TREMENDOUS FIRE RAGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 July 1901, Page 3

TREMENDOUS FIRE RAGING.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT.]

[Per Press Association.]

Received this day at 12 18 p m. Svdney, July 10.

A fire is raging at Antony Hordern's immense emporium in George street. It has a good hold of the main building, and a stiff wind blowing threatens to sweep the whole block through to Pitt street. The large city gasometer is in close vicinity. The tram traffic in George street is blocked and an immense crowd is gathering. The fire assisted by the wind burnt immense quantities of inflammable material, and spread into tremendous rapidity. The main building is already practically gutted through, but it is still burning fiercely. It spread across Parker streot at the rear to a large furnishing department, which is now one mass of flames. The big gasometer adjoins this building, and the whole of tne fire forces of the city are engaged. The work is dangerous owing to the towering walls threatening a collapse. They are slowly beating back the fire from the George street frontage. The occupiers of shops stretching from the doomed building to Hay street are getting out goods for fear of the fire spreading from the rear. The fire was discovered shortly after eight o'clock, but luckily before many of the great army of employees arrived. It is reported that one man was killed through jumping from the roof. The burning debris carried a great distance and fired a house in the vicinity which was quickly subdued. Horderns, Pitt street side, in the direction in which the wind is blowing is flanked by a park which will prevent further spread that way.

Received this day at 1 14 p m. At 11 28 a. m. the fire was well in hand. The Brigade confined its efforts to prevent it spreading beyond Hordern's, and succeeded, excepting the ironmongery deparlment detached from the building. The whole of the premises were gutted, only the walls are left standing. The damage is estimated at £IOO,OOO. The man killed was an employee of Clegg's.