A TREMENDOUS BLAZE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 110, 15 June 1914, Page 7

A TREMENDOUS BLAZE.

SYDNEY WHARF ON FIRE* < SKY LIT UP FOR MILES. BIG STORE COMPLETELY GUTTED DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £75,060. • • By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright. SYDNEY, June 19. A fire at Darling Harbour destroyed a large portion of the North GermanLloyd's wharf;.,measuring 500 ft by 100 ft, and an eitensive range: of sheds, containing much wool, copra, and- other valuable ca£go. j ; The damage is roughly estimated at over £50,000. , The full force of the fire brigade, asr. sisted by men from the Australian -, warships, after a fierce the flames from spreading to '-adjoining • ' "• premises. ••• The steamer Tropic, jvhich • was moored at the adjoining wharf, was v « threatened, but water police and blue- " . . jackets succeeded in removing 1 her to ' ' safety. -• v, ' The fire was a brilliant spectacle, and lit u.p /the sky for •Thfe big two-decked , store, thg. wkple length of the which ■ was -filled with • merchandise, was completely gutted.. V [ Early in the fight it was realised that'' the' North German"wharf was doomed, • and effortis were concentrated' On saving" » D&lgety's and M 'llwraith 's wharves, adjoining on each side, while flying , debris threatened mora distant Wharves. Teasels at" anchor in the", vicinity - and a number of small craft ' were towed to safety" by the water police and blraejaekjeits at considerable risk. Only the unwearying efforts of the brigades, splendidly assisted by naval men, saved what threatened to be a much bigger * confirmation.' ' ? A strong jtyrce. of police , kept the immense Saturday night 'froni *; encroaching on the fire zone. ■So dehaifc were the crowds that manywomen fai'hted. ' " ■

A police sergeant He ■ landed' on the 'burning wharf/ i*nd the flames cut off- his to a boat. He dashed through >' tile fire to safety, but his. face and hands weye badly scorched. The ruins are still smouldering. Estimates of the damage rang *- up to £IOO,OOO. " ' , -. , BY• (Received June 15,- ij.li) a.m.) • SYDNEY, Jjjne 15. The 1 morning papers place the damago to the North German LloydCofripany 'a wharf at £75,000. • r It is covered by insurance..