Disastrous Fire

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 8, 1 July 1886, Page 2

Disastrous Fire

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF MR S. J. THOMPSON'S STORE. Yesterday morning at about half past three o'clock the inhabitants of that part of Kimbolton road near the Feilding Hotel were alarmed by the cry of fire. On turning out to discover the locality it was found that the store of Mr Samuel J. Thompson was in flames, and that the devouring element had obtained such a mastery it was impossible to make any effort to to save any of the goods. The consequence was that the building, with its contents of valuable stock, was completely destroyed. After the fire had burnt itself out the safe was disentagled from the debris, and on being opened showed that the [illegible] had been much injured, but not so far as to render their contents indecipherable. A quantity of notes and cheques were reduced to a charred mass, but these with a little care can be so far put together as to make them negotiable for their proper value. The gold and silver plate and jewellery are utterly ruined. The building was insured for £500 in the South British, and the stock for £500 in the South British and £500 in the Northern, but these amounts are far below the value of the material destroyed. Mr Thompson estimates his loss, less the amount insured, at £3000. It will be remembered that Mr Thompson purchased the place from Mr Lowers but a few months ago, and that since that time entirely new stock had been got in. General sympathy has been expressed, with him under this great calamity. However, he does not intend any time to be wasted in useless regrets, as it is his intention to erect a temporary store at once, as soon as the foundation can be cleared. As to the origin of the fire, it is impossible even to conjecture. When the store was closed on Tuesday evening everything appeared secure. The storeman, Richard James, was awakened about half past three, and the fire was then burning so fiercely that he barely escaped with his life. The houses adjacent were saved by the fact of the store being built of corrugated iron and the flames kept within its limits. There was fortunately very little wind or the block of buildings, consisting of shops and Daw's livery stables, would have also been destroyed. Mr Pollock's building next door, occupied by Mr W. T. Watts was in great danger, and at one time smoke was seen issuing from the corner of the parapet. Messrs Watts and B. J. Gosling got on to the roof from the verandah, and put water on the spot, as well as saturated the whole side wall. As it was, the whole of the glass in the windows was cracked, and the side wall was scorched, so as to necessitate re-painting. The actual damage done to this building is estimated at £5 10s, which is covered by a policy in the Equitable Insurance Association. Mr James, one of Mr Thompson's assistants, who slept in the store, had a miraculous es ape of his life. He was awoke by the roar of the fire and the suffocating smoke and saw the flames coming up through the floor into his room in the upper storey. He at once jumped out of the window on to the verandah in his night clothes, and gave the alarm, calling up Messrs Watts, Young, and others, and as soon as possible hurried to Mr Thompson's private house to inform him of the disaster. This poor fellow is a total loser, his watch, clothes, and all his personal property having been destroyed Messrs Brown and Watts, the occupants of the immediately adjoining buildings prepared as far as possible for removing their goods in case of need, and willing helpers set to work to clear everything [illegible] of Daw's stables, including the horses, [illegible] also to knock down fence, remove packing [illegible] and otherwise prevent the spread of the fire. Amongst those gentlemen ho rendered valuable aid we noticed Messrs Bishop, Franklin, Gosling, Reading, Gilmer, W Chamberlain, Henry, Webster and others. Strange to say very few people were wakened up and called to the scene. It is not too much to say that not one hundred persons were even aware of the fire until it had burned itself out. We are glad to announce that it is the intention of Mr Samuel J. Thompson to commence the erection of new premises forthwith. Messrs Atkins and Clere are the architects, and tenders will be called immediately, Besides the current orders coming forward, Mr Thompson has telegraphed for an entirely new stock to replace that destroyed, to arrive in time to commence business next week in temporary premises.