ANOTHER FIRE IN MANCHESTER STREET.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1417, 30 August 1878, Page 3

ANOTHER FIRE IN MANCHESTER STREET.

Four Shops Destroyed. About half-past four o’clock this morning, the fire bell again rang forth the alarm, and, notwithstanding the fact that many of tho members of the Fire Brigade had not been long in bed —having been “keeping np ” their annual entertainment pretty well—they w r ero very soon at the engine-shed, and a few minutes afterwards were proceeding to the scene of the fire, which again proved to be in Manchester street, almost opposite to tho site of tho fire of tho previous morning. Sergeant Wilson was tho first arrival on the spot, some time before the bell was even rung. Ho was attracted to the scene by the cries of a woman, which he heard proceeding from the shop of Mr Harry Alexander, the pawnbroker, situate between the Borough Hotel and tho railway station. At this time the fire was apparently confined to the buck part of the shop. Mrs Hyams, who keeps a general shop next door to Mr Alexander, and other persons in adjoining premises, now commenced to remove their goods and furniture, as the flames were breaking out of tho front window, and evidently spreading fast. The shops which were destroyed form four wooden buildings of along row, tho four being enclosed by two brick walls, which, however, gave no protection to tho shops themselves, although as the sequel proved they did to those beyond. Immediately on arrival, Sergeant Wilson proceeded to giro the alarm, and Constables Scott and Little soon arrived, and were of great assistance in moving goods and furniture from the four buildings referred to, A number of other police were also shortly on the spot, as well as a large number ot people, who soon turned out. It was a pitchy-dark morning, and tho strong blaze for a short time lit up the sky with great vividness. On the arrival of tho engines the hose was rapidly fixed, and in a very short time a strong force of water was being played upon the burning buildings, which rapidly succumbed to the flames notwithstanding, and by the time tho tire was extinguished everything was gutted. Mr Alexander was absent at Timaru at the time, and Mrs Rose Ilyams, a neighbour, was sleeping with Mies Alexander for company. Tho former lady appears to have been awoke from her sleep shortly after four o’clock by a smell of burning and a choking smoke. On getting up she found that flames were coming through the partition from the back part of the premises, upon which she immediately proceeded to cry out an alarm, and was heard by Sergeant Wilson as described above. The block of shops destroyed belonged to Mr George Tully, and whs insured in the London and Lancashire office for £3OO. It was divided into four shops, occupied by Mr Shannon, bookseller, Mr Alexander, pawnbroker, Mrs Hyams, general dealer, and Mr Green, draper. The South British suffers a loss of £IOSO by the destruction of the stock and furniture contained in the block; and the Union loses £loo—for which amount the “ pledges” were insured. Mr W. H. Green was insured for £IOO in the Victoria, but fortunately most of his goods were removed in time—though the loss for damage will probably be something. Mrs Alexander can give no account of the origin of the fire. The doors were fastened up at nine o’clock over-night, and had not been afterwards opened. It is a very fortunate thing that the shops were bounded by two brick walls, or, with the strong wind that was blowing at the time, tho entire row known as Mark’s Buildings must have been destroyed. Mr .Alexander estimates his loss at £BOO over and above the insurances.