FIRE ON LAMBTON QUAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 68, 14 December 1920, Page 6

FIRE ON LAMBTON QUAY

CLOTHING SHOP DAMAGED

A fire occurred yesterday at about 6.50 p.m. in premises No, 128 Lambton Quay, occupied bjr Mr. K. E. Dromgool, men's outfitter, with the result that the building was seriously damaged, and a largo portion of the stock, which was considerable, destroyed. Tho .brigade succeeded in quenching tho ilamcs without mucli trouble, although by the time the alarm was Riven tho fire had gained a considerable hold.

The cause of tho outbreak is unknown. Prom information supplied to the policn it appears that the occupant, of the premisps left' tho shop at about G.'JO p.m., there being then no sign of smoke or flames. At about ten minutes to seven flames were seen issuing from the roof and windows, and the brigade was instantly summoned. The building, which is a two-storr structure, is the property of Messrs. Gilmer and M'Ciuirc, and is insured in tho Atlas Office for an amount which it was impossible to ascertain last night, 'l'lio South British Office holds insurance amounting to <£2003 over the contents of tho building, the stock being insured for ,£IBSO and the fittings for .£IOO, with a •CSO. policy over a cash register. Premises adjoining tho damaged building, No. 126, were slightly damaged by the outbrenk» but no material harm was done to them. Tho front of the building is badly burnt, and the ceiling has bcon practically destroyed. The second story only extends over the front part of the building, and what littlo material there was upstairs was not seriously damaged. Iho fire evidently commenced at the war ot the shop, as the appearance of that portion after the outbreak had been quelled indicated that the ilanies had licked :thcir way from the wainscoting of the rear wall- to tho sides of the shop. As there wore rows of shelves, reaching to the ceiling, and well stocked with such goods as lints, shirts, underwear, and the like, once tho liames reached the side walls their growth must have been rapid. There is scarcely an article in the shop that lias not been rendered absolutely unsaleable, and the confused rows ot charred, blnckencd clothes, on lire-swept shelves, hats, some partially burnt, some Wing on the floor in pools ot water, presented a sorry sight. On tho left-hand side of the shop the goods wore iburnt as they lay on llic shelves, and weie found black as a cindor in then- 01^ r ° wf j The telephone, wiiicu is at the tear of the room, was completely destroyed. Much damage naturally has been <!«ne by water, and the plateglass windows and the glass door are ruined.