ONE OF EUROPE’S BIGGEST FIRES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 9

ONE OF EUROPE’S BIGGEST FIRES

Heart of Marseilles Destroyed

Death Roll Exceeds One Hundred

Young Women Trapped in Flames United Press Association—By E'-ectric Telegraph —Copyright MARSEILLES, October 28. It is feared that 100 lives were lost and many critically injured in one of the greatest fires in modern Europe which devoured the heart of the Marseilles shopping and hotel area. Five acres of buildings in two blocks surrounding the city’s main street, the world-famous Canebiere, were destroyed. The fire began in the famous store, the Nouvelles Galaries, in which 300 employees became panic-stricken and jammed the doors. Several were injured and it is unknown how many were trapped on the upper floors Four girls jumped from third storey windows, one being killed. Blazing Inferno The building was an inferno within half an hour and the fire brigades were unable to approach closer than 200 feet because of the heat. The flames licked 40 yards across the street and set fire to three hotels, including the Denouailles at which the French Premier (M. Daladier) and the Ministers attending the Radical Con-

gress were staying. After nightfall 300-foot flames were visible for miles at sea. Ten thousand Senegalese troops rushed up and cordoned off the centre of the city. The terriffic explosion in the Nouvelles Galleries swept flames and burning fabrics hundreds of feet into the air, setting fire to more buildings. The store itself collapsed with a roar like

thunder. The flames are subsiding, but the casualties will not be known before morning. Two cinemas, a bank, the Air France offices and numerous shops and offices have been destroyed. State Documents in Danger Police rushed into the Hotel of Denouailles to recover vital State documents, which were locked in the Ministers’ rooms. It is feared that some have been lost.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as the city was under a blanket of smoke, causing a temporary panic, in which armed troops put down looting. Members of the Foreign Legion held back frantic people who were trying to rush into the danger zone to seek relatives.

All the fire brigades were called out, and they were reinforced by brigades of troops, who were brought in special trains from Lyons and Toulon.

MOUNTING DEATH ROLL PROBABLE CAUSE OF OUTBREAK United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 30, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 29. Reuter’s Marseilles correspondent says it is feared the death roll from the fire will exceed all previous estimates. The official list names 46 who have disappeared. All were employees of Nouvelles. At least 30 were having tea, or were off duty, yet they have not been located. There is no longer any danger of a fresh outbreak, but it is impossible to begin p search of the ruins before the afternoon. Ghostly bluish smoke is rising to the clouds as the firemen continue to deluge the embers. The first hint of the cause of the fire is the suggestion that the workmen’s oxygen flowpipcs on the first floor of Nouvelles were responsible. The prefect of the Bouches-Durhone Department has been criticised, because it is alleged the fire brigade was inadequately equipped, and the water supply and hoses were insufficient. Moved by Roll Call The survivors of the staff of Nouvelles Galeries weepingly assembled to hear th? roll call of employees. It is believed many were trapped In the lift. Thieves, taking advantage of the confusion ransacked the rooms in t ie hotel Denouailles. Troops blew down the walls in order to prevent a fall in a dangerous direction. A man clinging to a rope over a beam, in the hope of launching himself to safety, was suddenly hoisted to the second story by a heavier man clinging on the other end. Both, after see-sawing dropped into the flames. One was rescued. A policeman caught four girls in his arms, after leaping from the flames. The total damage is £500,000.