DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LICHFIELD STREET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3380, 7 February 1879, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LICHFIELD STREET.

A most destructive fire, involving loss of property to a very large extent, occurred in Christchurch last evening. Although, unhappily, the block of buildings in which the outbreak occurred was totally destroyed, the task of the firemen afforded one of- fche finest exhibitions of untiring and undaunted energy ever scon in thia city. The alarm was given from tho Lichfield street station at a quarter to six, to be immediately taken up at Chester street, and in a short time it was widely known that the scene of the fire was the

large building in Lichfield street, the proporty of Mr W. Saunders. Ifc will be remembered fchafc tho firm has been known by the title of Messrs Saunders aud Henderson ; fche

latter gentleman, howover, retired from the partnership lasfc year. The building is of fcwo storeys, with a spacious cellarage, its extreme dimensions being 60 by 100 feet. In fche

'ronfc elevation there were three entrances,

thafc on fche left leading to the upper storey, which was exclusively used by Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, wholesale drapers, whose chief establishment is in Dunedin. The central door gave access to fche main portion of the ground floor, aboufc one third of tlie area, occupied by Mr H. B. Sorensen, who also dealt in general merchandise. The first alarm was given by a little girl, who was passing along Lichfield street, and saw smqko issuing from the southeast cornor of the building, and from fche lower portion. This was also seen by a man who was passing, bufc whose name did not transpire, and he immediately rang the bell. A few

moments after fcho alarm, Constables Cronin and Ferguson arrived, and these officers con-

firm the statement as to the portion of the building in which the fire originated. There seemed to be then no sign of flame, and the few persons who were present were led to believe fchafc could water have been afc onco poured in through a hole, which might easily have been cut wifch an axe, the place might readily have been saved. A minute or two more, and flame, could be seen through tho windows. Mr Cass and a few other gentlemen burst in ono of fche front; doors, and succeeded iv saving a number of fche account books, some papers, aud a cash- box bclongiug to Mr Saunders, whoso office was immediately within the entrance. More could not be done,

tho denso smoke driving baok the volunteers. Superintendent Harris was present afc aboufc nine minutes to 6, and then there was a large body of flame at the south-west corner, more particularly [at the upper part of the building, and as this park closely adjoined fcho Brigade Station, fears were naturally entertained that the fire prevention institu-

tion might itself be destroyed. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting out the plant, but by fche ready aid of some of the people who had collected, this was rapidly and orderly done. The Brigade's engines wero placed as follows : — The steamer Delugo at the sump of the Tuam street tank, tho steamer Extinguisher and the handengine Dreadnought at the tank opposite Mathoson's Agency. In an almost incredibly short time throe jets had been brought to bear on the rear and south-east corner of the building, and two others on the east side. A strong southerly breeze causod tho flames to spread with immense rapidity through the building, the floors of which were preserved chiefly as largo open spaces for the moro convenient storage of goods, and the inflammable nature of the greater part of the stock rendered the heat intense. The danger in which fche Brigade Station was placed, being only some six or seven feet from fche burning building, necessitated the laying on of one of tho lines of water on the western aide, and happily with good result. At this time the scene in tho yard, to the east and at the rear of the building, was immensely exciting. The firemen brought their axes into requisition, and steadily walking up to the series of furnaces thus oxposed, fought

the firo inch by inch, although ordinary mortals could not venture within many -feet of tho walls. Afc 10 minutes past 0, fche iron roof afc fche south-east corner crashed in, and then un enormous body of flame shot; "up, the firo at the same time having gained sufficient strength to burst out through tho windows in the front. All along the edges of the roof, and from every aperture, a dense, blinding smoke curled out, rendering the task of the firemen yet more difficult, whilo their danger waß augmented by the falling timbers and sheets of iron. A sharper gust; of wind than usual earned flakes of fire over into High street, and prcsontly an alarm was given that a fire had broken out in some rubbish lying against a wooden structure alongside the warehouse of Messrs Strange. A number of firemen and volunteers rushed across and beat out tho ilamc, and then they had to attend to a new source of danger. To the eastward of Mr Saunders' building, and separated therefrom by the yard, is a privato house, the property of Mr H. J. Hall, and tenanted by Mr F. Egan. The shingles of the roof caught fire repeatedly, but were each time extinguished by the free use of buckets of water. Superintendent Harris aboufc fchis time received a note from Mr Back, General Manager of Railways, stating that fche large railway fire engine had steam up, and was at his service if required. Superintendent Harris, however, deemed that 'at that stage ho had the fire well under control, and did not, therefore, avail himself of tho kind offer. In order to avoid any lessening of the force of water, Superintendent Harris gavo instructions afc seven o'clock for tho transfer of the steamer Extinguisher to the tank opposite tho premises of Messrs Wilson, Sawtell and Co., a detachment of men being told off for the purpose, and so promptly was tho order executed thafc in a little uuder ten minutes two jefcs from this new source were playing with full pressure upon the front of the building. Prior to this, a plucky feat had been performed, one or two of the firemen having got in through a window on the eastern sido, and brought out of

the storeman's office bouio smouldering books and papers, which will hereafter be of great service. Their position, absolutely surrounded as thoy were by a burning mass, was by no means an enviable one. On the opposite side of the building, Mr Buchanan gained access in a liko manner to Mr Sorcnsen's office, tho position of which ho know better perhaps than any one else, and secured various books and documents, one of his hands, however, being severely burned and cut. At twenty minuter past seven the firemen had fairly conquered, and now penetrated within the portions of the walls which were yet standing. The force of the water caused streams of calcined rice, bicarbonate of soda, sugar arid tea to pour out here and there. Holes being cut in the flooring at convenient places, the waste water was made to do duty in cooling the contents of the immense cellar, where, amongst other goods, Messrs King and Co. had a storage of butter sufficiently extensive to have, it is stated, a policy of £Loooupon ifc. Afc eight o'clock all danger was at an end, and thero was nothing left for tho men to do but to pour water upon the smouldering mass. With reference to the contents of the building, and eomraencing with the portion retained by Mr Saunders, the stock was a heavy and very varied one, and was roughly estimated by Mr Saunders to represeut a value of from £11,000 to £12,000, the value he places upon the building itself being £4000. A large quantity of tea and sugar had unfortu nately been taken into store from bond thafc day, tho last load being received at ten minutes past five, and duty amounting to £130 17s 6d was paid thereon. Bufc for the absence of railway employees at the picnic, ] some 30 extra tons of sugar would have beeu placed in the building. At the rear, and apparently at the point where the fire broke out, the storage included rice, soap, so:la, sugar, and tea. Further towards the centre of tho building were two iron tanks, in which wore stored, in tin-lined casea, a quantity of wax vestas, these, however, being the property of Mr Soreneen. Mr Sorensen^ stock consisted of oilmen and grocers goods, and was valued by him at botween £4000 and £5000. Tho stock of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen appears to have consisted for the most part of samples of drapery goods, there being comKrotively little in bulk. In the absence in inedin of Mr Brown, the manager, the estimated value could not be ascertained.

Owing to the lateness of the hour, and to the fact thafc some of fche insurance agents reside out of town, a precise statement of the insurances could not he secured, hut the following is approximately correct. Mr W. Saunders — Value of stock, say, £12,000 ; insurances, New Zealand office, £4000, South British £2500, Standard £1000, London and Lancashire £1000, total £8500. Value of building, £1000 ; insurance, New Zealand £1000, South British £500, Colonial £1000, total £2500. Mr H. B. Sorensen, value of stock (say) £5000 ; insurance, £3000 in fche Standard office. Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen, value of stock unknown; insurance, in the National office, £2000. Ifc was believed thafc there was a further sum in another office. Total value of known insurances. £16,000 ; total anticipated amount, £18,000. With the exception of £500 on Mr Saunders' stock, and of £1000 on Mr Sorensen's, fche Standard office is covered by reinsurances. Ifc has already been stated that Messrs King and Co. had a large quantity of butter stored in the cellar, which is said to be covered by insurance to fcho extent of £1000, bufc in which office was nofc definitely known. There was also a statement made thafc a policy £1000 on the building in the Union office had been permitted to lapse recently.

The origin of the fire is a matter for speculation. Assuming that it broke out in the corner where the smoke was first noticed, ifc ifc is mosfc diffculfc to account for the mishap. No fires were used, and Mr Dearsley, who hag been four years in fche employ of Mr Saunders, states fchafc he never saw smoking indulged in, within the building, by any of the employees. Mr Saunders was one of the lasfc to leave the building — afc aboufc half-past five — and was in nis Lordship's Larder when fche alarm of fire was given.

As has been intimated, the Brigade, under fche direction of Superintendent Harris, worked splendidly, never seeming to tire so long as the fight was a doubtful one, and the labours of the men had nofc ceased at a late hour, for after ten o'clock there was still a glow in the middle of the mass. Before this time the water in the tanks was becoming exhausted, and ifc was considered advisable to procure the powerful railway epgine, which could pump water from fche river. The engine was accordingly placed on fche river bank by St. Michael's Church, and ifc was then found fchafc the boiler leaked . so much as to render fche engine practically useless. The Deluge was placed there instead, and fed the Extinguisher, which was stationed uiidway betweon the river and the fire. Thus a continuance of the water supply was secured, although, by an amount of labour which ought never to be incurred in such cases. The firemen were not able to leave until fcwo o'clock this morning. The fire police, as usual, rendered good service, particularly in keeping back the immense crowd, and the regular police, under Inspector Hickson, mustered strongly and promptly. Scarcely any stock was saved ; that portion wliieh was least damaged was in the south-west corner of fche building, on the ground floor, and belonged to Mr Sorensen. A stack of chests of tea seemed to be but, little touched by fche fire.