PRINCES STREET FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3341, 4 November 1873, Page 3

PRINCES STREET FIRE.

An inquiry into the origin of the fire discovered at an early hour of yesterday morning in the shop of Mr M. Fleming, hoot and shoe maker, Princes street, was held this afternoon in the Octagon Hotel. The evidence adduced was as follows ; , . . -n • Constable Gallagher was on duty in Princes street about 3 a.m. yesterday morning. W hen in the vicinity of the Queen’s Theatre heard a noire, and on looking along the street saw a bright light shining through the windows of Fleming’s shop. On going to the shop, found the door was not fastened. On going inside saw the counter burning. The apartment was chock full of smoke. The flames were extending about half way up to the roof. He shut the door and gave the alarm. "Went round to the back of the premises, and saw Mr Fleming and his family getting outside the door. They did not appear to bo dressed. Witness went round again to the front, where he saw a stranger, whom he directed to give the alarm at the Hire Bell Tower. A few minutes afterwards two gentlemen came, and some buckets were got from the Criterion Hotel, and in that way the fire was extinguished. The flame seemed to be fed by the wood of the counter. There was no smell as of kerosene or burning fat, or anything like that. He observed nothing suspicions. The front door was closed, but not locked. He tried the door on his rounds about one o clock, and found it then locked. Mr Fleming'told him lie had opened the door to give the alarm. 1 o a juror: The tirrt effort made to put the fire out was the water brought from the ( riteiion Hotel. The window was closed with shutters extending half way up. The fire when 1 hist saw it was confined to the corner of the shop towards the bed-room. W. G. llees, station manager, presently residing at the Criterion Hotel, heard the alarm of fire. He proceeded at once to the shop and saw the flame through the glass door. The flame was of dull red color, such as would be caused by tar or wood. It was accompanied by a dense smoke. Ihc smoke was so dense that he dropped down on Ills l>;m<ls and knees. In that state he got hold of a cloth or bagging, with which he attempted to beat out the flames. In this, however, he did not succeed. When he entered the premises a flash of fkme rushed upwards, about cigbt or ten feet, wliic.li appeared to be distinct from the body of the fire. Water was then brought, with which the fire was put out. At this time a second Hash of flame appeared through the window looking into the shop from the adjoining apartment. On going towards that apartment he met Fleming, who recognised his voice. _ On getting into the apartment he saw the partition was on fire. A bucket of water was brought, with which those flames were also put out. Ihe only thing that struck him as being at all remarkablcWere the two flashes of flame. The flame in the partition had no connection whatever with the body of the fire in the shop. That fire was evidently caused by the gas. Fleming told witness that in his hurry to get down a picture, he struck the gas iet against the wall. By a juror : There was no smell of tar or kerosene. Nothing was observed to throw light upon the origin of the fire. M. Fleming was in bed when the fire was first discovered. He was aroused by his child, a baby six months old. On looking up he saw the reflection of a light on the roof, and, believing the premises W’erc on fire, got up and alarmed the household, which consisted of his wife and a servant girl who was sleeping in the kitchen. He then ran into the shop, which was full of flame and smoke. He went out into the street by the front door and called out “Fire”. Finding no person coming, he returned through the shop to look after the safety of his children. He went to bed about 10 p.m. the previous evening ; the premises was then all right. i hero were two boxes of matches left on the shop counter. The only way he could account for the fire was that the matches had been knocked over by the cat. His promises were insured to tire amount of LOGO. He had been insured for LOGO for the last three months. Previous to that he was insured for only LoOO. The insurance was increased to LI,OOO as he went into the importing line. He estimated the whole stock, fittings, and furniture at I /.100. He did not keep books. He paid cash for whatever he got. Witness had a good order trade, and that was what he lived by. Besides the damage done to the shop four LlO notes were destroyed by the fire. They were put in an envelope. [Left sitting.]