THE GREAT FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1910, 19 June 1869, Page 2

THE GREAT FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

(Abridged from the Oaey River Argus. )

The greatest calamity which has yet befallen Creymouth occurred yesterday morning, when one of the best blocks of business premises in town was completely destroyed by fire. About thpee o’clock fire was observed issuing iron } the baok premises of the Melbourne Hotel, a large two-story building which stood at the c >rner of Werita street and Mawhera Quay. The alarm was given, and assistance speedily rendered by the boarders and neighbors, but too late, for the tire appeared tcf have obtained a firm hold, and was very sooj\ bursting through the wiudowg of the billiard rc im. which was recently attached to the hotel, and which fronts on to Werita street, The members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade turned out with great promptitude on the ringing of the bell, but before the engine reached the hotel, the flames had ample mastery over tfge building, and it was evident that nothing could save it. A stiff gorge wind was blowing at the time, and fanned the flame into an immense blaze, which very speed dy leaped over Werita street, and seised bold of the new building of the Bank of Australasia, which stood at the opposite corner. The engine was run on to the landing stage In the vicinity, the hose attached, and work commenced, but immediately it Was found that the suction flose had slipped off, having been badly fixed, and disappeared in the river. This was a misfortune at a time "when every second was precious, and enough to daunt any one, but several members of the Brigade determined to recover the hose though they should dive for it, and this two of them at least >yepe prepared to dq. lieutenant Hqsie, with Foreman Amos, and Mr Greenwqqd, gqt into a boat alongside the breastwork, and were lucky enough to fasten on with a boathook and to drag it up with great difficulty and risk. By the time the hose was brought to the wharf again, the flames were rapidly spreading in the direction of Messrs C. Taylor and Co. ’s store, and the large Volunteer hall, and it was only by the most strenuous exertions of a few gentlemen that tfiesq buildings were saved. The engine had been removed further down the wharf, and got into p’ay, but another misfortune happened, for the old hose, which was sometime ago condemned by Captain Whall, gave way ftt the when the full pressure was brqugfit to bear on it. The new hose had to be sent for, and from the time that it arrived everything went well with the brigade. Two branches were got into play, and the firemen worked with an energy and earnestness which would have done honor to an older brigade. East of Werita si’reet nothing but hand buckets could be used tq stop the flames, and we are sorry tq have to record tfiat the spectators, as a rule, were very re'uctant to lend a hand, Many men passed the spot with their hands in their pockets, while women were passing the buckets. Meant’me the terrific flames were advancing before the smart gorge wind down Mawhera Quay, and it was evident that the entire block as far as Tanui street must go, if a break could not be made in the closely built street, and Captain Whall, who is also fire inspector, gave orders for the Bank of New South Wales, which stood between the store of Messrs Forsyth and Masters and the second store of Messrs Thompson, Smith, and Barkley, to be pulled down, in order to arrest the progress of the flames. Orders were given to, if possible, make the roof fall in a slanting position, so that it would form an iron barricade to the fire ; and this work was well carried out by the brigade, assisted by the public. The powder which was in Messrs Forsyth and Masters’ store was carried out, and pitched into the river, and we are assured that in this store, when the fire reached it, there was neither oil, powder, pitch, tar, oakum, nor any inflammable material. These were all taken to a place of safety ear) v in the morning. By this time, the half-fallen building of the Bank of New South Wales had been reached, and here the final struggle with the devouring element took place. The fire driven out of the front, burned fiercely behind in the smelting-house, where several tons of coke were soon glowing an immense furnace. The two branches were brought to bear upon this spot—one

from overhead where the firemen were standing on the ridge of the adjoining store, amidst fire and smoke, covered up with wet blankets, and underneath, where there was a rigfct-of -way about two feet wide. Tke heat here was fierce—between two iron walla glowing hot, and a blazing furnace before them ; but the men stuck to their work unflinchingly, although they were almost scorched. Seven men were taken into the small passage, and they had to take two mmu.es spell each at the branch in order to keep up the stream of the water. The branchmen on the roof—Messrs Amos and King could get no relief, but they stuck to their posts to the last. Once the men were driven out, for the roof gave signs of coming in. They were ordered to leave, and all did so except Branchman M‘Gregor. Captain Whall ran in to bring him out, when the roof came in with a crash, but fortunately for them the side next the drapery store remained upright, or else they would certainly have been buried beneath it. While these effox-ts were being made iu front, Mr J. Kilgour, with a gang of men, was bard at work attacking the fire behind, and rendering immense service to the brigade. It was discovered that in this narrow right-of-way there was a small door connected with tho adjoining store, and all the efforts of the brigade would have been fruitless had the fire obtained an entrance there. MrGleeson volunteered to protect tho door, which he did bravely by covering it with wet blankets, and fixing up fresh ones when the otheis were scorched off. We are requested specially to commend the services which he rendered to the captain on this occasion. Slowly the fire was here got under, and after about three hours of hard uninterrupted work, its further progress was stayed, leaving an immense area in the heart of the town of blazing and smouldering ruins. We have endeavored to form some estimate of thq lqss sustained, which we append, but which, in some cases, must necessarily be inaccurate:—

Mr Hunter, tobacconist, &c.—Loss of stock, L 20 0; damage to bailing, HOO, Not insured.

N. Edwards and Co., shipping agents and merchants.—Not ascertained, hut supposed to be lost on premies and stock, L 2,000, Hamilton and. hficol’s free store, Mawhera Quay, and bonded store, Werita street.— Stock worth L 9.000 ; insured for LI, 500; and stock saved, L6OO. Johnstou’s Melbourne Hotel and billiard room, out-buildings, L 2.000; stock, L 70 0; furniture, LI, 120. Not insured. Flannery’s Harp of Erin Hotel. —Building, stock, and furniture, Ll.ooo. Not insured. Bank of Australasia. —Value unknown, but insured, Books and papers saved, but furniture lost.

Mr Perkins’office.—Buildings, books, &c., L3OQ, Not insured.

Mr Trist’s blacksmith’s shop.—Partially destroyed ; value LIOO. Not insured. Mr Badger’s shop and stock; also, the adjoining shop, rented by Messrs Broadbent and King.—L7oo. Not insured. Broadbent and King’s stock and tools. L9Q.

Union Bank of Australia. —Value not estimated. Books and papers saved. Supposed to he insured. Morris Levy, merchant.—Stock and building, Ll 1.000. Scarcely anything saved. Not insured.

Thompson, Smith, and Barkley, drapers, Upper Store. Building destroyed, L7OO. Goo(js all got out, but damaged to the amount of L2,Q00. Not insured. Thompson, Smith, and Barkley, All stock g>t out, but damage done to building and stock amounting to LI,00(1. Not insured.

Forsyth and Masters, ironmongers.—Store and house at back, L6QO. Large quantity of goods got out, but damage and loss amount' ing to L4,0Q0. Not insured.

Bank of New South Wales. —Manager’s house and smelting house, partially burned and pulled down, L 1,500. Mr King’s furniture, L2OO, in addition to a number of old books and rare manuscripts, which no money can replace. Kilgour’s Union Hotel, CU'mer’a Hotel, Sweeney’s Hotel.—-Damage was caused in these houses by the removal of stock and furniture, amounting to over L2OO.

The Bank Hotel—Partially pulled down and destroyed ; value L9OO ; stock and furniture saved-

Dr Smith’s House—Damage to house and furniture, LIOO.

Queen’s Bond—Damage not estimated. Of course, there must be many other serious losses which have not been ascertained, so that the actual loss not covered by insurance may safely be estimated at close on L 40,000. As to the origin of this disastrous conflagration nothing is known. Mr Johnston states that when he left the hotel to go borne, at nearly 1 a.m., there was not a light or any signs of one on the premises, and he has not the slightest idea how the five occurred, as he is always remarkably careful.