DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN GEORGE-STREET, SYDNEY.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 16, 6 May 1867, Page 103

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN GEORGE-STREET, SYDNEY.

[From the Sydney Morning iierald, 19th April.] Shobtly before 11 o’clock Jest night, a dUastruus fire broke out on the premises iu the rear of the building known as Reiby Cottage, situated in the right of way adjoining'the establishment 61 Mr John Sands, neariy the Commercial Bank, end: occupied by Messrs Simmons Brothers, as a general store. " The flames burst forth With great force, and threw a lprid glare over the; city, which attracted Vlarge crowd in , a very short space of! time. In a few; minutes after the alarm was given,the Insurance Brigade, with % manual engine,' arrived, and' Was

closely followed} by the two steam , fire engines, and other manual engines of the Volunteer.arid Brigade companies. The steam-engine of the Insurance Brigade was judiciously posted .ip George street, whilst 'that of the Voluntecs Company whs stationed in Pittstreet, but water, was not obtainable for a quarter of an hour after they had got into working orders ,By that time Reiby Cottage was one mass of. fiire, and the contents were destrobed, A small office, connecting the burning pile with the premises of Mr S*nds, took fire, and communicated it to the large building of the latter, which quickly fastened on to the roof,; the whole of the upper part being destroyed, with a portion of the stock. The engines now got into play, and powerful streams of water were thrown on to the burning mass from the engines in George and Pitt streets, and for some time fears were entertained that the fire would reach Mr Chisholm’s, the draper. To prevent this, two streams of water were directed on to the roof of Chisholm’s premises and with such effect that it soon became evident that the efforts of the firemen would confine the flames to the extent they had then reached. The fire Ob' Sands’ premises was so effectually got under as to permit of the removal of a large quantity of goods, in which the sailors of the men-of-war rendered very great service. At half-past twelve all danger of the fire extending was past, but dense; volumes of smoke continued to rise tor some time. Fortunately the night was calm, searcely a breatn of air stirring, as was evidenced by the flame rising perpendicularly. Had it beeu otherwise, the destruction of? property must have been great; and this is the more probable from the fact that water was not immediately, obtainable. A large body of police were on the spot in charge of inspector Reid.

Though the crowd was very large, t we never remember less confusion or ) noise than on this occasion, and to, ( this perhaps may be attributed the sue*' r cess of the operations for extinguishing the fire. I After the fire had been extinguished p and the crowd dispersed, those inter- . ested were enabled to take a good view . of the destruction which had been , caused, and to form some estimate of ' the loss likely to be sustained by the fire insurance companies and the | owners of the property destroyed. The fire was first discovered by the consta-. i ble on duty, who commuicated with - , the Insurance Brigade will all possiJ ble speed. Reiby Cottage, and the; extensive premises occupied by Mr John Sands as a machine-room and . printing office, are a heap of ruins. I But very little of the stock was Saved : from Mr Simmons’s store, and that . which was saved consisted of cordials and groceries of not much value. The , steam-engine and printing-machine in ’ Mr Sands’ office are very much injured, ; 1 whilst the type is scattered about in all directions, anil much of it damaged. ; , Mr Sands stationery, store, too, has ’ been much destroyed, whilst most of 1 the valuable stock it contained has been either consumed by fire or da- , ’ maged by water. About an hour after the fire was supposed to have been ejetinguished, ff imes again burst forth in the roof of Mr Sands store, and were with difficulty reached with buckets of water. Portions of the roof were removed aud in the course of a quarter an hour or so the fire seemed to have been safely extinguished again. The men of H.M.S. Eric and also the men of H.I.M.S. Marceau are de* serving of great praise. The former ' were stationed on the George-streefc > side, and the latter on the Pitt-street* side, and valuable assistance was Afforded by them in removing goods, and in extinguishing the fire. The loss occasioned by this conflagration, will probably not be far short '■ of ,£20,000. Mr bimtnons’ stock is ' J insured in two offices for <£looo. Mr * Sands’ stock is iusured in the following; officesLbhdon and Liverpool aiid a Globe, <£1000; Victoria, £2250;/“ Pacific, 4000; Uufted £500; London and Lancashire, £2000; Australasian, £lsooj and theprinting office3h}th®' Victoria for £750.';:- total i £12,000. I The amount for which Reiby Cottage : was insured could not ? laatjUght.*' 1 '"" l • y