THE MELBOURNE FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 67, 12 December 1907, Page 4

THE MELBOURNE FIRE.

FURTHER DETAILS BY MAIL. FINE WORK Bl 7 THE BRIGADES. (by OUR SPECIAL COMIESrONDENT.) Melbourne, December 1. Tho most disastrous tiro that has visited Melbourne for somo years broke out. last night in''a largo,'arid partly empty six-story building in ElizMjeth Street, kriov/n as Wallacli's. and.fonnorly a furniture, wa'rolionse. When first seen, 'about half-past nine, ■by somo b'o.y-s playing -near, the upper flat was in flame's, and the glass crashing down from tho windows almost immediately after, tho imprisoned Homes burst forth, and the alarm was given. Half an hour later, a3 tho huge crowds poured out of tho Exhibition and from jvleiba's concert in tho Town Hall,' they wore greeted with a wonderful display as the roof fell in and a fountain of sparks, amongst which hugo blazing fragments disported with tho agility and abandon of seals at play, leapt up against a background of denßo, roseate clonds of smoke. Hero was an ?x----hibition of- elomonta) force—a . song of : roaring flames, hissing streams, .and mighty engino throbs, and —nothing to pay I .; Tho crowd gravitated thither blockingi.overy available approach,, and..when tho theatres came out a littlo later tho Fii'o King's, audience must hove/numbered; at-least 611,000 peoplo. Traflic-..was -stopped, :tho..brigades .we.ro: greatly hampered ..in . their : movements,' andstrong forces of. ..police and military became necessary to control tho crowd.

In tho moantimo, the firo was spreading— several shop 3 in Littlo Bonrko and Lonsclalo Streets woro threatened by the flames, and tho owners were advised to quit. Ejected by a furious and relentless lnndlord, tlioy obeyed, dragging as much of their furniture as pcssiblo with them through tho oxcitod crowds to the adjoining grounds of St. Francis's Church, whero they found sanctuary. ■ A WHOLE BLOCK IN DANGER. At this timo it looked as if tho. whole block must go — tho reefs woro canopied with sparks, and fiery carpets spread" upon tho streets; Salamander-like, the firemen worked among tho blaze, playing water upon tho rear wall, too,, intent .upo.n. duty to . heod- : thoir: danger.' : Then a thrilling cry arose from .tho crowd c'oifgrogated' in 'tho' back" streets'.' 1 " ' ; "Tlidi'wall-is falling!< Tell : tho fifeinenl'' Still tho. heroes worked on, "and it Was-hot until tho wall- was tottering that, tho Fire Chief gavo tho order to fall back, and the mon, cool as soldiers on parade, stopped back into safety, amid tho ringing choors of the spectators, as tho wall collapsed. THE HOSPITAL'THREATENED. 'A little later tho south wall foil also, completely crocking two, littlo shops .that ftood beside it, landmarks of pre-sky-scraping days of old Melbourne; Tho showers of sparks that aroso as they foil wero carried by tho south, breeze across tho street,to tho grounds of tho Melbourne Hospital, sotting an outbuilding- on, iiroj and for. a time threatening tho "institution.! >.■■ Membors«of ' Force-were detailed,, however, to pky wfttor on-: its roofs, i and the tragedy was E.vorted." By this time thfi .-fire had worked'down to the aground-'floor* of • tlio warohouso in' Elizabeth Street. :: tP]atoTglass windows, snapping with loud reports', scattered their fragments far' ;and:. wide.-: : . It • seomed: that tho' front wall . ihust >.go,' hurling its ' six-story' longth across tjioi stroet; : and /the' troopora on 'their trained horses pushed the onlookers baok in-" .to -safety;- -. - ;

Tho fires had broken out'in all directijns —an hotel there, Government stores and shops here. It seemed that a miracle dono could savo'the wholo, block, and th 6 miraclo "'as worked by the amazing onergy and discipline of the brigades. Towards midnight it could be soon that the fire was confined to "its original starting point, ■ and that tho •worst was over. •••,*.

The great forco.iof .water 'concentrated on the'V/arehDusei-'flnd the magic of the chemical engine;began to tell. Sullenly the fiio foil back, and' soon after midnight tlio crowd; satisfied the' firo /demon was (Worsted} 1 began, to disperse.,.'.. . : Not all>-.however,-;' to, .rest;'--.i The. staff:' -of the "Herald" whilo: their companions were toiling "pressward" through the night with tho result that the Sabbath l stillness of the suburbs ■ was broken at 5' o'clock 1 next morning, by the voices of the "Herald" "angels.", ' • '

"•'Erald Extrordinay I" "'Count of' Great Fi-er I" and many night-robed and pyjama'd forms appeared at windows and on balconies to purchaso tho twopenny special'edition. Tho total loss is estimated in a general way at not less than £70,000.