FIRE IN AUCKLAND FACTORY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 74, 20 December 1937, Page 7

FIRE IN AUCKLAND FACTORY

-Pvess AssociationJ

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, This Day. The sudden bursting into flame of a pile of upholsterer's flax, believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion, severe burns suffered by a workman who stayed behind to telephone the fire brigade, the cool bravery of a young woman in terrifying circumstances, and remarkabljr good work by the Central and Mt. Eden fire brigades, were elements in a fire drama at the furnishing factory of the Farmers' Trading Company, Mt. Eden road, near the railway station entrance. Shortly after nine o'clock this morniug. The front of the two-storeyed wood and iron factory building was gutted and some stocks and machinery were destroyed, but the main and newer building at the back was saved. Tlie iss has not yet been estimated, but ha wholo factory and contents were inired with the South British Insurance for £19,000. The injured man was AlfreS Broadcad, aged 24, of Westmere. He was nverely burned about the back and ont to hospital where he is suffering .overely from shoclc, but his general conc'ition is not serious. After telephoniug the brigade, Broadhead collapsed as lie was leaving the building and a young woman, who was employed sewing matresses, Miss Unice Parsons, dragged him clear of the burning build- »«•