GREAT FIRE AT GEELONG.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 594, 6 November 1869, Page 2

GREAT FIRE AT GEELONG.

(From the Age correspondent.) Saturday, Oct. 23. A destructive fire broke out this morning at 2.30, which consumed five houses in Moorabool street, viz., Bartlett's the. draper; Pearson's, the watchmaker; Turner's, the photographer ; Coade's, \he bootmaker ; and M'Callum's, the pastrycook ; involving a loss of L 20,000. The following insurance : offices suffer : — National (heavily), Alliance, Australasian, Colonial, Liverpool and London, Cornwall, and the Queen. Mr Bray, draper* and Mr Solomon, draper, are heavy losers by hasty removal. The fire burned fiercely for over two hours, and water was scarce at the commencement. Most of Bartlett's stock might have been saved by removal, which was. prevented during tho confusion. His stock is valued at LI2,OOO» and is nearly all destroyed. The fire originated in Turner's back premises. I have not much to report in addition. The origin of the fire is involved in mystery ; it broke out in a place where no one resided, and where no combustible materials were stored, but as an -inquest is to be held on its origin I will not anticipate the evidence. Mr Anderson, the agent for the National Insurance Company, states that he refused to insure tb,t*

premises some six months since on account of the office having sufficient risks in the immediate neighborhood. With the exception of Mr Coade the whole of the occupiers were insured. I append particulars of the principal losses: — Mr Bartlett, the draper, of Moorabool street, who is the greatest sufferer, is insured as follows : — National, LIOOO ; Victoria, LIOOO ; London and Liverpool, L 1750; Sun, L 100 0; Queen, L 1000; Australian, 1600 ; London and Lancashire, L 700; Alliance, L 50 0; Cornwall, LSOOO ; National (additional on premises), L3OO. Mr Pearson, watchmaker, is inBured in the National for L 1000; but most of the stock was saved from actual destruction. Of course, the damage by water and rough usage is very great, as the goods were of a costly description, and very fragile. The actual loss will be ascertained this evening, Mr M. S. Levy, auctioneer, having been appointed valuator in the matter. Mr Bray, draper, insured in the National for LSOO, and Australian LBO0 — partial loss by hasty removal. Mr Solomon, draper, colonial LSOO, National LSO0 — partial loss by removal and water. The premises of the two last are insured in the London and Liverpol for L2OOO, but the damage is not very extensive. The greatest praise is due to the fire brigade particularly for saving the jewellery belonging to Mr Pearson, the foreman, Mr Miller, placing the most valuable articles, at great personal risk, in an iron safe on the premises, from which they were recovered uninjured. One of the brigade, an " apparatus" man named Wilcox, was seyerly injured by falling through a skylight, by endeavoring to prevent the flames attacking Mr Bray's house. The premises of Coade, Turner, and Pearson are insured in the Colonial and others offices, but the amount is not large.