A TERRIBLE FIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4771, 24 January 1887, Page 2

A TERRIBLE FIRE.

FOUR MEN CRUSHED TO DEATH. HEARTRENDING SCENES. BANK OF N. Z. LOSES £75,030. Donedin, last night. This afternoon a fire broke out in the large factory of the Iron and Woodware Company. The fire broke out; near tho ftngino house and spread rapidly through the highly inflammable material full of all the latest and most improved machinery. A large quantity of furniture was removed from tho show rooms and warehouse, but as most of it was lowered from the windows it suffered severely in handlin". Two or three heavy explosions of powder took place, but did no damage, and there was quite a fusilade of firing as the cartridges exploded and could be heard. It is difficult to account for tho fire. The night watchman left everything safe at 8 in the morning when leaving tho premises. The Iron and Woodware Company is practically the Bank of New Zealand, and tho los 3is estimated at £150,000, of which about £75,000 is covered by insurance. A fireman named McFarlane had his leg broken, and several others wero hurt, but when the walls fell it is almost certain that loss of life occurredWhen the staircase at the back of the furniture room fell there were a number of people in the building, and at least four of these must have perished by the falling debris, and it has been found impossible to get them out. One of these is a young man, Esquillant, another is named Miller, and a third is a sailor whoso name is unknown. There is many tons of debris on top of the material on those persons who are still alive. Superhuman efforts are being made to rescue them, and possibly they may be got out alive. Dr §rown is among the ruins close to Esquillant, who has piteously requested him to- administer chloroform, or in some other way put him outf of his tuUery^ To-day. Last night two of those buried were rescued alivo and two were got out dead. When tho first fall took place, Wallace, a seafaring man, was buried up to his waist. A number were engaged in trying to rescue him by prising up the things covering him, when tho whole two floors above save way, and penned three more, they being— Miller, a carter in tho employment of the Company, Esquillant, a young man who is a son of a bookbinder in Duneclin ; the other is unknown. It took hours of hard work amid great heat and smoke before the bodies wera recovered. Esquillant and Wallace wero alive, but Miller and the other man were dead. Wallace died about 10.30 p.m. He was a. sailor on the Waimate, and was 27 years of ago. Eaquillant died a few minutes afterwards. Drs Brown, Ferguson, and Mclntyre (Timaru) were on the scene for live hours to render service, and while, in a dangerous position they administered choloform to Esquillant and Wallace. Tne men and doctors who were working to release them did so at the peril of their own lives, and the way all worked was admirable. The fire is still burning away and will do so for days. The furniture warehouse is still standing, but is gutted.