SYDNEY FIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, 28 July 1916, Page 3

SYDNEY FIRE

SPLENDID WORK BY THE BRIGADES. EXCITING ESCAPES FROM THE HOTEL. (Press Association. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, July 27. TJi > brigades made a splendid save, b< wig a difficult job. Stedman's thrce-s-ori-y r.ijldirijr had a w'lde floor space, strttchinj; from Clarence street to Kent street It was packed with highly >nflamnraMe material and contained much valuable machinery. It was surrounded on ail sides by b'g ■buildings. .Stedman's building was guted right through. The Hotel Grand Central was severely damaged, fifty or sixty rooms on the upper floors hy fire and almost the whole building being saturated with water. Edwards, Dunlop and Company's warehouse, on one side of Stedman's, and David Mitchell and Company's premises on the other, were slightly damaged, by fire, and' sustained heavy losses by water. 'Other sufferers to a less extent were Parsons Brothers, jam manufacturers, and Woollen's soap factory. The falling walls disorganised the telephone services. There was great excitement in the Grand Central. The sleepers on the top floors were hurriedly roused when the flames were breaking the windows. There were clouds of smoke, and the guests had some difficulty in reaching the stairway, escaping in the scantiest raiment. Two invalids were carried out. There avere some narrow escapes. Stedman's insurances, total £82,546, including £3OOO in the "New Zealand and£39oo in the South British Companies. The other firms are largely covered. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £150,000. SYDNEY, July 27. The damage is estimated at £150,000.