LITTLE LEFT OF CRYSTAL PALACE

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1936, Page 7

LITTLE LEFT OF CRYSTAL PALACE

J Watched The Fire |

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, December 1

Two towers and a strip of building on the north side are all that remains of the Crystal Palace. The ruins are still smouldering with intermittent bursts of flame. 100 firemen are still playing hose on the ruins. It is stated that the towers are out of danger.

The inhabitants of nearby houses, who last night were ordered to leave their homes, have returned. Some think that it will be necessary to pull down the towers. The estimated damage exceeds £2,000,000.

Cat Saved From Flames,

A rescued cat frantically tried to reach its kittens, left in danger c-f being burned, - and finally a fireman snatched it from the flames by the tail. The kittens perished. The brigade reports that the fire started at 8 p.m. and was overcome at 11.45. Cost Over £4,00,000 To Rebuild. Sir Henry Buckland, manager of the Palace, states that the insurance is nothing like the value of the building. It would cost between £4,000,000 and £5,000,000 to build another palace. The site is held in perpetuity by the nation, and, of course, will be utilised. His theory is that the fire originated from a gas explosion.

Streams of Glowing Liquid.

When the lights of the south tower went out at 9 p.m., the structure resembled an incandescent chimney, with smoke pouring from-the summit. It assumed an ominous, tilt, necessitating the evacuation of adjacent houses. In the meanwhile, the glaSs roof of the main building melted into streams of glowing liquid, forcing back many of the firemen. The Broadcasting Corporation warned people not to approach too near. The heat at one time was so great that firemen sprayed each other to prevent their tunics being scorched. Some in more advanced positions turned their backs to the fire, and played the hoses over their shoulders. The routes of motor coaches were altered to enable their patrons to see the fire. Spectators iwere thrilled when they noticed hundreds of birds flutter from an aviary to safety in adjacent trees, but many cockatoo and parrots perished. Goldfish were boiled in their tanks. One tabby cat escaped from the ruins. -

Duke Looks On. The Duke of Kent, accompanied by an equeri'y, motored from the $/est End in evening dress. He stood in the roadway and gazed at the blazing north transept, and watched the fifemen working. The Duke later watched the firemen from various points until 2.30 a.m., often.wading through water five inches deep. Finally he was supplied with a pair of firemen’s gumboots, and a helmet. He drank some coffee at the firemen’s coffee stall before departing. Only the towers, one of which is badly damaged, remain standing. Mr F. W. Holloway, the Palace organist, says the Handel Festival music, worth thousands of pounds, was destroyed.