CLEAN SWEEP

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 76, 9 March 1931, Page 6

CLEAN SWEEP

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE BIG BROADWAY BLAZE THREE SHOPS BURNED The fire early on Sunday morning which "broke out in the premises of Mr. J. Walker (draper and fancy good emporium) in Broadway, completely destroyed the building and stock and also gutted the shops occupied by Mr. W. Lonsdale (confectioner) on the north side, and Mrs. E. M. Loose (confectioner) on the south side. The brigade turned out under Deputy-Superintendent E. Brocklebank at 3.20, and were faced with a raging furnace in the back portion ot Walker's buildings, which were of iron and wood. The brigade was on 'the scene within three minutes of (he sound of the iirebell, and rushed out one hose in Broadway and later put one round Lightband and Wann'S right-of-way to get at the seat of the lire, followed by a third lead over the roof. "It was a hot job," stated the dep-uty-superintendent to the Stratford "Post." The men were driven back by the heat when they were making valiant attempts to keep the lire from spreading round the brick wall to Lightband and Wann's premises, and another lead over the roof was found necessary. This proved successful, and a wonderfully good save was effected. Flames Work Back The brigade fought the Haines in Walker's, and stopped them reaching the frontage, so that afterwards to the passerby on Broadway there was little sign of the tragic events in tne dawn of the day. The brigade had completed their work about five o'clock and were resting, when another alarm was sounded, calling them to Loose's shop, to which the flames had access over the iron wall at the side in the rear of the building. A fireman had inspected tuts roof a short time previously and could see no sign of fire, but within a quarter of an hour there was a blaze through the roof, it was extinguished in a very few minutes. Mr. 1). Butcharts tailoring department adjoins Loose's, and smoke damage was done in the workroom, but the stock and fittings escaped. Messrs. Lightband and Wann congratulate themselves to-day on their escape from heavy loss, and the value of the brick wan in keeping out the fire was invaluable. There were at least two dozen motor-cycles on the premises, as well as dozens of bicycles and stocks of all descriptions, evidence of the narrow escape w|i to be seen to-day high up on the sine wall near the lire, where smoke had discoloured the painting and there were signs of the heat being intense at the pofnt. Damage to the leather goods was done in the shop. At the back a skyligut over the workshop was broken, but the only damage was by water from the hoses. • The attractive shelves and bargain counters of Walker's splendid display as they appeared on Saturday night are to-day a smoke-begrimed mass of odds and ends. The front windows contain the articles of women's apparel, gloves and hosiery on the stands but these sustained damage. A few loads of stuff from the bargain store were removed yesterday by Mr. Walker after the insurance representatives had beeu there and permission had been given to commence the work of clearing away the debris. But the firemen were still on guard this morning in the interest of the underwriters.

Walker's safe Was rescued intact. The books were found to be Avetbut the entries were legible. Hundreds of people were attracted to the fire on the alarm being given, and the progress of the fire and the work of the fire brigade were followed with interest and awe-struck countenances as the Fire Fiend did his vile work.

'The shops occupied by Messrs. Lonsdale and Walker were owned by Mr. J. K. Amesbury, late of Stratford, and were wooden and were 2li years old. The shop of Mrs. Loose is owned by Broadway Buildings, Ltd., and is also of wood. Mr. Walker's stock was insured for £5,000, of which a:2,500 is held by the' South British Company and £2,500 by the New Zealand Insurance Company. The fittings were in« sured for £OOO in the New Zealand Company and the cash registers for £2OO in the Ocean Accident Company. Mr. Lonsdale has his stock and fittings insured for £7OO in the Commercial Office, while Mrs. Loose's stock and fittings are insured with the Eagle Star Company for £350.

-Mr. Walker estimates his loss at up to £1,500. He had just taken delivery of £4OO worth of seasonable goods in which are included ( £175 worth of uniforms for pupils of the Stratford Convent, fur coats, furs and a big shipment of blankets. The origin of the fire is a mystery. Mr. Walker and one of his assistants, Mr. It. Siddels, were the last to leave the shop at 9.30 p.m. on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Lonsdale left their premises at about 11 p.m., when the fire they had been using was practically out. Included in Mr. Lonsdale's stock were three big indent orders that had arrived during the past fortnight. Mr. Lose was the last to leave his wife's shop at 11.20 p.m. The fire was first noticed by Mrs. L. Wann, who with her husband occupies the living premises above Messrs. Lightband and Wan's cycle shop and garage next door to Lonsdale's. At 3 a.m. a policeman on duty tried the door of Mr. Walker's shop and saw no sign of fire. At 3.10 a.m. Mrs. Wann woke to hear a crackling noise. x\larmed and thinking the noise might be caused by burglars, she woke Mr. Wann, Avho noticed a tongue of flame next door. He promptly rang the deputy-super-intendent of the brigade, Mr. E. Brocklebank, who is in charge in the absence of Superintendent L. B. Davis.