Big Fire in Sydney.

Manawatu Herald, 14 September 1899, Page 2

Big Fire in Sydney.

A disastrous fire occurred in Sydney on Monday night, resulting in tht destruction of the Tivoli Theatre, a new and handsome brick building ia Castle* reagh-street, owned and run by Mr Harry Rickards, the well-known singer and comedian. The outbreak occurred iri the vicinity of the stage. The interior of the theatre was burned out completely, and the rpof collapsed. A considerable amount of damage was also done to the Arcadia Hotel, which adjoins the theatre. These buildings are the centre of a big block of valuable property, and the fire threatened to spread from them and cause great destruction. The firemen, however, did splendid work, and succeeded in confining it to the theatre and hotel. The Arcadia and Tivoli Hotels were crowded with visitors to the Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, many of whom had narrow escapes. Most of the occupants escaped with only their night-clothes on. To add to the excitement a number of ladies tainted. The caretaker and the houseeeeper of the theatre had a sensational ex-. perience. They were cut off by the fire from the staircases, and had ,to escape by the windows. The .custodian lowered the woman from a window by means of a rope, and then clambered down the rope himself.