Another Destructive Fire

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 107, 10 April 1888, Page 2

Another Destructive Fire

-♦— It is again our unpleasant duty to chronicle the destruction of another store by fire in Feilding. This morning, about three o'clock, fire was discovered in the coach-house in the rear of Mr J. C. Thompson's old store, which was occupied at the time by Mr S. Fagan, of Bulls, as a boot shop on one side, and on the other by Messrs Clarke and Co., as a drapery. Mrs Gichard, the wife of Mr E. B. Gichard, whose premises immediately adjoin the scene of the fire, was disturbed by the noise made by some geese in the yard, about 2.50 a.m., and seeing the strange light, aroused her husband, who turned out at once. On proceeding into the back premises of the building known as Thompson's old store he found a portion of the carriage shed and stable blazing furiously. In the meantime, Mr John Hitchman, who was attending the furnaces in Mr Bowler's brickyard, saw the fire about 3.10 a.m., and started to rouse out the people in Grey street, a considerable crowd being assembled then. Mr Gichard, with great presence of mind, broke in the front of the store, and assisted by a number of willing hands, did good service in removing the stock from danger into the street, where it was taken charge of by Constable Meehan. Mr Macarthur did good service in preventing the sparks getting a lodgment on the shingle roof of the houses lower down the street. Messrs A. Eade, W. Lambert (of Palmerston), J. Taylor, Ben Gosling, W. Chamberlain, and J. Hitchman did yeoman's service in saving the private residence of Mr J. C. Thompson. Messrs Young, Brandt, J. Smith and others carried and carted the salvaged goods to Glasgow House where they are now stored. Mrs Fagan, and a young girl who slept on the premises, narrowly escaped death as the greatest difficulty was experienced in awakening them. We have necessarily omitted the names of a great number of persons who worked hard and well in saving Mr H. Rutherford's premises, whose names we have been unable to ascertain. Mr J. C. Thompson's store was uninsured, but Messrs Clark and Co. were insured in Wellington by the firm there, and Mr Fagan in the Colonial for a small amount. We have been unable to gather particulars of either of them, as those interested here have not the information.