Fires.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 376, 23 July 1903, Page 5

Fires.

A TIRE EXTINGUISHED WITH BEER! At mi early bow on Friday mornleg last it wai discovered that a portion of Mr Geddea's Criterion Club betel was eh fire. When noticed the fire had bused a hole through the . telling of the kitchen end had » fairly §am hold. On investigation being Bade it was found that the woodwork around the fire-place in the upstairs dining room was ablaze, the fire having evidently originated from the grate. All the available unfrozen water was promptly brought to bear on the fire, oat this wsi soon exhausted, and as •B the etwreet of water supply in the neighbourhood were found to be completely frozen up, the barrels of beer fa the bar cellar were drawn upon. From these buckets of beer were * speedily pumped, and the fire was finally extinguished by a liberal appli- . eation of Simpson and Hart's XXXX before any serious damage had been :*. On the same morning the residence r af Mr O. P. Beck had a narrow escape - from being destroyed by fire. When first discovered by Mrs Beck the Dames .'■ had a strong hold of the walls of the parlour, but by the timely assistance e! Mr T. P. Beck and members of the .. household the fire was finally mat* - *wed, although the water-supply was • very limited, A good deal of damage ;' was doue, however, The fire ia this (ate also originated from the grate. Both of the buildings are insured Zealand office.