FIRE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1597, 2 April 1879, Page 2

FIRE.

At about half-past eleven o'clock this morning, the Lichfield street fire bell rang out an alarm. The cause was found to exist on the premises of Mr E. Reece, Windmill road. Shortly after 11 o’clock one of the inmates of the dwelling-house remarked a smell of fire, and on looking for the cause, discovered that the stables which are divided from the house by a corrugated iron fence, were on fire. It appeared that the woodwork (the walls and roof were composed of iron), had been alight for some time, as the fire had obtained a good hold of the entire structure by the time it was discovered. So soon as the alarm was given a number of men from the neighborhood volunteered their aid, but it was at once evident that no hope need be entertained of staying the progress of the conflagration so far as the stables themselves were concerned, and all attention was therefore paid to getting out the horses, buggy, ha. ness, etc., which were fortunately saved without having experienced any damage. Then an attempt was made to put out the fire, there being a plentiful supply of water on the ground, and, with plenty of buckets, many willing hands made light work of it. The hand engine of the brigade was taken to tho scene of the fire, but as it happened, there was no need to call in its assistance. The stables, which comprised horse stalls, buggy shed, harness-room, &c., were burnt to the ground The dwelling-house adjoining is a substantial brick building, and would scarcely have suffered had the burning building boon closer ; us it was the fence dividing them sustained no damage, Mr Reece estimates his loss at £llOO, The buildings wore not insured. It is

fortunate that the lire did not happen at night; in that case Mr Reece might have lost his valuable horses and carriage, as the stables were of slight build, and containing a quantity of combustible material, were very soon consumed.

It is not known how the fire originated, but the presumption is that some one must have been smoking in the stable, and that sparki from the pipe caught soms of the hay or straw plentifully strewn about, and set light to it.