FIRE IN HARDY STREET.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 116, 9 May 1868, Page 5

FIRE IN HARDY STREET.

The aid of our lately completed water-service was called into requisition, for the first time, on Thursday evening, by a fire which broke out in one of two conjoined cottages, in Hardy-street, nearly opposite the .Institute, The cottages formed, in fact, a single building, of two storeys, covered by one roof, separated on the cast side from a similar kind of building, by a passage about three feet in width. About half-past ten o’clock a cry of fire was raised, and those who first reached the spot perceived a strong light in the front parlor of the most cottage ; and the fury with which the fire raged at this early stage, appeared remarkable. The cottage was the residence of Mr. Darby; music-seller, and the room where the fire broke out Was temporarily occupied by Mr. Rawson; dentist. So rapid was the progress of the flames; that Mrs. Darby had great difficulty in rescuing her children from their beds in the upper storeyand no time was afforded for the removal of any portion of the furniture. The alarm of the Brigade fire-bell, which stood nearly opposite; quickly brought assistance, and in the space of a very few minutes the horse-reel was on the ground, and a hydrant being placed at the June- i tion of Hardy and Collingwood-streets, the water was brought into play ; but, although not more than from eight tb ten minutes could have elapsed since the fire originated, so rapid had been its advance, that it appeared clear the building in which it occurred was doomed td destruction. When the hose began to discharge water on the flames, it was seen that there need be no apprehension of the fire spreading; and shortly afterwards a second hoso was brought to bear cm the rear of the building, supplied from a hydrant in Collingwood-street. As this was the first occasion on which the Fire Brigade has worked the water-service, a few shortcomings were excusable. For instance, it might have been better to have attached a second hose to the hydrant from which the first supply of water was drawn, and more delay took place than what was necessary in getting the second hydrant at work. The members of a Fire Brigade, however; require training to bo in a high state of efficiency; and wc must not expect too much of an unpractised body suddenly called upon to act in cases of emergency. While the occupants of the two cottages in close proximity to Mr. Darby’s were busily employed in removing their furniture, the attention of the Brigade Was chiefly directed to the only real post of danger—the house occupied by Mr. Haynes, separated from Mr. Darby’s by a three-feet passage, and so effectually did they work that the fire Was got under with the east side of Mr. Darby’s house left standing, the boards being burnt through in places, but the paint on Mr. Haynes’ house was not even blistered.

It is satisfactory to be able to say in this case how the fire originated. Mr. Eawson and Mr. J. Greenwood were at work in the front room of Mr. Darby’s house, and the latter gentleman, in pouring spirits of wine out of a two-gallon tin, suffered the spirit to Come in contact with the flame of a lamp, and the whole body of spirits ignited instantaneously, which accounts for the rapidity with which the fire spread. Mr. Eawson and Mr. Greenwood were driven to make their escape from the room On the instant, not being able to save much valuable property standing on the table. The two houses were the respective properties of Mr. Bent and Mr. Lightfoot, and were each insured in the moderate sum of in the office of the Liverpool, London, and Globe Company. Mr. Darby, who was not insured, loses the whole value of his property, and Mrs. Donkin, the tenant of the second dwelling, although able to save part of her furniture, must be a heavy sufferer. The estimated total loss is about .£IOOO, of which .£350 only was covered by insurance.— Colonist.