NARROW ESCAPE- FROM FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

West Coast Times, Issue 1187, 13 July 1869, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE- FROM FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

AN INCENDIARY AT WORK.

(FRO3I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Greymoutu, Monday.

A felonious attempt was made last night to set fire to the premises of Messrs Sampson and Cook, furniture dealers, in Tanner-street, and which, but for the prompt measures taken by the members of the Fire Brigade, would have destroyed a whole block of buildings, and perhaps the whole of the town. . About two o'clock this morning the people of the house adjoining were roused from their sleep by the crackling noise and the smoke issuing from the house of Sampson and Cook, and at ones gave the alarm. The Fire Brigade turned out, and the engine was brought to the scene of action in a few minutes.

That this has been a premeditated? carefully-laid plot, there can be no doubt, as a whole heap of shavings and palings, with other combustibles, were found under the house, and the fire must have been burning for some time before the discovery was,made, as the flooring-boards under the house were smouldering away in different places. Fortunately the building was a new one, and the wetness of the timber prevented the flames from strikiug through. Had it been otherwise, the house would have been in a blaze before any notice could be taken of it.

The inhabitants of Greymouth are greatly alarmed, and it is supposed by many that the t late disastrous fire which destroyed the blocks only a short time ago, originated in the same manner, the fire having been kindled under the house, and burned through the floor of the billiard-room in the Melbourne Hotel, which was the place where tho fire was seen first.

A meeting will be held by the leading business men of the town, and it is proposed to offer a reward for such information as will lead to the discovery of the perpetrators of this attempt.