PICTURE THEATRE FIRE

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRE FIRE

A FILM CATCHES. OPERATOR SUSXSRS BURHS AFTER BRAVELY SUBDUING THE OUTBREAK. There was a mild eenaatlon In Queen Street this afternoon at a-qnarter to three o'clock, when a fire started in the operating box at the Queen's Theatre. There was a fair crowd in. the house at the time, and the glare which announced, a fire came -with startling suddenness. The theatre officials kept their heads, however, and the pianist (a lady) showed great presence of mind by continuing to play throughout the succeeding few minutes. Some of the more timid jreople in the audience made an immediate rush .for the doors, ibut it epoke volumes for the good sense of the crowd that tlrey either remained in their places, or pursued their way quietly to the exit*. .' ! > Meantime the flames bad caught the films and machine spoofe. The operator, Mr. George Dyer, was attending to the re-winding- gear of a separate machine when the fire started. He immediately tried to bring a patent fire extinguisher into operation, but the attempt was without avail.

The operating box was built of as-1 bestos, so that the flames could not very well extend to the theatre proper. Closing the door, Dyer proceeded to fight the. fire single-handed. He -was very badly burned about the hands and face, and "wag-in an exhausted and' fainting condition, though still doing his best, to beat down the flames when help: arrived. .

The city fire brigade had been summoned, but meantime Mr. Morris, of the theatre staff, had rushed .upstairs and" released a 'fire hose. He had to break open the operating room door, and a steady flow of water -wa* directed on the: flame*, which, -were extinguished jnst as the brigade arrived.

Dyer, after gamely fighting- the outbreak, fainted when the door was Broken open, .and was assisted into an adjoining chemist shop, where he received medical' attention. ■ His injuries were found to be very painful and severe.

The damage-by fire was confined to the operating, room, 'bat a considerable volume of -water found its way downstairs, doing some damage to the walls, carpets, and furnishing*. .