MANAGER'S GRIEF.

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

MANAGER'S GRIEF.

Upset by Sorry Spectacle of Destruction. VALUABLE MUSIC LOST. (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 30. Crystal Palace cost £1,500,000 to build, and £300,000 was spent on improvements to the south tower. Ihe north tower survived the fire, despite destruction of nearby buildings. These towers, which were 500 ft high, weie erected for the purpose of playing j e *-® from tanks on the top to two gieat fountains.

When the lights of the south tower went out at 9 p.m. the structure iesenibled an incandescent chimney, with smoke pouring from the summit. It assumed an ominous tilt, necessitating the evacuation of adjacent houses.

Meanwhile the glass roof of the mam building melted in streams of glowing liquid, forcing back many of the 300 firemen mobilised with 05 appliances, six water towers and many fire pumps to combat the outbreak.

It is estimated that 3,000,000 doners were spectators of the fire. The firemen, after several being injured, .secured control of the blaze at 10.30.

Police cars meanwhile careered everywhere, using loud-speakers for Sir Henry Buckland, manager of the.Palace, whom a reporter found and interviewed. He said: "I am heartbroken. My Crystal Palace is finished.' . There will never be another."

His daughter, Crystal, named after the Palace, patted him 011 the shouldei and exclaimed: "Cheer up, daddy, 1 will be all right."

Mr F W Holloway, the Palace organist, savs that the Handel Festival of Music, worth thousands of pounds, was destroyed. The Broadcasting Corporation warned the public not to approach too near. Motor coaches altered their- routes to enable their patrons to see the h''o- - were thrilled when j-h e y noticed hundreds of birds flutter from aviary to safety in adjacent trees, .'»ut many cockatoos and parrots pel - islnd. Goldfish were boiled in tanks. One tabby cat escaped from the ruins.