Auckland Hospital, on its conspicuous ominonco, into bold and unique relief. Parallel, but lying in tho hollow, tho web-like structure of tho cemetery bridge wns plainly discernible, tho darkgreen fo)ia(_o of the native hn-:h with an occasional gleam of white marble making an indescribably picturesque background. Meanwbilo tho Brigade had found their work extremely trying and difficult. Pressing as closo to the blazing building as possible, thoy kepb tho hoso going on the outside edges in ordor to prevent tho lire from spreading from the building in which it commenced. Ever and anon the flames, fanned by tho broezo which was blowing with ominous force over tho higher land , and in gusty pull's along tho lowor levols, would come curling, licking towards tho i men, who wero continually driven back. Soioko rose in denso volumes, and showers of sparks shot skyward wherever a jet. of water was directed into tho burning mass. Tho building in flames contaiuoj .

THOUSANDS OF POUNDS WOIITII of splendid machinery, and thoro was also a great quantity of combu.tiblo material in tho shape of a valuable collection of wooden patterns, tracings a"d designs — the accumulations of thirty years of wide and ex--tensive e.xporioneo. Theso wero chiefly stored in tho top storey on tho western side of tho wing, and ib was thoro thab tho firemen worked hard to keep the devouring element from creeping along the rear building and reaching the opposite block on the sea side. A contingent of tho Brigade also entered tho yard of the foundry, and kept a hoso playing along the side of the wing facing the lire, the running water acting as a bailor to tho flames and preventing tho wooil from spontaneously igniting through tho intense heat. Other leads were distributed wherever they seemed most likely to bo of service, and by this means tho firo was confined to tho ono building. An hour subsequent to tho arrival of tho Brigade, iiio skoloton was blazing with undiminished fury, and the absence of a steady wind alono saved (ho largo works of the Auckland Fibre Company from a fiery fate. As it was, sparks innumerable and lumps of burning wood made tho danger to the factory an imminent) ono, and iho manager, Mr Johnston, and a number of employees were kept) busily engaged in subduing the spark.,, which gained an ingress through tho ventilators. Tho Salvage Corps, under Captain Fiold, also rendered valuable assistance, and anobher serious catastrophe was thus averted. liy half-past ono o'clock the greater part of the southern wing had collapsed ami .tho Brigade had the liames under control. Water was still kept pouring around bho outskirts ot the fire, and tho debris and wood were thoroughly saturated. Attention was then directed lo the plowing mass in the interior, and the effects of the water soon been mo noticeable in tho docreased glaro, which GRADUALLY DIED OUT, and allowed the pale light of tho moon to onco mo'ro reign supreme. Up to daylight: a detachment of the Brigade remained on tho spot and continued to play on the embers in case any further outbreak should occur. ORIGIN UNKNOWN. The origin of the -fire so far is unknown. The watchman slatos that ho was through the whole of tho southern block at Id. 15 p.m., and lefb everything apparently sate. Aboub an hour later he was startled to see the flames bursting through the skylight in the pattern loft, when ho at once attempted to give the alarm. The firo had then too strong a hold to bo extinguished by his efforts. Mr Fraser is likewise utiI nble to throw any light on tho cause of the j conflagration, in which was destroyed one of the most complete plants in the colony. The loss ot bho pattoms, tracings and designs is irretrievable, as they represented thirty years' patience, study and experience. Tho amalgamating pans and gold - saving plant, which were designed and patented by Mr Fraser, were saved through being ab the roar of the building. Ib is thoaghc that the firo may

have originated in the chemical depart. Mont, but this is only a cenjecturo.

WELCOME HELP,

The thoughtfulness and kindness of the British iiaiior wero exhibited in a very pleasant manner during the fire. A party of bluejackets from Her Majesty's punboafc Lizard, at presonb lying in the stream, were despatched to the scene with axes and other fire apparatus. -The danger was over when thoy arrived, however, but their kindly intentions were heartily appreciated. Their aid would have been extremely groat) had the occasion demanded it. The polics, who woro presenb in strong forco, had very littlo to do, tho boat being far more effective. The sightseers kept considerably to tho rear of the police cordon in which bhe Brigade carried on their arduous task without hamper. Stanley-street has now beon partially denuded of a very imposing block of buildings, and we hope for thosako of the manufacturing industry of Auckland that, like the bird of ancient Greek lore, tho Phcenix Foundry will rise once again in triumph from its ashes. INSURANCES. The general policy on the Phoenix Foundry was held by tho iNew Zealand Insurance Company, tho total amount boing £7,600. The ro-insurances are aa follows :—New Zealand, £1,250 ; South British, £1,000 ; Alliance, £1,000 ; Commercial Union, £750 ; Phoenix, £750 ; Imperial, £600 ; National^ £500; Victoria, £500: Norwich Union, £500 ; North British, £500 ; and Standard, £250; total, £7,000.