DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 6726, 7 October 1885, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

An alarm of fire was given at about halfpast six o'clock this morning, and on the Fire Brigade turning out they discovered the back portion of the premises of the wellknown firm of Messrs Fergusson and Mitchell, stationers, printers, etc., to be ablaze. Prompt measures Mere taken for the extinguishment of the flames, but it was ouly with considerable difficulty that the hoses were got to play upon them effectively. When an examination could be made it was found that damage had been done to the extent of thousands of pounds. So much plant and material have suffered that the head of the firm informs us that nothing like a correct estimate can be at onoe formed of the loss sustained. The fire appears to have originated near the gas engine which is used for driving the printing machinery; but how, is at present a mystery. The flames seem to have speedily got a good hold of the machine-room and thence spread to the store-room adjoining and the lithographic and composing departments above. The composing-room with its contents form a perfect wreck, three lithographic machines have been damaged, and four printing machines (two by Dawson and two by Salmon) are completely destroyed, as well as a lithographer's stone and roller case, etc. The contents of the store-room are very much damaged by water. No one appears to have been on the premises at the time of the fire, and, as we have remarked, its occurrence is as yet an unsolved mystery. It is possible that some inflammable material may have been left on the waste-pipe _of the gas engine, which retains its heat for some time after the gas is shut off, causing gradual ignition; but, if such were so, the fire would be expected to have broken out sooner. The firm's warehouse, stock, and plant are insured altogether for L 22,500 in the following offices :—National, Victoria, Standard, New Zealand, Colonial, Union, South British, Northern, Hamburg, Royal, United, and Liverpool. These offices have re-innured in some instances with other companies.