FRONT WALL BLOWN OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 181, 2 August 1929, Page 7

FRONT WALL BLOWN OUT.

SPECTATORS NOT INJURED. GREAT WORK BY FIREMEN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The fire last night was so spectacular that the crowd waited on for hours. Water appeared to have no effect at all, and long after the building had (been reduced to four brick walls flames were shooting up. There was flame all oyer a lake that had been formed on the footpaths, and on part of the road, islands of flame were raging. The firemen never gave way an jnch. As soon as the -flames permitted it they advanced. Earliest dawn found them still carrying on* A spectator who had watched the scene for hours paid, them a compliment in the vernacular, firemen certainly do their stuff," he said. The fire was blazing merrily all this morning, and' attracted thousands of spectators. The front wall was blown out during the morning, but no one was injured. Superintendent Warner states that three firemen had a narrow escape last night when taking a lead to the south door of the store. A petrol drum burst out, throwing them violently backwards and at the same moment a brick bagio crashed where the men had been standing a second previously. But for the I explosion they would probablv have been killed.