CRYSTAL PALACE GUTTED BY FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 7

CRYSTAL PALACE GUTTED BY FIRE.

LONDON BLAZE.

Spectacular Conflagration Seen for Miles. FAMOUS LANDMARK VANISHES United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 30. An outstanding landmark in southeast London, visible from eight counties, namely, the Crystal Palace, which was famous as a naval training school in wartime, spectacularly sunk into insignificance when destroyed by fire which, starting in the centre transept, quickly spread owing to the inflammable nature of the flooring, to the entire structure. Flames leaped to a height of 500 feet and sparks flew for two miles. The crash of woodwork and glass was audible still farther away. Thousands of sightseers congested the adjacent roads, thronged the Embankment and clustered on the terrace of the House of Commons. The crash of the roof of the famous transept, the scene of innumerable concerts and exhibitions, could be heard a mile distant. The Palace orchestra was rehearsing in a lobby when the alarm was given ' and the members narrowly escaped with their lives. The blaze attained its maximum height at 9 p.m., hurling a pillar of sparks skywards and illuminating the arrival of late fire engines, which represented South London's quota of 50 machines from all parts of the metropolis. The television tower succumbed to the flames after one of many' explosions, which destroyed the great organ. It is impossible to estimate the value of the television apparatus destroyed, but it is certainly thousands of pounds. The entire main entrance collapsed at 9 p.m., hurling up showers of sparks " and eclipsing fireworks displays so often staged at the Crystal Palace. Four aeroplanes were dispatched for ■ Press photographic purposes and flew over the conflagration, the brilliance of which rendered every letter on the 'planes easily readable. Quite apart from the intrinsic loss of the fire, it is disastrous because it was among the buildings which would taken the overflow' during the coronation celebrations. The Palace is iully insured. The Duke of Kent, accompanied by an equerry, motored from the West End in evening dress.. He stood in the roadway and gazed at the blazing north J transept. He watched the firemen working. • ' t Crystal Palace, a place of popular entertainment at Sydenham, a suburb in the south-east of London, is in direct railway communication with all parts of the metropolis. It consists of a vast structure of glass and iron. Originally the exhibition building of 1851, it was re-erected in 1852-53, and opened by Queen \ ic-| toiia in 1854. The nave is 1608 ft long, | and the wings an additional 5/4 ft each. The greatest width is 384 ft, and the height of the greatest transept from the floor 175 ft. The area of the whole building is 603,072 square feet. The Palace itself •formerly housed a series of fine art courts, a picture gallery*. technological museum, and schools of practical science, art and literature. The size of the building made it specially suitable* for great musical festivals, and demonstrations by societies of a natural character. The grounds are admirably laid out. There is a large artificial lake, and the fountains are famous. Cricket, football and bowling matches, fireworks displays, etc., have been amongst . -the many attractions at the Palace. Ili s Festival of Empire was held in its grounds in the'summer of 1911.