DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LICHFIELD STREET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5602, 7 February 1879, Page 6

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LICHFIELD STREET.

A most destructive fire, involving loss of property to a very large extent, occurred in Christchurch last evening. Although, unhappily, the block of buildings in which the occurred was totally destroyed, the task of the firemen afforded one of the finest exhibitions of untiring and undaunted energy over seen in this city. The alarm was given from the Lichfield street station at a quarter to six, to be immediately taken up at Chester street, and in ' a short time it was widely known that the scene of the fire was the large building in Lichfield street, the property of Mr W. Saunders. It will be remembered that the firm has been known by the title of Messrs Saunders and Henderson ; the latter gentleman, however, retired from the partnership last year. The building is of two storeys, with a spacious cellarage, its extreme dimensions being 60 by 100 feet. In the front elevation there were three enlr.nces, that on the left leading to the upper storey, which was exclusively used by Messru Sargood, Son and Ewen, wholesale drapers, whose chief establishment is in Dunedin. The j central door gave access to the main portion of the ground floor, about one thirl of the area, occupied by Mr H. B Sorensen, who also dealt in general merchandise. The first alarm was given by a little girl, who was passing along Lichfield •beet, mod saw smoke issuing from the southeast corner of the building, and from the lower portion. This wasalsoseenby amanwhowas passing, but whose name did not transpire, ind he immediate!/ rang the belL A few moments after the alarm, Constables Cronin and Ferguson arrived, and these officers confirm the statement asto the-portion of the building in which the fire originated. There seemed to be then no sign or flame, and the few persons who were present were led to believe that could water hare been at once poured in through a hole, which might easily nave been ent with an axe, the place might readily have been saved. A minute or two more, and flame could bo seen through the windows. Ufa Cass and a few other gentlemen burst in one of the front doors, and succeeded in saving a number of the account , books, some papers, and a cash-box belonging to Mr Sairaders, whose office was immediately within the entrance. More could not be done, the dense smoke driving back the volunteers. Superintendent Harris was present at about nine minutes to .6, and then there was a large body of flame at the south-west comer, i more particularly [at the upper part of the < building, and as this part closely adjoined 1 the Brigade Station, fears were naturally i entertained that the fire prevention institu- i lion might itself be destroyed. Considerable . difficulty was experienced in getting out the i but by the ready aid of some of the i people who had collected, this was rapidly i and orderly done. The Brigade’s engines '■] were, placed as follows .—The steamer i Deluge at the sump of the Tnam street . tank, the steamer Extinguisher and the hand- ’ engine Dreadnought at the tank opposite Matheson’s Agency. In an almost incredibly short time three jets had been brought to bear cn the rear and south-east comer of the building, and two others on the east side. A strong southerly breeze caused the flames to spread with immense rapidity through the building, the floors of which were preserved chiefly as large open spaces for the more convenient storage of goods, and the inflammable nature of the greater part of the stock rendered the heat intense. The danger in which the Brigade Station was placed, being only some six or seven feet from the burning building, necessitated the laying on of one of the lines of water on the western side, and happily with good result. At this time the scene in the yard, to the -east and at the rear of the building, was immensely exciting. The firemen brought their axes into requisition, and steadily walking up to the series of' furnaces thus exposed, fought the fire inch by inch, although ordinary mortals could not venture within many feet of the walls. At 10 minutes past 6, the iron roof at the south-east comer crashed in, and then an enormous body of flame sbot up, the fire at the same time having gained sufficient strength to burst out through the windows in the front. All along the edges of the roof, and from every aperture, a dense, blinding rmnVp. curled out, rendering the task of the firemen yet more difficult, while their danger was augmented by the falling timbers and sheets of iron. A sharper gust of wind than , usual carried flakes of fire over into High Street, and presently an alarm was given that a fire had broken ont in some rubbish lying against a wooden struct are alongside the warehouse of Messrs Strange. A number of firemen and volunteers rushed across and beat out the flame, and then they had to attend to a new source of danger. To the eastward of Mr Saunders’building, and separated therefrom by the yard, is a private house, the property of Mr H. J. Hall, and tenanted by Mr F. Egan. The shingles of the roof caught fire repeatedly, but were each time extinguished by the free use of buckets of water. Superintendent Hams about this time received a note from Mr Back, General Manager of Railways, stating that the large railway fire engine had steam up, and wasat his service if required. Superintendent Harris, however, deemed that at that stage he had the fire well under control, and did not, therefore, avail himself of the kind offer. In order to avoid any lessening of the force of water, Superintendent Harris gave instructions at seven o’clock for the transfer of the steamer Extinguisher to the tank opposite the premises of Messrs Wilson, Sawtell and Co., a detachment of men being told off for the purpose, and so promptly was the order executed that in a Uttle under ten minutes two jets from this new source were playing with full pressure upon the front of toe bunding. Prior to this, a plucky feat had been performed, one or two ofthe firemen having got in through a window on the eastern side, and brought out of |bn storeman’s office some smouldering books and papers, which will hereafter be of great service. Their position, absolutely surrounded as they were by a burning mass, was by no means an enviable one. On the opposite side of the building, Mr Buchanan gained access in a like manner to Mr Sorensen’s office, the position of which he knew better perhaps than any one else, and secured various books and documents, one of his hands, however, being severely burned and cut. At twenty minutes past seven the firemen had fairly conquered, and now penetrated within the portions of the walls which were yet standing. The force of the water caused streams of calcined rice, bicarbonate of soda, sugar and tea to pour out here and there. Holes being cut in the flooring at convenient places, the waste water was made to do duty in cooling the content* of the immense cellar, where, amongst other goods, Messrs King and Co. had a storage of butter sufficiently extensive to have, it is stated, a policy of £IOOO upon it. At eight o’clock all danger vrae at an end, and there was nothing loft for the men to do but to pour water upon the to the contentsof the building, with the portion retoted by Mr Saunders, the stock and very varied one, and was roughly estimated by Mr Saunders to represent a value of from £II,OOO to £12,000, The %*&*** upon the building itself being £4OOO, A itSwe ousntity of tea and sugar had unfartu; natelv Deen taken into store from bond that day, the last load beingreoeived attea inmates past five, and duly aiMimbng to £IBB 17s 6d was paid thereon. But for the absence of railway wnployees tome 80 extra tons of sugar would hare been placed in the building. At the rear, and apparently at the point where the fire broke outTthe storage included rice, soap, soda, sugar, and tea. Further towards the centre of the building were two non tanks, m rrltiMi were stored, in tin-lined cases, a quantify of wax vestas, these, however, being toe property of Mr Sorensen. Mr Sorensen* storo consisted of, oilmen and jprocers troods, and was valued by _him at Between £4OOO and £SOOO. stock of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Fwenapneots to bare consisted for the most part of samples of drapery goods, there being comparatively little m bulk. In the absences fhmedm of Mr Brown, to estimated value oonld not be Owing to the lateness of the hour, and to the

(act that some of the insurance agehts reside out of town, a precise s'tatemeht of the insurances could not be secured, but the following is approximately correct. Mr W. Saunders—Value of stock, say, £12,000; insurances, New Zealand office, £4OOO, South British £2500, Standard £IOOO, London and Lancashire £IOOO, total £B6OO. Value of building, £4000; insurance, New Zealand £IOOO, South British £SOO, Coloniol £IOOO, total £2600. Mr H. B. Sorensen, value of stdok (say) £5000; insurance, £BOOO in the Standard office. Messrs Sargood, Son, and £ wen, value of stock unknown; insurance, in the National office, £2OOO. It was believed that there was a further sum in another office. Total value of known insurances £16.000 ; total anticipated amount, £ 18,000. With the exception of £6OO on Mr Saunders’ stock, and of £IOOO on Mr Sorensen's, i lie Standard office is covered bv reinsurances. It has already been stated that Messrs Kin.' and Co. had a largo quantity of butter »'orod in the cellar, which is said to In* covered by insurance to the' extent of .fIOOO, but. in which office was not definitely known. There was also a statement made that a policy £IOOO on the building in the Union office had been permitted to lapse recently. The origin of the fire is a iriatter for speculation. Assuming that it broke out in the corner where the smoke was first noticed, it it is most difficult to account for the mishap. No fires were used, and Mr Dearsley, who bar been four years in the employ of Mr Saunders, states that he never saw smoking indulged in, within the building, by, any of the employees. Ur Saunders was one of the last to leave the building—at abouthalf-past five —and was in His Lordship’s Larder when the slum of fire was given, ‘ As has been Intuited? the Brigade, under the direction of . Superintendent Harris, worked splendidly, never seeming to tire so long as the fight Was a doubtful one, and the labours of the men' had not ceased at a late hour, for after ten o’clock there was still a glow in the middle, of the piass. Before this time the water in-the'tanks was becoming exhausted, advisable , to procure thb powerful railway engine, which could pump water from the river. The engine was accordingly placed on the riyer bank .by St. Michael’s Church, and it was then found that theboiler leaked so much as! to render the engine practically useless. . The Deluge was placed therp instead, and fed the Extinguisher,. Which was stationed midway between the river and the fire. Thus a. continuance of the water supply was secured, although, ; by an amount of mbour which ought never to bo’ incurred in; such cases. The flremeri were not! able Ip leave until two o’clock this' morning. The fire police, as usual, rendered good service, particularly in keeping back the immense crowd, and the regular police, under Inspector Hickson, mustered strongly arid promptly. fjcaibely any stock was saved; that portion which was least damaged wasin the south-west comer of the building, on the ground floor, arid belonged to Mr Soirerisdh. 1 A stack of chests of tea seemed to be hut little touched by the fire- : ' : ' T . : '•