A DISASTROUS FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2124, 25 February 1908, Page 2

A DISASTROUS FIRE.

C'OIIDIAL FACTORY ABLAZE.

.HEROISM OF FIREMEN. Press Association. DUNEDIN. Feb. 24. A .serious oulTireuk ol lire occurred in Thomson and Co.’s aerated water mamfl'actory in Crawford Street this afternoon. The fire was discovered almost in tlio middle of the top storey, where are stored largo quantities of corks, disused machinery, packing, and other contents. The flames had a strong hold when discovered, and spread with almost -n----eredible rapidity over the inflammable material at hand, and when the bri gndo arrived a few minutes later the whole floor was ablaze.

The building stands up by itself from amongst one storey erections, and there is only one steep and narrow stairway giving access to tlio upper portions. It was too high to send a stream of water to the seat of the fire from the street, though this was essayed, and such a groat boll had the flames secured that the firemen were beaten bade from the stairway. A ladder was put up in front of the building, and an intrepid firefighter (Conway) climbed up this with a hose, and in the teeth of the flames directed the water through a window. This was only partly effective, and the ladder had to bo shifted to an adjoining window. Up this Firemen Williams and Conway clambered, dragging a heavy hose, and succeeded in getting a strong flow of water into the middle of the roaring furnaco within.

It is estimated that the damage exceeds £2OOO. The insurances are distributed in the Atlas, Standard, Liverpool London and Globe, New Zealand, South British, Victoria, _ National, Commercial Union, Alliance, Royal, Australian Alliance, and Phoenix on the warehouse, cordial department, and office, the sections affected. The total is £3250 on the stock, £3BOO on the machinery, £750 on fittings. The factory adjoining is insured for £IOOO, its stock for £4OO, and machinery £IOO. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a defective chimney.