DRAPERY STORES GUTTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 7

DRAPERY STORES GUTTED.

OTHER BUILDINGS BURNT.

MANY KILLED AND INJURED.

ENORMOUS DAMAGE DONE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received December 22,-12.15 m.) London, December 21. A disastrous fire occurred at Clapham yesterday, resulting in the destruction . of Ardinj* and Hobbs' drapery stores, and a number of other buildings. The stores were making a. big. display of Christmas goods, and were crowded at the time, and a panic resulted when the lire broke out. A great many were injured, thirty being taken, to the hospital, while it is feared many perished. Arding and Hobbs' block of buildings was a handsome one, having a frontage of 100 yds, and contained 50 departments, employing 600 assistants. The fire was due to an assistant breaking an' electric lamp in getting a comb from a window filled with celluloid articles. The place was soon ablaze, customers and assistants screaming and stfuggling to escape. In ten minutes the interior of the building was at furnace heat, and further rescue work- had to be abandoned. ; Four were killed by leaping from upper floors. The copper ornamental, tower collapsed and fired a store on the opposite side of the road. Adjoining drapery and drug stores were also destroyed. Mr. John Burns (President of the Local Government Board), whose house is within 100 yds of the site, organised a party to tear down the Venetian masts and festoons of flowers erected in the streets in connection with the Christmas shopping, which were carrying the flames across the street. He also organised bands of soldiers and sailors to assist the firemen. Mr. Burns worked with a .sack over his head, in which he cut eye holes. His hands were badly blistered. Mr. Shirley Renn, Unionist candidate for Battersea, also assisted. Forty shops and houses were destroyed, and the damage will possibly amount to £1,000,000. It is impossible to ascertain the -number of the deaths until the ruins are searched and the roll of Arding and Hobbs' employees ~is called. . .. '