GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11014, 11 July 1901, Page 5

GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY.

HORDEBN'S HUGE STORES DESTROYED. DAMAGE. REPORTED AT A MILLION. * A TRAGIC FATALITY. NARROW ESCAPES OF EMPLOYEES. Uniud Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received July 10th. 11.19 a.m.) " SYDNEY, July 10. Fire is raging in Anthony Hordern's immense emporium in (Jeorge street. It ha* a good hold of the main building, ami, as ti stiff wind is blowing, the tire threatens to sweep the whole block through to Pitt street.

There ks a large gasometer in close vicinity to the scene of the fire. Tram traffic in George street is blocked, and an immense crowd is gathering. (Received July 10th. 12.7 p.m.) The fire, assisted by the wind, the lift shafts, and immense quantities of inflammable material, spread with tremendous rapidity. The main building is already pr._ctic;_lly gutted, though still burning fiercely. Tbe Uamw, spread across Parker street, at the rear, to a large funnelling department, which is now one mass of flames. The big gasometer adjoins this building. Tlie whole tire forces of the city are engaged at the conflagration. Their work is dangerous, owing to the towering Avalla threatening to collapse, but they are slowlybeating back the tire from the George street frontage. The occupiers of shops stretching from the doomed building to Hay street are getting out their goods, in fear of the fire spreading from the rear.

The outbreak was discovered shortly after eight o'clock, luckily before, many of the army of employees had arrived. It is reported that (mc man has been killed by jumping from a roof. The burning debris is being carried a great distance, and in one case it set fire to a bouse, but was quickly subdued. Hordern's premises on the Pitt street side, the direction in wihich the wind is blowing, arc flanked by the park, which will prevent the further spread of the conflagration that way.