THE HAMILTON FIRE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue V, 30 July 1898, Page 135

THE HAMILTON FIRE.

Our illustrations represent the havoc wrought by the recent fire in Hamil-

ton by which fifteen places of business were destroyed and a loss of about £ 12,000 incurred. The fire originated in a fancy goods shop owned by Mr Scott and from what cause has not been ascertained. A little before ten o’clock in the evening a Mr Kirk, who was passing along the street, noticed smoke issuing from the building and Immediately broke in the doors. He found the place in flames and imme-

diately gave the alarm. Very shortly afterwards a number of willing workers assembled and endeavoured with buckets of water to extinguish the fire; but their efforts proved unavailing. A strong wind was blowing and soon the flames had spread to an adjacent. building on both sides of the street. Later on, when it seemed that the progress of the conflagration had been arrested, a spark fell between the premises of Mr .1. A. Young and Mr L. Sutton. If a hose had been available the incipient fire at this point could easily have been put out; but, as it was, there was no means to extinguish the flames and they soon had overpowered the building. The fire made a clean sweep of Miss Redmond’s and Messrs Coyle’s and McMahon’s shops and threatened the old Hamilton Hotel. In spite of a plenti-

ful supply of water this building succumbed and it was by a miracle that the adjacent house of Mr Sandes was saved. The names of the sufferers by the fire are as follows;—Those of

Mr Scott, fancy goods shop; Mr Qualtrough, butcher; Mr Horne, grocer; Mr Harker, jeweller; Mr Going, saddler; Mr Davey, grocer; Mr Taylor, tinsmith: Mr McMahon, bootmaker;

Mr Coyle, carpenter; Miss Redmond, dressmaker; Mrs Muis, dressmaker; Mr Young, dentist; Mr Sutton, livery stableman; Mr Mclntyre, tobacconist; and Mr Bright, hotel.