DISASTROUS FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22224, 26 September 1935, Page 11

DISASTROUS FIRE

BIG WOOL STORE 30,000 BALES DESTROYED SYDNEY FIRM'S LOSS FIGHT AGAINST FLAMES THREE FIREMEN INJURED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright SYDNEY, Sept. 25 One of the biggest wool stores in New South Wales was destroyed by fire this morning, when flames razed Goldsbrough Mort's seven-storey building at Pyrmont, which is a quarter of a mile from the centre of Sydney. A representative of Goldsbrough Mort states that 30,000 bales were destroyed by the fire. The total damage to the wool and the store was £750,000, which was fully covered by insurance.

Most of the wool was awaiting sale, but a portion of it had been sold and not vet delivered.

Three firemen were injured in a long battle with the flames. A wall of the building, which has a frontage of about 400 feet, crashed across the street, injuring two firemen. The flames extended to the premises of Pitt, Son and Badgery, which houses about 100,000 bales of wool, but were extinguished before substantial damage could be done.

A line of goods trucks at Darling Harbour, adjoining Pyrmont, and the goods station itself were reached by the fire, which, however, was controlled in that quarter. It seems to have been established that the fire was smouldering during the night and broke into flames when a draught was caused by the opening of the doors this morning.

Fifteen fire brigades were soon on the scene.

The amazing scene of destruction attracted the attention of thousands of spectators. The police drew a cordon right round the block. Only one wall of the Goldsbrough building is still standing, and it is in danger of crashing at any time. A vast pall of smoke obliterated almost everything in the vicinity. There were occasional bursts of flame hut the danger of the opread of the fire to other premises was overcome. Cinders fell in many parts of the city a considerable distance from the scene of the fire, which was the most disastrous for many years.

It is" understood that the insurances were carried by several companies.

Tho fire is particularly inopportune, as the Sydney wool sales are now in progress and the stores are carrying large quantities of wool. The estimated loss of 30,000 hales represents onefortieth of the total amount of wool handled at Sydney and Newcastle in a season. The loss in wool is more than the total purchases by Japan in New Zealand last season. TOTAL LOSS £750,000 COVERED BY INSURANCE DAMAGE IN NEIGHBOURHOOD (Received September 25, 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 25 It is confirmed that 30,000 hales of wool, fully insured, and valued aij £550,000, was destroyed. The building, which also was fully insured, and was officially valued at £200,000, was completely razed. The fire is still smouldering this evening but is under control. Goldsbrough Mort's No. 2 and No. 3 stores in the vicinity were saved, only minor damage being done. Arrangements have been made with the Royal Agricultural Society for the use of the Show Ground building for the accommodation of large consignments of wool now coming forward from the country.

It transpires that the three firemen and four civilians who were injured were taken to hospital, but after treatment were allowed to leave.

A goods train which was standing on the Darling Harbour siding caught fire owing to the intense heat, but the outbreak was subdued before the flames had obtained a strong hold.

Roads, footpaths and a portion of a railw'ay siding were extensively damaged by falling white hot walls and flying debris. To-day's wool sales were not seriously interrupted by the fire and it is not feared that there will be any shortage of wool.

STOOD ON. HIS HEAD DRANK CUP OF WATER MAN'S PROOF OF SOBRIETY LONDON, Sept. 24 Declaring that the test of drunkenness utilised by the police was too easy, a Buckinghamshire stockbroker stood on his head and drajik a cup of water. The Bench was satisfied with this proof of sobriety and dismissed the charge against the stockbroker of driving while he was drunk.