GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 15 June 1914, Page 5

GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY.

A WHARF ON FIRE

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, June 13. A great1 fire at Darling Harbor destroyed a large portion of the North German Lloyd's cargo wharf, measuring 500 ft. by 100 ft., extensive sheds, -containing much wools, copra and other ■valuable cargo. The full force of the rfire brigade assisted the men cf th-j -Australian warships, and after a lierco fight prevented the fire spreading i-o •-adjoining premises. The steevner 'l^ropic, moored-'at.an adjoining w.barl, "^■"ras* threatened, but the water po'.!.:-•-.and bluejackets succeeded in remove -. 'her to safety;; *. ' ••'* "' SYDNEY, June 14 The fire-- was a brilliant spectae : . . "It lit the sky for ..miles. A big two-decked store, running *.'■•. —-whole length of the wharf, and nH<--, with merchandise, was completely ,_■ . ted. Early"in the fight it was real.e--< ; that the German wharf was doom--.1 .-and efforts were concentrated on say! •:•• rDalgety's and Mcllwraith's. adjoit-i*■■-•■on each side, while the. flying deL L .threatened the more distant wli.u-.-Land vessels^ atr anchor in thu viciiLl; A number of small craft were t«»v-.>-d toLjsafety by the water police and de merT'of the warships at considerable ri^-and-only by unwearying elfiiri*. "The Jirigades, splendidly assisted b> ythe navaX. men, saved what threatened to-be a much bigger conflagration. The crowd was so dense that many women fainted. '•A- police-sergeant had a narrow es- • di*.pe. He-was oh the-burning wharf. and the flames cut off his retreat. A boat dashed through the fire and brought him to safety. His face and hands were badly scorched.

The ruins are still smouldering. Estimates of the damage range to £10L,-----000.