EXTENSIVE FIRE IN SYDNEY. DAMAGE £100,000.

Evening Post, Issue 158, 10 August 1865, Page 2

EXTENSIVE FIRE IN SYDNEY. DAMAGE £100,000.

Last night a fire, which proved most disastrous in its cousequences, broke out in the premises of Messrs. John Frazer and Co., at the corner of York and Barrack streets, The premises in question are extensive three- story wholesale warehouses, and consisted of two buildings, divided by a part}' wall. Messrs. Frazer and Co's business was one of the most extensive in Sydney, and the premises were full of goods of all descriptions, some of them of a verj' inflammable kind. The fire was first observed in the top floor of the northernmost of the houses, and in a few minutes had attained such a hold of the mass of goods in the store* that any chance of getting it under was wholly out of the question. Several fiic engines were on the spot, but at that time the flames had burst out through the window, and were spreading so rapidly to other parts of the premises that any attempt to check their progress within the building was utterly ltopeltss. The premises on the north, occupied by Messrs. Berens, Levi. and Selinmann, wholesale importers of jewellery, were in the most imminent clanger, in consequence of the wind driving the masses of flame and portions of the burning goods in that direction. With the view of preventing the spread of the fire to these premises, great exertions were made by the firemen to pour a heavy stream of water from the back upon the roof. This was effectual in preventing the extension of the flames northward ; but on the south of the burning house was the other extensive store, occupied also by Messrs. Fraser and Co., and although this building did not seem in. much danger at first, it was soon perceived from the volume of smoke issuing trom the windows, that it was doomed to rapid destruction. In less than an hour al*er the fire was discovered the flames from this building burst out of the top windows in a very sudden manner, and in a few minutes the whole place was one mass of fire. The fire in the house iv which it broke out had before this time reached the ground floor, an I the mass of ignited matter was so great that the intensity of the heat rendered it difficult for the firemen, and others who were zealously assisting, to remain in the street. The second house was fortunately a corner one, and b} r this means the^ionflagration was stayed from extending in a southerly direction. By about half-past ten the premises had been completely gutted, and it was seen that the walls were in clanger of falling into the streets. Fortunately this was perceived in time, and those engaged at the engines and the spectators were enabled to get out of the way before

the Yor@4((reet and the Barrack-street fronts f}^ piecemeal across the streets. Rome iifiW^w escapes occurred ; but, fortunately, no accident happened to life or limb. By eleven o'clock, it was evident that the fire would be got under without extending to any other premises than those of Messrs. Fraser and Co. The residents not only in the vicinity of the premises, but at a considerable distance, perceived a smell of 1 urning materials long before it was acertained where thu fire was; and the streets were filled with what looked like a London fog a considerable time before the alarm of fire was given. The wind at first blew strongly from the south-west, but moderated shortly after the fire broke out, or the consequences would, in ail probability, have been far more disastrous than they were. '1 he mass of burning materials which filled the horizon, and fell upon the roofs of the houses at a considerable distance alarmed many persons for the safety of their premises, but fortunately no further damage was done than was occasioned by the hurried removal of property. The business of Messrs. Fraser and Co. wns of equal, if not of greater extent than that of any other firm in Sydney We have heard the loss variously stated at from £60,000 to £100,000.— Sydney Empire, July 21.