BREAT TOBACCO BLAZE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 December 1925, Page 8

BREAT TOBACCO BLAZE.

1,50 TONS IN DOCK FIRE, THOUSANDS OF BOTTLES OF WINE. One of the most destructive fires in the history of Southampton occurred on October 21 in ,a seven-story bonded dock warehouse belonging to the Southern Railway Company. The premises, which were built in 1850, contained 150 tons of tobacco amt thousands of bottles of wine and beer, besides much valuable machinery. The outbreak was first noticed at 2 p.m., and the docks fire-engine was rushed to the scene. It could not cope with the flames, however, and the Southampton Fire Brigade was therefore sent for. Sixty firemen fought the flames, and at 5 o’clock it seemed that they were getting the outbreak under control. At 6.30, however, the fire broke out with renewed vigor, and within an hour the entire building was involved. Ultimately the roof collapsed and a great sheets of flame leaped to a great height. Shortly after nine o’clock the flames were subdued and the building stood as a skeleton against the skyline, great clouds of steam issuing from the interior. Fireman W. Jtipe, badly cut about the eye by a falling beam and also affected by fumes, was taken to hospital.