EXCITING ESCAPES

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 179, 28 July 1916, Page 6

EXCITING ESCAPES

FROM BIG SYDNEY FIRE. DAMAGE REACHES £150,000. BRIGADES' GOOD WORK. (Australian and N.Z- Cable Association.) SYDNEY, July 27. The fire that destroyed the premises of James Stedman, Ltd., confectioners, was the largest that has broken out in the city for many years. The "brigades made a splendid save. Stedman's, a three-storey building, stretching from Clarence Street to Kent Street, was packed with highy-inflam-mable material and much valuable machinery. It was surrounded on all sides by large buildings. Stedman's premises were gutted, and the Hotel Grand Central was severely damaged. Fifty or sixty rooms on the upper floors were destroyed by fire, and almost the whole building was saturated with water. Edwards and Dunlop's warehouse on one side of Stedman's building, and David Mitchell and Company's building, on the ott.r 6ide, were slightly damaged by fire. The owners are heavy losers by water. Other sufferers to a less extent are Parsons Brothers, jam manufacturers, and the proprietors of a soap factory. Falling walls disorganised the telephone and telegraph service. There was great excitement in the Grand Central Hotel, the sleepers on the top floors being roused by the flames breaking windows and t>y clouds of smoke, and some had difficulty in reaching the staircase. Many boarders escaped in the scantiest raiment, and two invalids were carried out. There were some narrow escapes. Stedman's insurances total £82,546. including £3000 in the New Zealand office and £3000 in the South British. At the time of the outbreak Mr. Stedman and his wife were at the hospital, at the deathbed of their son, and were not aware of the fire. After the death of their son they made their way to the scene of the fire, and discovered that a double misfortune had befallen them. It is estimated that the total damage amounted to £150,000.