THE FIRE AT GEELONG.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1291, 18 September 1872, Page 2

THE FIRE AT GEELONG.

[geelong advertiser, sept. 6.] When our reporter reached the sceuo of the fire on Thursday night he ascertained that the fire had broken out on the premises of Mr Allen, in James street. Thiswa3 a weather-board building, next to a weather-board store formerly occupied by a coffee-roaster. The flames had already got a strong hold of these two structures, and it was at once seen that nothing could save another .building, leased by Mr Jenyns, and where it was once proposed to erect a theatre. The premises were like matchboxes, and burnt at a great rate. Those who remember the fire in Kardinia street) when Mr Montgomery's stables were so imperilled, will remember the intense heat. ; It was nothing to the heat of the fire last night. Onlookers wondered why the members of the fire brigade would not approach nsarer to the flames ; onlookers were kept back by the police/ At one time at least 2000 people were assembled in Great Ryrie street watching the progress of the flames. The wind blowing from' west to east rolled clouds of sparks along? From Jenyns' fruiterer's shop, it being understood that the supply of water was very deficient, the fire spread with such alarming rapidity that it was thought at.onp. time that nothing could stave Mr Mac? Donald's chemical establishment. He steadily refused to open: his door until compelled. Jenyns place had been destroyed, so had the small drajery stor«' adjoining, as also Mr Sennett's and M Haslam's premises. When Mr M'Donald'g door was opened there was a great rush. At one time his place appeared to be doomed, but a corrugated iron partition and the good sense shown by a prominent member of the Geelong Fire Brigade, who caused all doors to be closed and wreckers turned out, saved the property. Whilst all this was going on at the front there was^a great blaze at. the back. Mr Passelaigne was in imminent danger of being again burnt out. The fire was fortunately confined to that wooden block .of buildings at the junction of James and Ryrie streets— Messrs M'Donald's a«d Passelaigne'sproperties, The police, under Inspector Palnier, never allowed the general public to approach too near Mr Dupe's gun shop, where pounds of powder, it was supposed, were stored. It niay be mentioned that when the fire occurred, Mr Haslam was from home, at Melbourne, ■ The only persons who resided on the premises were Messrs Roussel and Jenyns, The latter was. at church at the time of the oepuryence, and reached tho seen©

too late to save his household effects. A considerable quantity of goods was taken from the different buildings, and the salvage of stock from Mr Sennett's ironmongery and tinware establishment and Mr Haslatn's boot emporium will be considerable. The articles rescued were piled in heaps on the side Ryrie street opposite the site of the buildings destroyed, and guarded by a bevy of constables. With respect to the insurances, it is stated that Messrs Sennett and Haslam were insured to the extent of L 250 each, and Messrs Oenyns and Son in L 176, while Mr Allen is said to have been insured in L6OO. The National Insurance Company are sufferers to the extent of LG2S, and the Victoria L 195, but the National had upwards of L3OC of their policies reinsured.