MYSTERIOUS FIRE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 63, 28 May 1928, Page 6

MYSTERIOUS FIRE

BIG BUILDING BURNED.

OUTBREAK AT, PICTON

Press Association— Copyright - BLENHEIM, This . Day. Another mysterious tire, in the early hours of Sunday morning, completely destroyed Jensen’s buildings at Plcton, containing between sixty ,ancl seventy rooms, in addition to shops, etc., on the ground floor. The buildings were erected twenty years ago, and were intended for hotel purposes, but a license was never' granted. The structure was more or less a white elephant ever since,, the only portion occupied at the time of the tire being two rooms on the ground floor, where C. E. Moffatt’s dental parlours were situated. , . ,

The, fire originated in the deserted upper, storey and spread with extraordinary rapidity, the concrete downstairs apartments serving as funnels for the admission of a draught to the upper wooden portions.

The fire spread to Mr C. E, Townshendls ten-roomed residence adjoinB ipg, but a fight by the brigade saved , it with more or less minor -damage. Jensen’s buildings were, completely destroyed. Following the destruction of the school last week, the fire is one of a series of rpysetrious outbreaks in Picton, and has caused som e uneasiness • amongst the townsfolk. The only- insurance on the building is £IOOO ,In the Royal. , .. Moffatt was covered for £760 in the same- office.' Townshend’s house wap insured for £1250,, and. th e contents IdD £450,, ;{ in the %n ; Qfiice.