Great Fire in Sydney.

Manawatu Herald, 11 October 1898, Page 2

Great Fire in Sydney.

Oa Saturday a great fire was rising in the vicinity of the Sydney Rpilfrtrn Railway Station. The outbreak occurred in Hudson's larg* timber yards, and the flames crossing. Regent street demolished a whole block of business places, Thirteen buildings have already be*n reduced to ashes, but the brigades have at last got the upper hand. Many other buildings have b?f n seriously damaged. Several firemen have been removed in an injured state to the hospital. All the members of the City Fire Department are engaged in subduing the fire. A number of premises in Pitt street have been partially burnt. The prevalence of a fierce westerly wind added greatly to the difficulties to be overcome. The fire was the fiercest and quickest spreading ever Been in Sydney. Within a few minutes after the timber yard and buildings were alight the gale drove a huge body of flame across the narrow thoroughfare and licked up a row of tenements opposite. The ocoupants bad no time to make their exit by the front doors, and were obliged to retreat to their baok yards, where they were hemmed in by a high brick wall surmounted by broken bottles. These people were rescued with great difficulty by means of ladders which were lowered over the wall and the panic-stricken women and children taken up. Many of them were cut with the glass, The firemen worked gallantly. Twenty business places have been wholly or partially destroyed, while the burning debris was carried by the wind to Pitt street, some distance away, where it destroyed a cottage and damaged other premises, but the building9 were mostly old and of no great value. Two hundred and sixty firemen were engaged in suppressing the

flames. Four of the men were injured, one substaining a broken leg. Hudson's works were valued at £80,000, and the total damage amounts to about £80,000. Owing to the locality being crowded with workmen's residences, an appalling loss of life must have had the fire occurred at night.