DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 11 December 1923, Page 7

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

MOUNT EDEN ROAD BLAZE.

BLOCK OF SHOPS BURNED. BRIGADE WORK AGALNST BIG ODDS. A CURIOUS INCIDENT. Three shops were almost totally destroyed by fire and a fourth one gutted last night, as the result of an outbreak in Mount Eden Road at about five minutes past ten. The blaze was spectacular to a degree, and fully 2000 people were quickly drawn to the scene. Situated just below the intersection of Shaddock Street, and immediately opposite the Mount Eden Baptist Church, the block of twostoreyed shops stood on a site elevated above that of the contiguous residential I area, and even before the Fire Brigade arrived the conflagration had assumed such proportions that within a radius of five or six hundred yards the locality was as brighly illuminated as a ballroom. The City and Mount Eden Fire Brigades arrived almost simultaneously, to be greeted with cheers by the large crowd. Prompt though their advent was, the firemen ran out their leads of jiose before a block of buildings so much in the grip, of the flames that to save them was impossible. They went to work quickly and skilfully, but were hindered by inadequate water pressure. Compared with the sky-soaring tongues of flames the spurts of water directed at the building looked like a mere trickle. The nour being comparatively early, the occupants of the upstairs portion of the block escaped unharmed, though the exits of the families were necessarily speedy. Those occupying the block were: Rutherford, bootmaker; Mrs. Thompson, confectioner; Mrs. Vincent, bookseller and stationer; Jolly and Co., hind agents and dealers. The rear portion of Mr. Rutherford's shop was occupied as a dwelling by Mr. F. R. Gloyn, labourer. Five children, whose ages ranged from 18 months to 14 years, were in Mrs. Thompson's premises at the time, while Mr. and Mrs. Gloyn and three children, and Mr. and Mrs. Jolly's two small children were in another portion of the building. Ere the families

were aware of the outbreak the flames had obtained a good hold, but a hurried exit was made without mishap, Madeline Thompson helping the younger members of the Thompson family out of the burning building. A police constable helped an elderly lady out. Bravery of Firemen. The conflagration and the work of the brigades served to emphasise the bravery of the firemen. Bcinj; of wood the block burned fiercely. Panned by a breeze the flames licked out of the windows over the iron verandah, and the electric mains carried on posts in front of the latter structure were early in danger. The insulation caught alight, and the highlycharged wires threatened to snap at any moment. Beneath these the men of the brigade worked with the utmost fearlessness. A ladder, propped against the verandah, caught alight at the top, blazing merrily. The crowd, kept at a distance by the heat of the flames, the clouds of pungent smoke and showers of sparks, was sent scampering even further when two -wires burned through, and fell sizzling on the verandah roof and ground in a blaze of violet-coloured vapour. Mounting ladders, the firemen crawled along the verandah and sent gallons of water into the centre of the block, where the fire had its seat, while the brick dividing walls at each end were continually sprayed. At 10.25 p.m. come of the interior framework fell in with a crash. The proprietor of a butchery, next door to the blazing block, arrived about this time, and removed his scales, cash-register and books. When the water pressure was increased the blaze was subdued almost immediately. In the ensuing darkness a portion of the crowd became rather too bold and suddenly found themselves within range of an accidentally diverted hose. A good drenching resulted. The greater number of the onlookers thea drifted home, leaving the Mount Eden Brigade to finally quell the flames, the City Brigade retiring once the fire was in hand.

One of the Mount Eden Brigade, Mr. M. C. Surman, was badly shaken by a fall through the breaking of a board he end another fireman were standing on, but beyond the shaking he was not hurt. The Insurances. Although several of the insured the loss over and i.bove the amount covered will be considerable. The block of three shops belonged to the estate of the late A. R. Winstone. and was insured for £800. Mrs. Thompson had a policy of £200 in the Royal on

her stock, and Mr. Jolly had £250 in the Queensland on hie stock. The building occupied by Mr. Jolly is owned by Mr. \V. Stevens, of Kaukapakapa, and it is not known whether it is insured or not. AH concerned are heavy losers. Klansman or Madman? A curious incident is related by Mr. Jolly, one of the sufferers by the fire A few weeks ago, just after the Epsom School was partly destroyed a stranger entered Mr. Jolly's shop and delivered himself of an harangue which was laughed at by Mr. and Mrs. Jolly at the time, but is recalled now for its apparently sinister intent.

The stranger, who is described by Mr. Jolly as a middle-aged man of medium height and on the stout side in build, addressed himself to Mrs. Joliy, who was in the shop at the time. "I give you warning," he said, "I am connected with the Ku Klux Klan. These four shops are going to be burnt down. Take warning."

He emphasised his message with some further words of similar import and then walked away. Mr. Jolly, who was working at hie books in a room at the rear of the shop, saw the man, and also caught some of his words, but he states that he and his wife both regarded the man as a crank, and his utterances as the irresponsible talk of a man "with a bee in his bonnet." In short they laughed very heartily over the seriocomic appearance of their visitor and his dramatic announcement. To-day, however, the comedy has vanished, leaving the sinister menace in all its daunting ugliness, and the ashes of several business premises and homes as the grim earnest of the threat.