A DISASTROUS FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1921, Page 4

A DISASTROUS FIRE

FIERCE BLAZE IN GREYMOUTH. YOUNG MAN FATALLY BURNED. (Grey Argus). On Sunday morning at 1 a.m. practically the whole of Greymouth was aroused by the clanging of the fire hells. The alarm continued for many minutes, and the discordant, jangle intimated to the residents of Greymouth that there was an outbreak of lire of a magnitude that lias exceeded recent fires.

The scene of the fire was the shop leased by Mr W. Gamble from Mark Sprot and Co., and on these premises he conducted a cyelery business. The origin of the fire is unknown and many arc the suppositions as to tho cause of the outbreak. Shortly after the hells commenced ringing, Mackay Street was filled with a crowd of hurrying ]x>ople, eager to be on the scene. Residents at the southern end of Mawheru Quay, who, on the first sounds of the hell looked from their windows In the direction of the fire, were greeted with a spectacular sight. The Grey river reflected the various colours of the rainbow, while the Cobden bill was lit up as though a great searchlight was playing on it. It seemed that the Railway Station was on fire, hut the many who left their beds to be at the fire were soon disillusioned. In Mr Gamble’s shop was stored three and a .half gallons of benzine and 12 drums of oil. This greatly helped the Haines and the ignition of this was synchronised by a dense cloud of smoke and great tongues ol llame shooting up to the sky. There was not a possible chance of saving the building, and despite the heroic efforts of the Fire Brigade, tlie building was completely gutted.

It is understood that Mr Gamble had his stock insured in the Government Office for 0240, hut the amounts on the buildings are not ascertainable. There was a very distressing incident in the outbreak, which resulted in the ultimate death of a young man named Arthur Bustard, who is well-known in town. From authentic reports it seems that he occupied a two-roomed “hatch’’ adjoining Gamble’s shop, and which was owned by Mark Sprot and Co. Shortly after the arrival of the Brigade a man staggered out the gate next to the burning building and fell prone to the ground. Willing hands carried him away from the burning building and it was then found that flic man Bustard was badly burnt, was in a state of collapse and was suffering from suffocation and shock. Nurse Dolph, who happened to lie in the vicinity, quickly rendered first aid and did all that was possible towards relieving the poor unfortunate victim. He was conveyed immediately to "the Grey River Hospital, where he received every attention, but it was evident that his condition was low. Later in the morning lie seemed to be on the improve, but about 10.30 be took a turn for the worse and died at 11 a.in.