MANCHESTER FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1933, Page 2

MANCHESTER FIRE

LOOTING AND HEROISM

MANCHESTER, June 27.

Alleged attempts at looting, during which a man was taken into custody and fights took place between householders and alleged would-be looters, were among the incidents arising out of a huge fire—the greatest in the city for twenty years—which broke out in Manchester late last night. Wood in the premises of Messrs J. Robertshaw and Co., blind makers, suddenly burst into flames, and the fire gradually spread to a whole block of buildings, including the tin stamping works of Messrs J. Binns, known as the Acme Tin Stamping Company. A rectangular block of buildings 100 yards square, bordered by Churnetstreet and Cheltenham-street, Collyhurst, with a huge centre courtyard filled with 200 tons of lightly-stacked white pine timber, was turned into a holocaust. During the fire one man was seriously injured—an electrician, named Lloyd, of Sherwood-street, Collyhurst.

A hundred families from houses in Harrowby-street, Churnet-street, Chel-tenham-street, and’ Regent-street fled from their homes. One man ran back after he had left to rescue three newly-born kittens. The doors of some of the houses could be seen smoking from the heat. A number of houses were flooded by water from the engines. There were periodical explosions, and mighty bursts of flame leapt two hundred feet into the air, sending out showers of sparks.

While this was in progress householders were reported to have surprised men said to be attempting to loot their vacated homes, and a number of fights took place as the householders promptly attacked the alleged intruders. One man was taken into custody for alleged burglarious entry into a house.

A thirty-foot high water tower collapsed. and in collapsing did a little towards subduing the flames. The firemen worked unceasingly, knowing that at any moment a wall might collapse and bury them# and also knowing that they were near large stocks or cellulose, spraying paint, and a petrol dump, which might explode at any minute.

A member of the Acme Tin Stamping Company risked his life in attempts to rescue important papers and ledgers. The danger was so great, however, that the Fire Chief. Superintendent Sloane, refused, aftei the man had made two unsuccessful attempts, to allow him to enter the building again. A terrific explosion occurred shortly after 1 a.m., and was followed by clouds of dense smoke, and the violence of the fire increased.