THE FIRE FIEND

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11411, 6 January 1923, Page 5

THE FIRE FIEND

OUTBREAK IN MANNERS ST. BUILDINGS AND SHOPS SEVERELY DAMAGED. BRIGADE’S GOOD WORK. When diligently examining the shops which lay upon his beat along Manners street last evening, Constable Warren was puzzted to see signs of smoke which he could not trace. It was then about five minutes to eleven, and the theatre crowd was thick in the street. He examined the buildings adjoining Robert Martin’s, Ltd., but was still unable to' locate from where the smoko was issuing, when suddenly he caught a glimpse of flame. lt_was from the interior of Martin’s big oil and colour warehouse. , All doubts dispelled, he gave the alarm from the corner of Herbert and Manners street. MANY ALARMED. By this time the flames were visible in several directions from the other sides of the building, and the difficulty confronting the brigade was just where to proceed, as alarms were coming in from station after station. Once on the scene, the doors of Martin’s shop were forced and a lead of hose run through the showroom to the warehouse beyond. It is about here that the fire is supposed to have started. Almost at once Eire Superintendent Tait, realising the magnitude of the task which was set his men, gave the assistance call. Soon there were five brigades on the scene, two each from the Central and Constable street stations, and one from Thorndon. HOW THE FLAMES WERE FOUGHT The fire was attacked from several directions at once. In addition to the first lead of hose through the shop, another lead was taken into the adjoining shop of C. and H. V. Evens, chemists, at the back of which the fire was strongly blazing, while other hoses were run round Herbert street ad into Edward street, and so. through the premises of the Vacuum Cleaning Company’s factory, to the building and yard, where was the point of danger. Anoter lead was taken up the long, house from Willis street, opposite the Y.M.C.A., and her® at on® stag® the spot resembled an inferno. A REMARKABLE SPECTACLE.

The flames had a strong hold, and by a few minutes after 11 o’clock they presented a remarkable spectacle, a towering pillar of smoke ascendirg straight, into the still air and being visible far around. The buildings adjoining <were silhouetted against the glare, and a crowd of some thousands was quick to assemble. Densely packed upon pavement and roadway, Jn spite of the diligent police force, under Sergeant Dyer, they were out to Bee all that there was to be seen, and braved the numerous leaks from the circling hoses which sprayed all alike. So numerous were these leaks that the whole of the surrounding roadway was at one time under water, which was flowing freely. INSIDE THE SHOPS.

Volunteer workers, including some tramway men were readily helping the toiling fire-fighters. The interior of the shops presented a remarkable sight. Through the doorways at the rear the furnace waa to be seen, apparently defying the efforts of the men with the hose. Evens’® chemist shop was sumbered with cases of chemicals, which were moved out from the hack, and in a narrow alleyway firemen and helpers were working at tneir hardest silhouetted against the glare. Inside Martin’s shop is a showroom lighted by a small glass dome, which gives out upon the roof among the buildings. Upon this roof two firemen, were perchea, directing a volume pf water into the blaze from their precarious position. At the back of the shop, which is of iron, wood, and brick, the roof had collapsed In the three-storied structure, and the corrugated iron was to he seen beyond the men in the doorway controlling another hose. A RED TORRENT. ■Water was falling upon the glass dome with an incessant thunder, and the plastered wall presented a strange appearand® where the water was coursing down upon its surface. Rolls of wall-paper, snow cases and some rich carpets were buried deep in the swirling flood which came pouring through- the shop and over the pavement to the gutter. The water was coloured a deep red, probably by the paints which it had encountered upon its way. At 11.80 the show room roof caught. A prompt reply of water quelled the outburst and though the walls were damaged the structure was saved. The dome itself suffered a very slight inmidnight the blase seemed to he in hand. In Even’s shop the fire was black out, and through Martin’s the blaze seemed to have diminished considerably. A few minutes later, however, it waa seen that the fire was working its way back towards Edward street. THE ADJOINING BUILDINGS. Meantime Mr S. Tingey had had fears for the safety of his building, a couple of doors away. On one occasion the fire had broken through Into one room; but the outbreak was soon noticed and anbdned. The shep of L. Rathbone, grocer, between Martin’s and Tingey’s, seems to have escaped practically' ecalthless, and remained in-, darkness throughout. As soon as the flames began to eat their way backwards the brigade redoubled its efforts from the roof. The men from the Labour Home over the Vacuum Company’s factory in Edward street, were turned oat into the street, while the people from the Coffee Palace in Willis street, which abutted upon the blaze, were also sent away to safety. A FURTHER OUTBREAK. For a time it appeared as if the two story building in Edward street occupied by Alexander and 00., soft glods factory, Aubrey Gualtor and Co., Maithoid Amiwud stores and F. xi. Cricley, costumier, would be affected, but another lead was introduced to save this building, and the businesses escaped except for the damage done by the water. The premises of Campbells the grocers, and Rathbone’s also grocers, were left unharmed, and the back premises belonging to Tingeys escaped with a few broken windows. A spectator who vat one of the first on the spot, said that the flames burst out suddenly and shot something like fifty feet in the air. Another who was a fair distance off likened it to the explosion of a benzine store. To give an indication of the amount of water that was being played upon the flames it is sufficient to say that for over two hours there was a wide and steady stream about two inches <l-*p at times flowing out both Evens’s •ho chemists, and Martin’s. The ~'bole time the water was more than

lukewarm, and the vapours rising from the stream at times clouded the showroom. None of the insurances was available last night, although it is understood that all the damaged property is well covered. A further outbreak occurred about one o’clock, when a number of casks of made-up paint went up in flames, which were difficult to quell owing to the large amount of oil in the paint. After that it was only a matter qf time as all sections of the outbreak were now able to be approached without any danger. By the - time of going to press it was believed that all the buildings were out of danger. At 2.30 o’clock, when a “Times’’ representative visited the fire, there were intermittent outbursts of flame and volumes of dense smoke. These were principally confined to the rear of the building, and were promptly suppressed by the firemen on duty.

AT THE FIRE

AN OPPORTUNIST. MAKING THE MOST OF IT. Outside the big fire last night the crowd adopted many expedients to obtain a view of the blaze. Several hun. dreds of people remained on till the end in most cheerful mood. Fire-en-gines were a favourite spot with the fair sex for a rest, and many were to be seen happily ensconced on step or driver’s seat. The smoke had filled most of Willis street, hut the crowd were quite oblivious of it. In Willis street several enthusiasts, musically inclined, kept choruses going, while every nook and cranny of the adjoining buildings from which one could obtain a view was occupied, while the top of the towering W.M.C.A. building was black with humanity. Turning into Herbert street, shouts of “Come and see the greatest pig on earth I” greeted the wayfarer. The proprietors of “Billy,” who had been closing down and thinking of bed when the alarm was given, had risen to the occasion in fine style. “Been doing great business,’’ said the possessor of tne voice in answer to a “Times” representative’s inquiry.