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Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1896, 3 April 1875, Page 3

Refebrikg to tha late fire at Invercargili, the Southland News says:—Only by the happiest chance was it possible to aw a'ten the occupants of the Albion, the upper floors of which formed a perfect nest of sleeping apartments. There could not nave been less than sixty persons, the awakening of many of whom was a work of much difficulty. It; is believed that all got c'ear of the building, but there were several narrow escapes, and it is not yet positively certain that no life has been lost. Some of the lodgers were seen to drop from the second storey—-a height of 20ft-into the street; happily without receiving more serious injury than bruises. Very little of the contents of any of the buildings was saved, except from the draper) premises of Messrs Lewis, deed, and Co. Here the exertions of the volunfeera were instrumental in throwing out a large quantity of goods, but almost at a matter of course, they were much dasaaged by water and fire. ' This firm, we believe; will be the heaviest losers in amount- by the' disaster, having recently made extensive additions to dtock not yet covered by insurance.. Mesm Aldridge, Dean, and Wittwer bate lost everything, and were, we learn uninsured. . The loss by the fire is approximately estimated at £26,000—probably below the mark-r^ke greater portion of which i» not sofirti;bj inwaaee. ,o-. ,v ■...- --;;,." •{ viw