THE RINK ON FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1132, 20 May 1911, Page 5

THE RINK ON FIRE.

/ A MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK. < /INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED. V.THE FLAMES~SMARTLY stjp- : PRESSED. ; 'A conflagration occurred at the Olym,pia Skating Rink, Vivian Street, early this morning/ under circumstances strongly suggesting that tho building had been wilfully set on fire. The seat of tho outbreak was underneath the floor of a small room at the front of tho building, used for the storage of skates. From this point tho firo spread for sonio distance beneath tiho floors of ■neighbouring rooms and obtained a slight hold on the front wall of tho rink, on tho right of tho main doorway.

The alarm was given at 0.6 a.m. Many of the firemen were at tho municipal ball, then in progress at tho Town Hall. Thero was a hurried out-pour-ing of fire-fighters, variously garbed. A number of them carried their firefighting garments in their hands as they made at top speed for Vivian street. The firo smartly, taokled, was quickly suppressed. Afterwards a fireman was left on watch all night, with a lead of hoso ready connected in caso a second outbreak occurred.

The most .serious, damage was done in the skate-room, beneath which tho .fire originated. The floor at this point is burned .through, and many of tho supporting timbers are badly damaged. The floors in small rooms adjoining aro also more or less damaged, and; in tho .alley-way, alongside the skating floor, a big,hole has been broken through tho floor. Outside the building part of tho wall was torn away'by the firemen in order'that they might reach the flames'; The greater part of the building isnndamaged. The fire did not reach any part of the skating floor, so that patrons of the. rink will bo enabled to pursue their pastime as usual, while' repairs are in progress. Luckily, most of the skates in the' skate-room escaped serious damage. They were stored ■ upon shelves running up the walls and only s. few pairs were burned. Suspicions of incendiarism are h'eight■encd by the fact that tho fire attained Its greatest hold close to tho front wall of the building. There were apertures at this, placo through which inflammatory materials could havo been inserted and there seemed absolutely nothing to account for an accidental outbreak.

A fireman stated that he lad heard that a quantity of shavings soaked in kerosene, was discovered a week ago close to the spot at which tho firo broke out this morning.