BIGGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12161, 8 February 1908, Page 2

BIGGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.

DAMAGE APPROACHING HALF " A MILLION. INSURANCES J8220,4fi0. (For United Press Association.) Ghristchurch, J?eli. 1. The most disastrous lire for many years broke out last night at W o'clock. Jb began iii tho furniture department of Strange and Co l.'s large drapery and general establish* menr. at tbo comer of High and Liehtield streets. Strapge's is ft wedge of buildings frontirig east antl south} and running westwards clown Lichfield stroet, and northwards along High street. In Licblield stroet are many wholesale warehouses, and in High stroet adjoining there are some of tho moat important retail husmsvsea in town. The fire had evidently bocome established before it was discovered, and it soon began to spread. All the Ore appliances were speedily out, and the brigades were taxed to their utmost ability; but it was quickly found that the contract was to large. The fire ran with marvellous rapidity from Strange's three-storey brick building to Malcolm and Co.'a warehouse, Lichfield street, thence to tho back portion of P. Hayman and Co. 'a, and after ravaging these, warehousse the lire attacked the D. I.C. This establishmont runs right through from Gashel street to Lichfield street, and it w.13 soon a mass of flames, "which, travelling with bewildering rapidity, seized Ash by, -Bergh. and Co. 's ironmongery, gutting it in a short time. All the while there was tire at. work at the 13.1.C. and the buildings al ready mentioned. Matters were leoliing vory serious. All the water tanks in the vicinity had givej out, and the engines had to be taken to the Avon river. The delay was disastrous, and the lire theu licked up Tribe's drapery; Hulbert vn 1 Seytr.aker's tailoring sLop; Free oan! 3 tea-room ; Williamson's drug store ; and Tucker's j 'wel lery shop. Gathering fierceness and force as it went, the tiro began to assail the White Hart Hotel. This tino building was erected only three years ago io brick and white stone, but a comparatively few minutis served to lay it in ruins, and it was gutted from floor to ceiling, llallenstem's clothing factory followed,and the flames were stayed now only by the collßpso cf Hallenstein's, whicti allowed the brigade to &et at the walls of Beath and Co,'s dtapery store. This was saved, and its salvation meaufc also that of the Al Hotel, at the corner of Cashel and Co'omho streets. Meanwhile the fire was getting in its work with tremendous vigour in the centre of the block, which is pierced by the rigbt-of-way leading to the wholesale warehouses already mentioned. The flames spread wiiiitreinendous speed, the tongues cf flame going out and licking up th& buildings in irregular order, but in the main the conflagration was coafined to the parts of the block named. Warden's fine building facing High street at the corner escaped so far as the front poriton was concerned, but the back was gutted. Maine's boot