THE FIRE FIEND.

Mataura Ensign, 29 December 1911, Page 5

THE FIRE FIEND.

CHILDREN'S CLOTHES ABLAZE. THREE DIE; 20 INJURED. 11 KLKCI.RIC I'-li-OKA:--.—COI'YRIGHT. I'KK US'. VKli Pltl'.SS ASi-AJI lAlltiN Received December 29, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 28. In regard to the burning accident at Chesterfield, where a child when attempting to light a cigarette in a room adjoining a picture palace set fire to the clothing of a group of children dressed in muslin with cotton and wool trimmings, three of the five children who were injured succumbed and 20 others were removed to the hospital. The first child whose clothes became ablaze rushed about the room igniting the attire of the others. One child was seriously burned in endeavoring to extinguish the flames. The children, ablaze, struggled down the narrow stairway into the street, where the crowd extinguished the flames. TOWN ALMOST DESTROYED. DAMAGE, £20,000. Received Deecmber 29, 9.10 a.m. SYDNEY. Dec. 29. Regarding the fire at West Narrabri by which the business portion of the town was destroyed, including three hotels and seven business premises, the fire spread with great rapidity. Most of the buildings were built of weatherboard, and no fire-fighting appliances were available, while the water supply was poor, The residents were compelled to stand practically idle and watch the blaze. The whole of the chief business block was destroyed and many of the occuoantfc lost everything but their night attire. Twenty thousand pounds is a low estimate of the damage. _ WOOL DESTROYED. DAMAGE, £15,000. Received December 29, 9.10 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 29. A fire in Elliott and Company's wool scouring premises at Botany destroyed a wash-house, engine-shed and a loft, also a large quantity of wool. The damage is estimated at £15,000 and is covered by insurance. WORST BUSH FIRES. £IOOO OF FENCES LOST. Received December 29, 9.10 a.m. BRISBANE, Dec. 29. The worst bush fires experienced in the Crow's Nest district are raging, the damage to fences alone being over £IOOO. A number of huts and sheds have also been burned. SAWMILLS DESTROYED. Received December 29, 9.10 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 29. Bush fires are raging in the Glen. Innes district. Big sawmills and also a residence in an adjoining town have been destroyed.