THE FIRE AT LYTTELTON.
The special reporter of the Press thus describes the first sight of the fira as viewed on the arrival of train from Christchurch ; On the iiain running clear of the railway walls, the terrific scene in all its grandeur burst upon our view. Before us lay a veritable lake of tire, the flames leaping and hissing as if rejoicing in their deadly work ; the lurid glare lighting up with a Rembrandtlike color the hills in the back ground, and the ships in the harbor, every yard and rope being perfectly distinct, as in the full light of day. On the reclaimed land, as the Brigade trundled their hose-reel out mid got their steamer into position, might be seen whole families of six or eight little children, with their mother, half-dressed, crouching behind a heap of piled-up furniture, huddled close together for the sake of protection from the keen north-easter, which swept bitterly in from the sea. The poor little fellows raised a cheer as the train ran into the station, and they saw by the light glittering on the helmets of the men that help bad at last arrived. The steamer was soon got into position, and in thirteen minutes steam was up to 701bs aud two hose laid on —the Brigade having bad to erect a sort of scaffolding on casks with some timber lyiim near, over which to conduct their hose. The°vcry highest credit is due to the Fire Brigade for their pluck aud endurance on this occasion. They were under orders and hard at work from seven o’clock the preceding evening until six or seven o’clock last night. Several citizens of Lyttelton, too, deserve honorable mention. When the fire was at its height, the exertions'of the Messrs Allwright, La Nauze, Roper, A. Cuff, Packard, Capt. Wheeler (s.s. Taranaki) and his officers and men, aud others whose names I was unable to learn, were directed with the handengine towards saving the premises of Mathcsou’s Agency, the store lately occupied by Mr D. Davis, and the Post and Telegraph Office. The former buildings were saved almost intact, by a continuous stream of wat r being poured upon them, aud the latter, although of course much damaged by the intense heat and water, was, although several times on fire, ultimately saved from total destruction. I may hero mention that the absence of a gentleman holding the highest municipal office on this melancholy occasion was the theme of much unfavorable comment. The people seemed to be totally paralysed—the want of organisation being painfully apparent throughout—and I am assured by a competent person, who was present at the very commencement of the fire, that half a dozen buckets of water judiciously applied, and the very loosest organisation, would have prevented the melancholy events which we have recorded. I have already given an account of the spread of the conflagration, and wi 1 now give a short account of the appearance of THE EUINS NEXT DAV. From an early hour crowds of persons thronged by each train into Lyttelton from Christchurch, and such a mass of ruins nu % their view as astonished even those who had come prepared to seme cjxteut to sec a wide expanse of devastation. Ohe of the nioijt noteworthy relies of the lire was a small house situated in the very midst of the area which had been the centre of the fire, and which, although filled with oils, turps, and other inflammable matter, escaped almost scathless, SHE ORICp OF THE FIKE. As far can as 1 gather it appears that when the first alarm of fire was given, a person who was amongst the first to get into the room in which the fire originated found ’ several cases full of straw which were all in fiemos. No water was procurable for some time, and wjien it was the fire had got such a rna .tery that all efforts to stay i£ a progress was in vain. By what means the fire in this room is still a mystery,
as It appears no one went in there after 4 p.m , aiul there was no fire or light in the r join. APATHY OF THE LYTTELTON PEOPLE. A number of rumors were afloat respecting the apathy of the Lyttelton public in the matter. lam informed that on the Superintendent of the I'd re brigade asking for help to place the hose of the engine he was asked what lie was going to pay them for it. I cannot speak personally of this matter, but this I can say, that I never saw so many able-hodicd men looking on with folded arms at the progress of a fire before.
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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2363, 28 October 1870, Page 2
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782THE FIRE AT LYTTELTON. Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2363, 28 October 1870, Page 2
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