BIG FIRE.

Lake County Press, Issue 2300, 25 November 1909, Page 5

BIG FIRE.

A fire devastated Saxon and Binns' mills at Byrmont, (N.S.W.) The mills wero completely demolished. Six dwelling houses and the premises of the Carrying Company wero also destroyed. Saxon and Binns' yards covered an area of eight acres, and of this the fire swept four acres, destroying enormous stocks oT timber, estimated at seven million feet, besides a great quantity of valuable machinery. Saxon estimates the damage at £70,000. Only £20,000 is covered by insurance. As a result of the fire between 400 and 500 employees have been rendered idle. A lighter belonging to'the firm was also destroyed ; another, the property of Buckie and Co., caught fire and was scuttled and sunk. Gray Bros., carriers, had seventy horses stabled near the outbreak, but they wore liberated safely after' a scene of excitement. Carts and harness were destroyed. The firemen made a good save. The lire was one of the fiercest and most rapid seen in Sydney, and it was a hard light for the whole force of the brigades, who prevented a much more serious disaster. The whole bloc!': at one time appeared. Saxon and Binns' GOO feet wharf and stock of timber thereon were destroyed.