FIRE IN GLOUCESTER STREET EAST.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1496, 2 December 1878, Page 3

FIRE IN GLOUCESTER STREET EAST.

Shortly before 5 o’clock yesterday after noon the firebells rang an alarm, and dense volumes of smoko were seen to the east of the city, towards which a large crowd of persons at once proceeded. It was found that the kerosene si ore of Messrs Twentyman and Cousin was on fire, and as the flames burst out it was apparent from the first that any hope of extinguishing them by the aid of the fire engine would be futile. Superintendent Harris and a largo body of the Fire Brigade and fire police were speedily at the spot., and a detachment of constables from the depot. The “Extinguisher ” was manned and taken to the fire, but so thoroughly had the fire taken a hold that it was at once apparent it must burn itself out, as water would only have the effect of floating the burning oil about, and eo possibly communicate the fire to the hedges. The first alarm was given at the Cnester street station by a lad named James Jardon, residing in the cottage next the kerosene store. The store contained between 300 and 400 cases of kerosene, and twenty-five of turpentine, and when it is remembered that each case holds four gallons of kerosene, it will be seen that, until this quantity of inflammable material was exhausted, the fire would be inextinguishable. A dense crowd of spectators was soon collected. The fire was confined to an area of about 100 ft. in circumference, and burnt with such intensity that any near approach to it was impossible. The cases, which as the building gradually collapsed, could be seen, were piled many feet high, and as they almost melted in the intense heat, the tins of kerosene were ignited with astonishing rapidity. When they burst with tiro heat, cascades of variegated fire were poured down, sending out showers of sparks resembling a grand pyrotechnic display. The iron building shrivelled up gradually like parchment, burning with a vivid green glare. There was at first some apprehension that the kerosene tins would explode, and the spectators kept at a respectful di-tance ; but as it was soon found that they merely burst, without any great force, the crowd gradually approached nearer to the burning building, and formed a ring in the paddock where it stood. One great peculiarity was the dense volume of smoke tinged with a lurid glare that wreathed in a solid spiral column and spread over the city. Various methods wore suggested of checking the flames, and about 8 p.m,, Superintendent Harris hit upon the expedient of two gangs of men drawing a length of fencing wire through the compact stacks of cases. The stacks were thus brought to the ground, when the] oases burst more speedily, and more quickly burnt themselves out. Considering the limited space the fire occupied, the compact mass of flames was perfectly astonishing, and it was fortunate there were no dwellings near enough to catch fire. The origin of the fire is not known, but it was supposed that it may have originated from the leakage from some of the tins saturating the dryjgrass outside the store, where it was known some boys had been smoking during the afternoon, and that either lighted matches or sparks from their pipes may have ignited the grass and so fired the building. Up to a late hour last night the fire was not extinguished, and a good many people still remained about to see the end.