HORDERN’S FIRE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 July 1901, Page 4

HORDERN’S FIRE.

Clegg’s Leap for Dear Life. One of the most painful but exciting incidents witnessed during the progress of the conflagration was a fatal leap for life

on the part of a young man named Harry Clegg, an upholsterer, employed in the furniture building, who, as a last means of escape, jumped from the highest summit of the lofty building in Gipps street, known as the furniture and stationery department. At the time of the outbreak lie was engaged at work on the highest or eighth floor of the building. Finding that the floors below him were enveloped in flames the deceased climbed through one of the windows of the tower on to the roof with a hope that he would bo rescued by some means or other. Pie at once made his way to the front of the building, and with hat in hand stood on the [summit of the parapet, and waved his hat and shouted to the crowd below. People in all directions raised a cry: “Man on the roof.” Several of the workmen and bystanders rushed round for something in the form of a sheet to hold out for the purpose of catching the man should ho jump. A large tarpaulin was secured from the tramway sheds in Pitt street, and several people proceeded to spread the same, but in the meantime the firemen arrived with the lire escape, and in order to make room for it to be placed against the building, the people with the tarpaulin were ordered to stand hack. The escape would, however, only reach to the fifth storey, a distance of S2ft, while the man was standing at a height of 120 ft or more. The scene now became most painful and exciting. Every moment the man’s danger was becoming more apparent to those below. The firemen tried every scheme possible to reach him, while the crowd cheered and shouted to him to hold on and keep up bis spiri s. Clegg could every now and then be seen through the dense volume of smoko with which tie was surrounded clinging to the parapet at the angle of the building nearest to the offices of the Gas Company. Flames leaped out from the windows immediately below him, and curling themselves roared high in the air, and seemed to enwrap the man, who every now and then te escape a volume of dense smoko and heat would take refuge behind the parapet. A shout would come from those below “Go’s gone.” Clegg, however, time after time again appeared in view.' and held on ■firmly to the highest portion of the brickwork. In this position lie remained for fully fifteen minutes. The crowd, which by this time had worked itself imo a feverish state of excitement, shouted to cheer the spirits of the man, who, 10 all appearances, seemed doomed. There was another cry ; “ Get a sheet, ” and several people rushed away to once more get the tarpaulin. In the meantime the firemen removed the escape ladder to what they thought wonld prove to be a more advam tagoous angle from which to reach he man. Clegg witnessed the removal of the escape, and must have wrongly como to the conclusion that the firemen, finding they could non reach him, had abandoned the idea of res ue. and had deserted him. He once more disappeared behind the parapet, but between the volumes of smoke was on the parapet. He re- !;■

that 90ft is the highest practicable height at which a brigade can fight a fire. The people who erect these higher buildings, and those who insure them, must take the risk. There is a limit to the possibilities of firemanship. We can throw a jet of water over the Town Hall in calm weather, but wo could not do it with the breeze this morning. In London the 90ft limit is urged and recognised.” Asked witli regard to the length of ladders used by tire brigades in other great cities of the world, Mr Webb said that in London 87ft was the maximum, and in New York 90ft. In Sydney it was 80ft, whilst the man jumped from a height of 120 ft to 125 ft. In London rocket lines were used, chiefly in connection with floating steamers, to cast lines from the water.'"