BIG SYDNEY FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 3

BIG SYDNEY FIRE

RESCUES BY LADDERS. SYDNEY, September 26. Seven persons trapped by a city fire were rescued by firemen by means of extension ladders. It is believed that all those trapped would have lost their lives if the firemen had not acted so promptly and courageously. Ernest Thurlow, an artist, was hanging by one hand from a window-sill nearly 100 feet, above street level when he was rescued. Men had shouted to him to keep his grip and women had fainted as firemen climbed a ladder to rescue him. The fire broke out at about .6.30 p.ni. in the premises of Miss Bishop’s, Ltd., caterer, in the Crystal Palace Arcade building. Firemen believe that some electrical defect under a staircase stalled the fire., and that the inflammable material oi’ the building; burst into flame. Flames from the arcade building swept across the Century Theatre, next door. About 1000 persons were in the theatre, watching the screening of a film. Mr. Roger Best, manager of the theatre, ran downstairs shouting: “The theatre is on fire, I am warning you to escape.” Most, of the audience did not seem to appreciate the seriousness of the warning, and it was only after several more warnings that they began to leave. The damage to the theatre was slight.

Thurlow, who conducts an art school, was awaiting bis pupils on the third door of the Crystal Palace Arcade building when he saw smoke pouting into the premises. “My pupils were not expected for about half an* hour.” he said, “and 1 was making myself a. cup of lea. Then I noticed the smoke pouring underneath the doors and heard the crash of falling glass as the windows burst before the heat of the Hames. I tried to escane bv (he front door. but. a solid wall of llame and dense volumes of smoke barred my way. I run to the window but could not breathe. The heat and fumes forced me to hang out. of the window. Then 1 lost consciousness :ts 1 was rescued."

At the lire headquarters the alarm was received with apprehension, as the area is one of the most dangerous ip ilio city. Within two minutes, two high tension ladders hud been rm bed to the scene. When they arrived. Thurlow was holding on by one hand to a window-sill. A sub-station officer. Hugh Hunter, risked liis life when he I'm) up the purtiv-extended ladder, and seized Thurlow as he lost his .(’.rop on the window-sill. .Another man leaned out of a window calling for help. Firemen ran out a ladder and carried him to safety.

On the other side of the Crystal, I’ali'ce A'-cade, liveperosns were work-j ing in the premises of Hoyts Theatres, Ltd. They tried to escape by a back door, but lite Hames and smoko drove them hack. The five were trapped in a little office. The smoke was so bat' that they had to hang out of a wondow to get aii’- They heard cheers when firemen ran up ladders ami rescued two men from the front of the building. "We thought that we wore neglected.” said one of them, “but within two minutes there were five fire ladders in the narrow lane below us and in George Street. Firemen risked their lives, running up Hie swaying ladders to rescue us.”