GREAT FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1464, 24 January 1887, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

LOSS 01? LIFE. Dunedin, January 23. Shortly after one o'cluok this afternoon, a fire, which assnmed very largo proportions, broke oat m the large factory of ihe Dunedin Iron and Woodware Company, The. premises, which cover about two aorta (f ground m a square bloik, and 6xtend from Prinoeaa atrtet to Bond atreet, having also a third frontage to Manor ttreet, were burnt about ten yeara ago, when belonging to Guthrie and Larnach's Woodware Uompany. They were then rebuilt on a much more extensive aoale, the large furniture warehouse and uffioea being four stories high. The fire appears to have broken out dose to the engine-houße, ani spreading rapidly through thehighly iDflimmab'e material m ihe factory, which was full of all the latest and moat improved maohinery, soon had everything there m ruins, and aftar burnIng about half an hour, the walla f ell wltb a fearful crash into the street. The Fire Brigade were working hard to cope with the body of flamei, whioh were fearful m the centre of the building, and as there was a stout brick wall between the offices and faotory, it was though they might save the latter. The flames steadily gained, as the building was so extensive that very little water could be got to reach the centre, where a large fife was raging. The wind had carried the fire away from the direotion of tbe engine-house, where it first started, but when it got hold of the offices the flames worked their way back again to the Bond street frontage. Water was poured od the fire staadily, and a large quantity of furniture was re. moved from showrooms and warehouse, but as most of it was lowered by ropea from the windows it suffered severely. There w»s a tremendous orowd present, and as an alarm of powder being on the premises waa raised, they were running about wildly, although never interfering with the salvage work. There was a considerable quantity of cartridges In the bnlldlog, and theae could be heard popping off m a regular fusillade, but the roar of the fire and the falling roofs and wal a drowned It. Two or three heavy explosoins of powder took place, but did no ihe fire originated Is a mystery. There is a night watchman, but he la not on duty on Sunday during day time, but as he left everything safe about eight o'clock this morning, it is diffioulc to account for the fire starting when and where it did. The Iron and Woodware Company Is practically the Bank of New Zealand, and the loss is estimated at fully £160,000, of whioh about £76,000 is ooveredby Insurance divided among nearly every Company doln;» business here. All aorta of wild rumors were ourrent as to firemen being injured when the walla kept falling, but so far aa could be ascertained only one was hurt— Fireman MoFarlana, who had b ib leg broken, feveral others reoelved severe outs, wounds, or brluses by falling glass, timber, etc,, but they kept hard at work. n was with some difficulty tbe fire was kept from jumping across Princes street, but the buildings there were kept soaked with water. There 1b no danger of the fire extending now, unless a fierce gale springs up, but it will burn for many hour* yet. It Is almost oertain that lo3s of life has occurred. When the Btaircaae at the baok of the furniture department fell there were a number of people m the building, and at least four of them were penned by the falltag debris, and It has been found impossible to get them oat. One of these is a young man named Esquilant, another Is named Millar, and the third is a sailor whose name is unknown. There are tons of debris on top of the material above theae persons, who are still alive. Superhumau efforts are being made to resoue them, and It Is possible they may be got out alive. Dr. Brown is close to young EsqulUnt, who has plteously requested him to give ohloroform t) him, or m some other way put him out of his misery. Mr Henderson, the manager, was near the spot when the stairs fell, and narrowly escaped. - Dunedin, January 24. In connection with the fire at the Woodware Company's premiaeu, two of those burled were rescued alive and two were dead. It appears when the first fall took place, one man, Wallace, a seafaring man, was buried up to the waist. A number were engaged trying to rescue him by prising up tbe things covering him when the whole two floors above gave way, and pinned three more. One waß A. Miller, carter In the employ of the Company ; the other waa E. Esquilant, a young man, who Is son of a bookbinder In Dunedin j the fourth is unknown. It .took five hours' bard work among great heat and smoke before the bodies were recovered. Eequilant and Wallaoe were •live, Miller asd the other dead. Wallaoe died about 10.30. He was a sailor on board the Bhlp Walmaie, aad wbb 27 years of age. Etquilant died a few minutes afterwards. Drs. Brown, Ferguason, and Molntyre (Tlmaru) were on the scene for five houra to render service In the dangeroua position; They administered ohloroform to EsquUant and Wallace. The men and dootorß who were working to relieve them did so at the peril of their lives, and the way all worked waa admirable. The fire Is atlll burning, and will do so for daya. The furniture warehouse Is still standing but gutted. 6>