THE FIRE EPIDEMIC.

Evening Star, Issue 11452, 21 January 1901, Page 4

THE FIRE EPIDEMIC.

FIFTEEN SHOPS AND A (HOTEL DESTROYED.

MARTON, January 21. Shortly after midnight a, fire broke out in the front portion of David Hollam's store at Huntervillc, and quickly spread to the adjoining premises. Fifteen shops and the Argyle Hotel were burned to the ground, the premises destroyed are as follow:—W. C. Hancock, saddler; C. Bray, hairdresser, J. M Eldowney, draper; the Argyle Hotel; Ryan, tailor; the Argyle stables; R. E. Remington, chemist; Skerman and Co., new premises; Mrs CurrJe, fruiterer; G. W. D. Morris, grocer; the Temperance Hall library; Yuen Lee, fruiterer; J. W. Batt, dentist; and a portion of Harper's stables. A Chinaman's cabinetmaking shop was also destroyed. Only three shops at the extreme end 01 Bruce street are now standing. These would have been destroyed had the brigade not pulled down Harper's stables. At the other end of the street large sheets of iron were placed against a portion of the Argyle stables. This prevented the fire from attacking the Argyle (Hall and the shops adjoining. Messrs Ellis Bros, and Valder's stare was damaged considerably, and it was only with the assistance of wet blankets that, they saved the building from being destroyed. The insurances are not yet known. THE INSURANCES. The damage by the Himterville fire is estimated at £20)000. The following companies are interested, in amounts varying from £BOO to £l,soo:—United, Imperial Alliance, Commercial Union, Royal, New Zealand, Standard, London and Liverpool, and Australian Alliance.