A BIG FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 373, 24 March 1902, Page 2

A BIG FIRE.

SYDNEY’S LEADING THEATRE DESTROYED. ,YOUNG WOMAN KILLED, FIREMEN INJURED. MR WILLIAMSON A HEAVY, LOSER. By, Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright, SYDNEY, Mar. 23, Her Majesty’s Theatre has been completely destroyed by lire. Particulars of the fire at Her Majesty’s Theatre show that excepting the Pitt street frontage, consisting of- the vestibule and Her Majesty’s and .George Hotels, flanking eacli corner, Her Majesty’s is a complete wreck. The whole body of the theatre js gutted from end to end, and the bare walls are standing, A sad fatality occurred in connection with the (ire, A young woman named Bella Pye, employed in one of the L shops, was running behind the .theatre . in Market street. She had escaped, j and was returning to warn other in- ’ mates* or to recover some of her pro- ' party. She was burned in the mass ’ of debris falling from the theatre.

The caretaker discovered the outbreak shortly affc?r six this morning, about an hour after the cleaners, whose duties included fumigating a portion of the building, had left. The flames then had a good hold. Pie warned the inmates of the two hotels in the front, and in the adjoining shops in Market and Pitt streets. The inmates made a hurried exit, many, being very lightly clad. The fire spread with tremendous

fapidity. It was a magnificent spectacle, and lighted the place for miles. The sparks and burning brands were carried long distances. By the time the brigades arrived on the scene .the interior of the building was well ablaze. Fed by the vast mass of scenery, theatre properties, and other inflammable material, ,the flames swept ’” v ‘" iiicraAil bne outset there was no chance of saving the theatre, and the firemen confined their efforts chiefly to preventing the gutting of Her Majesty’s and George Hotels, and the shops along Market street. Asssisted by the towering walls along the lane on the Pitt street side and the rear of the theatre, they were to a great oxtent successful. A portion of Her Majesty’s Hotel aiong Market street was damaged by fire, but the brigade managed to keep it from spreading through to the front part to Pitt street. The damage by water, however, as well as the damage in George street and several shops in Market street is serious. Three firemen were injured by falling through the roof while working the hose. One, named Gray, was somewhat seriously injured. Mr J. 0. Williamson, lessee of Her Majesty’s, loses very heavily. He has been most unfortunate over the drama “ Ben Hur.” On the eve of the first production the theatre was closed on account of the outbreak of plague, resulting in considerable financial loss. Now the whole of the properties and machinery of this very expensively staged play are completely destroyed. The members of the company also suffer considerably. The last scene of “ Ben Hur ” is Palm Sunday oa Mount Olivet. On Palm Sunday the destruction of the theatre occurred. Mr Williamson was uninsured. The cost of staging the piece was six thousand pounds. The season, as far as Australia is concerned, has thus terminated. It will take a year to replace all the properties, many of which will have to be imported. It is estimated that Mr Williamson will lose quite fifteen thousand pounds through being deprived of the use of the theatre." The building, including the hotel, was iusured for eighteen thousand pounds. The Sun holds the prime risk. Ten thousand pounds are distributed in a number of offices, including the New Zealand, South British, and National. The balance of eight thousand is covered by a private insurance fund.

The origin of the fire is a mystery. It is in no way connected with fumigation process.