FIRE IN PRINCES STREET.

Evening Star, Issue 2920, 28 June 1872, Page 2

FIRE IN PRINCES STREET.

At fifty-five minutes past three o’clock this morning Constable Fitzpatrick, who was on duty in Priuces-street, had his attention arrested when passing Farley’s buildings by the noise of falling crockery ware. On turning round he discovered smoke issuing from the shop windows of the brick premises next to the Glasgow Pie House and occupied by Messrs M'Leod and Matheson. He at once raised the alarm, and as quickly as possible conveyed intelligence of the fire to the Tower watchman, by whom the smoke had not been observed, owing to the mist. Before the bell rang, a few persons had assembled in front of the burning building, but it was plain nothing could be done, even in the way of removing goods, as there was a strong body of fire in the lower storey, while from the rear the flames had already burst through the windows there. Very few minutes elapsed after the bell rang before the Fire Brigade had two streams of water playing on the fire, one pouring through the front windows, and the other playing at the back. There was an excellent pressure, we should say about lG4lbs, but the hose was unable to stand it, and in Princes street the length burst at a moment when the flames appeared to be strongest. The easing of the pressure and the coupling on of another length was but the work of a couple of moments, and the streams were kept playing till the fire was completely subdued, which was accomplished iu less than half an hour from the alarm being raised. This is the first brick building which has taken tire since the introduction of water into the City, and the result showed that in like circumstances, and with an equally good pressure, the Brigade can easily confine the fire within the walls of the building in which it commenced. This feeling of security was shown by the' proprietors of the Glasgow Pie House, who did not remove a single article from the premises, though at one time the danger to their building was very imminent. On the occasion of the last fire we remarked upon the disrepair of some ef the hose; but no notice appears to have been taken of the matter by the Corporation, though the Brigade months ago applied for some new' lengths. Perhaps when the hose now in stock is wholly unserviceable, the Corporation will think of getting new. As to the origin of the fire there can be ne conjecture. The shop was closed as usual last evening at half-past six o’clock, by the assistant storeman, Sir Kirk, who says ho

left it all right, with a small fire burning in the office grate. That the fire originated near the office, which was at the rear of the building, admits of no question. There the heat of the fire was, as the present appearance of the building shows. Near the office stood six cases of kerosene, one ot Which had been opened the afternoon previous for testing purposes, but, strange to say, the contents did not ignite. The names appear to have caught the straircase which led from the side of the office to the show rooms up stairs, and made a clean sweep of that story, which even presents a worse appearance than the shop, in which the contents of the shelving furnished food for the flames, because most of the goods placed there were thickly wrapped m paper. The stock on the premises proper was completely destroyed, not a single article being saved. The strong streams of water poured into the building were sufficient to bring down whole shelves ; leaving the floors covered with broken glassware. That which escaped the water is so damaged by the action of the fire, as to be valueless ; indeed all the glassware crumbles to pieces on being touched. The rear wall of the building is greatly damaged by the action ot the fire ; and will require to be pulled down. At the rear of the building are some sheds, which are well filled with goods, but these were untouched by eitner fire or water. The building was the property of Mr G. H. Campbell, who also owns the stock, Messrs M'JLeod a,nd Matheson having lately leased the retail department; while Mr Campbell carried on the wholesale business under the same roof. The building was insured for L.IOOO, the Northern holding A policy for LSOO, and the New Zealand Company one for LSOO. The stock is insured as follows :—New Zealand, L 2,500 ; Northern, LI,500; Liverpool, London, and Globe, L 2.000; Victoria, LI,000; total, LB,OOO. We hear that an enquiry is likely to take place into the origin of the fire.