Fire and Panic.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8055, 2 November 1897, Page 4

Fire and Panic.

The Wellington Post remarks as follows : — While business was going on briskly at the Garrison Band Fancy Vnir on Friday night, and the crowded gathering was enjoying itself to the utmost, a cry of "Fire" was suddenly raised, causing general consternation, ilost of those present made a wild rush for the doors, and for a short time the scene was one of excitement and danger ; mothers were racing round looking for their charges, children screaming for their parents, and men-folk endeavoring to pacify their startled companions, ll is marvellous that no one was hurt in Iho hurry to gel outside, for the steps lending into Vivian street were densely packed by struggling peoplo intent on .self-preservation. It appears that some small boys in playing about the building loosened the strings attached to the. screen above the stage, and brought it into contact with one of the gas jets, with the result that it instantly flared up, setting alight other material in the vicinity. Several members of the band, as well as persons in the audience, promptly pulled down and extinguished the burning articles, and so ended the danger. Bandsman Goodchild, who was very prominent in this work, severely burned his left hand ; so also did another young man. To add to the excitement a man who had clambered on the rafters to pull away some of the flags, etc. , stood upon a temporarily fitted up gas-pipe, which gave way beneath his weight, and he fell with a cr^sli to I lie floor. There was a general cry of " Turn out the gas," and this was done after some difficulty, damage being caused to the meter in the operation. The fallen man was carried outside, where it was found that beyond a swollen wrist he had sustained no serious injuries. From the stage Bandmaster Herd and the members of his band assured the people that there was no further danger, and the musicians ultimately struck up ti lively air, which calmed the feelings of the timorous. The h'rebclls sounded an alarm, and Captain Kemslcy and the brigade were soon on the spot, but their services were not required. The old proverb that "It is an ill Mind that blows nobody good " was exemplified in the band's experience, for, on the locality of the fire being knoMn in the city, there was quite a rush to the rink, which helped materially to swell the attendance and the takings. It was, however, some time before business resumed its normal course.