BIG FIRE AT SYDNEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 5

BIG FIRE AT SYDNEY.

HEAVY LOSSES A PATHETIC INCIDENT* Australian-N.Z. Cabin Association, lion.—Copyright, f Sydney, July .27. ■ Fire destroyed the premises of Jame* ■Slcdman, Ltd., confectioners. The outbuak was marked by tarriflo explosions vliieh caused tlie flames to spread to the adjoining premises. Tlie Grand Onlial Hotel and Edwards and Dunlop's wurehouse suffered a slight damage. The fire was the largest in the city for many; years. ■ ' Tlie fire is still burning, but it is well in band. A rough estimate of the dam« >7>: runs into six figures. The Grarul Central Hotel was crowded witli boarders and many escaped in their iiijjlit clothes. It was a chilly morning. Tbeadjevning streets were crowded with! their belongings. At the time of the outbreak, Mr. Sted:.ian and his wife were at the hospital attending the deathbed of their son, and Atere unaware of the fire. After the d-.ath they made their way to the scene i and discovered that a double misfortune,, ' had befallen them, FURTHER DETAILS. • i Received July 27, (1.55 p.m. Sydney, July 27. The fire brigade made a splendid saye in a difficult job. Stedman's was a Urce-storey building, with a wide floor »nnee, stretching from Clnrence to Kent Streets and packed with highly inflammable material and much valuable iuachinerv. It was surrounded on »1\ hides by big buildings. Stedman's was gutted right through. 'ilu- hotel, Grand Central, was aittj severely damaged, particularly fifty on sixty rooms on the upper floofs by flr«» vnilst almost the whole building was saturated with water. The Edwards anil Dun lop Company's warehouse on the one side of Stedman's and the. David Mitchell Company, on the other aide were slightly damaged by fire. Bothj are. heavy losers by water. Other sufferers to a lesser extent are. Persons Brothers, jam and Woollen's soap factory. Falling walls disorganised the telephone and telegraph service. There was much excitement at tha r lrand Central Hotel, the people sleeping on the top floors being hurriedly roused anl found the flames breaking through the windows with clouds of smoke. Some had difficulty in reaching the staircase, e-"aping in the scantiest raiment. Two irvalids wore carried out, and had'some narrow escapes. Stedman's insurances amount toi f52,548, including £3OOO in the New! Zealand office, and £31)00 in the South! iritisb. Other firms were largely c.uered, The damages are estimated, at, £150,000.