FIRE IN SYDNEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8608, 19 December 1913, Page 7

FIRE IN SYDNEY

GREATEST FOR YEARS DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £IOO,OOO. SENSATIONAL ESCAPE THROUGH ROARING FLAMES. By Telegraph—Proas Association —Copyright SYDNEY, December 18. Ono of tho biggest city fires for years past destroyed tho Canada Buildings, a huge seven-storey structure in George street west, occupied by Williams Bros, as a motor agency. Tho brigades’ splendid efforts succeeded largely in restraining the firo to ono building, though a number of adjoining business premises and tho branch of the Bank of New South Wales suffered considerably by firo and water, and toppling walls of the main building. Tho caretaker and his wife and four children, who were living on. the top floor, had a narrow escape. The caretaker’s family escaped, partially clad, by means of tho lift through tho roaring flames. Tho firo has been got under. A estimate of the damage is fully £IOO,OOO. . ..., The firms affected m the main building are:—Universal Films Company, Anchor Nail Proprietary, Eckersley and Sons (soda-water fountain makers), Wybrow Company (shoo manufacturers), and a number of smaller businesses. , ... , ~ Largo quantities of rubber and other inflammable material made the firo spread fiercely. . Tho rapid collapse of tho walls disorganised tho electric telephone service badly. BANK BUILDING BADLY DAMAGED. (Received December 18, 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 18. ’ The wall of Canada Buildings fell in the afternoon on tho Bank of Now South Wales next door, and tho bank-lag-room was badly damaged and hllea with debris. There was nobody on the promises at the time.