FIRES IN THE CITY. OUTBREAK AT THE CORNER OF FEATHERSTON AND PANAMA STREETS.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 130, 3 June 1889, Page 3

FIRES IN THE CITY. OUTBREAK AT THE CORNER OF FEATHERSTON AND PANAMA STREETS.

The threo-Btory premises at the oornor of Featherston and Panama streots, occupied by Messrs. Johnston & Co., merchants, and Messrs. Bell, Gully & Izard, solicitors, narrowly escaped destruction by firo yostorday morning. A man named Jamos Wilson was passing along Feathorston-street a fow minutes after seven o'olook, when he observed smoke issuing from a stove-pipe in tho uppor floor. On looking a little longer ho Baw moro sraoko coming out at tho bottom of the middle window sash on the Foatherston - street side. Ho then ran to tbo Firo Brigade Station in Brandon-street, and gave tho alarm. The hose-rod was promptly taken along to Feathorston-stroet, and connected with the Btandpipo in front of the premises, and in a few minutes a fine stream of water was being played through tho window of the room from which the smoko was issuing. By the time the water had been got on, Captain Page and the members of the Firo • Brigade belonging to the-oontral station in Manners-street had _ arrived, and no time was lost in breaking in tho door on Panamastreet loading into tho portion of the premises oooupied by Messrs. Bell, Gaily and Izard A longth of hose was taken up the staircase, but it waß found impossible to get at the fire without breaking through a partition, This was not deemed desirable, and by Captain Pago'B instructions tome of the firemen got on the roof by moans of the telcßcopoladder and toro off two or tbreo sheets of iron. A longth of hose was thon carried up the ladder, and a jet of water was soon playing right into the room, where tho firo was raging. Tho removal of the sheets of iron also enabled tho hose taken up the stairoaso to bo used in subduing tho outbreak, as tho men in charge of it were able to make thoir way to the roof. Throe streams wore now poured into the building, and in a fow minutes all danger was removed. A oonsidorablo amount of damage was done by fire and water, principally in the warehouse of Messrs. Johnatdn and Co. Messrs. ! Bell, Gully, and Izard's library was not ' damaged, but their furniture, Ac, havo been deprecated in value by tho fire and water. A library whioh Mr. C. B. Izard has in one of tho officoa was considerably injnred. The room in which the fire broke out is used by Messrs. E. Bell and A. R. Reader, and a large number of legal documents, many of them 25 years old, were destroyed. The origin is mystorioua. Mr. Reader waß in the offioo in question until about 12 o'clock on Saturday night, but states that there was no trace of fire when he left. Captain Page is of opinion that the fire broke out in a cupboard in Messrs. Bell and Reader's room, and after travolling downward to the floor ascended to the roof aloe? the opposite wall. A largo holo was burned in the floor of the room, and a number of sparks fell down into tho offices of Messrs. Johnston and Co. in tho middlo story. They were, howover, immediately extinguished by the water whioh poured through the opening. A large quantity of merchandise in Messrs. Johnston and Co. 'a store was damaged by water and was removed during the day to the iron store of Messrs. Dawson A Co., on the opposite side of the street. Messrs. Bell, Gully A Izard'a library and furniture and effects are oovered by a policy in the Colonial office for £250. The samo company also hold a risk of £500 on Mr. C. B. Izard's library. Tho insurance on Messrs. Johnston A Co 's stock is £3500, viz.— South British, £500 ; Colonial, £1500; Sun, £500 ; Phoonix, £750 ; North German, £250. The building is insured for £3000. viz. — South British, £250; London and Lancashire, £500; Liverpool and London and Globe, £500; North British, £500; Imperial £500; National, £750.