Another Blaze in Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 176, 20 November 1896, Page 2

Another Blaze in Hastings.

— Shortly after daylight this morning the firebell pealed out an alarm, and in a few minutes most of the inhabitants of Hastings were in the vicinity of the blaze, which was found to be in Railway-station street, on the premises of the Trocadero, a restaurant under the charge of Mr George Pinnock. It will be remembered that about five months ago a restaurant owned by Mr Wawn 011 the same spot was destroyed by lire. On being rebuilt the premises were fitted up by Mr Pinnock with all the latest improvements, and it was stocked with furniture valued at £BOO. The proprietor had just got together a good connection, and was on a fair way to to making a splendid business. However, while the servant was at work shortly before 4.80 this morning a fire broke out in the kitchen and the building was soon in flames. The fire spread with great rapidity, and there was no time to save anything of any value. The Fire Brigade were quickly on the spot. Indeed Captan Brausch had his men at work within a few minutes of the first peal of the bell. It was about as smart a piece of work as has been seen in Hastings and reflects the greatest credit 011 the members of the brigade. The steam engine was soon on the job and immediately made an impression on the blaze ; but by this time the restaurant was doomed. Burton's old premises were completely gutted, and then the shop lately occupied by Mr A. Hatton received considerable damage. Coming along the street the flames invaded the roof of Mr Dewsnap's jewellery establishment, but by this time the steam-engine was in full play and the firemen soon had under control what promised at one time to be a conflagration. It appears that the servant girl, Mary Higgins, went into the kitchen at to light the fire, and saturating the firewood with kerosene on ing a match the place was at once in a blaze. The inhabitants of the building—Mr Pinnock, Mrs Lovelock and her daughter, and a lodger named John Mahoney—were at once aroused and had barely time to make their escape. The restaurant is insured by the owner, Mr -T. Dale, for £IOO in the London, "Liverpool and Globe, and Mr Pinnock has his furniture insured for ,£l5O in the Royal. He estimates his loss at £'lso over insurance. The late premises of Hatton and Burton are insured in the Victoria. Mr Dewsnap, whose stock was considerably damaged by handling and by water, was- also insured.