FIRE AT FAMOUS CLUB

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19944, 31 October 1934, Page 2

FIRE AT FAMOUS CLUB

MEMBERS’ HURRIED ESCAPE Fire recently broke out in the restaurant at Crockford’s Club, Carlton House Terrace, London, one of the most famous bridge clubs in the world. When the alarm was given in the early hours of the morning between twenty and thirty people, including a number of members, were on the premises. Some of them had gone to bed and they, together with the staff and other members, ran into the street, some in their night-clothes. The firemen were able to confine the outbreak to the restaurant, but considerable damage was done to other parts of the premises by smoke and water. A number of members were in the poker room just above the dining room playing their last “hand” for the night, when the alarm was raised. “They dashed downstairs as hard as they could,” a member said, “and I believe one or two of them have gone home with the counters in their poc- j kets.” The fire was discovered by Mr W. F. Pawley, a young unemployed man who was sitting on a seat in the Mall. He T.-ae looking across at the club windows when he saw flames shoot out. They rose about twenty feet into the air. He immediately ran and broke the nearest fire alarm. Crockford’s Club is regarded u- a leading Centre for contract bridge Founded originally in 1829 in St. James’ Street, it became notorious for the high gambling that went on there. It was closed in 1849. In 1929 it was ( revived, however, and in March of this year took over the present premises in Carlton House Terrace from Lady Cowdray.