THE FIRE IN PRINCES STREET SOUTH.

Evening Star, Issue 3591, 26 August 1874, Page 2

THE FIRE IN PRINCES STREET SOUTH.

We continue our report of the inquiry, which was held last night, into the above fire ; John M‘Cormach, engineer, in the employment of Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, deposed that he left the premises on riday nuht about 5.20 o’clock. The fire in the furnace at that time was very low, and witness knew of his own knowledge that, as a rule, it was always dead out by 10 o’clock. He was quite convinced, from the precautions that were adopted for securing the boiler, that the fire did not originate with it. James M‘George deposed that he was engine-driver in Messrs Anderson and Mowat’s. About a quarter to 4 on the morning of Saturday last, his attention was attracted by a vivid reflection of light in the sky. He called out to the man who was working along with him, that there was a fire close by. They both proceeded to the scene of the conflagration, and when they got abreast of Messrs Guthiie and Larnaoh’s yards the flames were shooting up to a height of 30ft. The fire seemed at that time to be burning about the middle of the yard, in the vicinity of the planing-room. there was no one about at the time, and witness did not hear any sound as of hose playing on the flames. If there had been any one at work with the hose he was of opinion he mu t have heard it. He did not notice the hose laid into the premises Speaking from obs' rvation, he did not think the fire oi iginated in the vicinity of the boiler. The light ought to have been seen at the Bell Tower at the very oatset, from the height the flames were rising in the air. John Downie corroborated the evidence given by the previous witness. He added .that the gates leading to the yards were closed, and he hammered at them to get admittance, but no one responded, Albert Hamilton, night watchman to Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, stated that he commenced his duties the evening before the fire at five o’clock. During the night he visited the different parts of the premises, including the boiler-room, every hour, as he was in the habit of doing. At about five minute* past 3 a.m. he commenced making one of these rounds. After visiting the northern part of the premises, he went to the furnace-room aud saw that there was no fire in the boilers. He made a very careful examination of the place, and was quite positive that there was no lire burning, n ‘ Ifber was there any smell of fire about the place. He went outside aud proceeded to Bond street by Police street. The night being fine, he spent rather more time going round than usual. After examining the back part of the premises, he went inside by the door fronting Bond street. At this time it would be between a quarter and twenty minutes to four. Toe moment he opened the door he saw flames darting up Jl om an °P°ning in the furnace room. The body of fire was about four feet high and two feet broad. Ho immediately ran up through the yard to Princes street, and, opoaiag the gate, called at the top of his

voice, “ Fire !” He did not close the gate after him, but it may have shut of its own accord. On turning round he observed a second jet of flame springing up between the planing machine and the edge of the sawing bench. The flame rose so furiously that -it must have struck the roof of the building. The second flame was situated 15ft or 20ft from the other flame- There was no visible combustion between the two, but his opinion was that they were connected with each other by some of the underground passages. He then applied the hose, and called out for assistance to a man who slept on the premises. He had no idea how the fire originated. Sergeant Goldie deposed to having his attention called to the fire by hearing the bell ring at five minutes past four o’clock. At that time he was in Maclaggan afreet. He proceeded direct to the spot, and on gaining admission to the premises found the previous witness with the hose playing on the fire. The flames produced a crackling noise, and he had to go dose up to the watchman before he noticed him. George West said he was watchman at Bell Power, and had held that situation for the past three years. About three minutes to four o’clock he first saw the fire. He immediately ran down the ladder, and gave the necessary signal. When he first saw them, the dames seemed to proceed from a skylight window, aud were about the size of a good big round table He heard voices in the town, but could not make out what was said. When he was going down the ladder, someone came up the steps from Princes street, and called out 11 Fire 3” Witness went on duty at 9p. m., and remained till 6a. m. It was dreary enough work, but still he never left his post, After a short consultation, the following verdict was returned “That the fire originated in the premises of Messrs Guthrie and i.arnach, but how or by what means there was no evidence before them to show.” The following rider was added “ The jury recommend that greater protection be observed for prevention of fire in future, where engines are used among inflammable material. Also that the watch on t&e Bell Tower be increased to two men instead of one as at present; the time to be divided into two periods, commencing at night-fall, and ending at 8 o’clock in the morning ; and that indicating clocks be provided for the tower.”