Fire.

Manawatu Herald, 21 August 1902, Page 3

Fire.

FOXTON RAILWAY STATION destroyed.

On Tuesday night at a little before 12 o’clock the local railway station was completely destroyed by fire, jhe fsneil as if something was burnjng W as first noticed by some per■oa» - leaving Mrs Cook’s assembly dance at the Public Hall, and on setting to the Main-street the smoke plainly seen arising from the djggrition of the railway station. As 'loos as it was ascertained that it * fire one of the persons awoke Constable Forster, and another rang the firebell. When the station was ' reached it was seen that the fire had started in the north end of the lugga'gg room and had got a firm hold, Weikensß coming through the win-dows-and "part of the roof.- An made to get into the hhilding- but the suffocating smoke *** Jj' ' . s

drove all back, nothing, except a few books which were close handy to one of , the windows, being saved. As soon as it was seen that nothing could be done to save the building willing hands set to work to shift the railway carriages to a place of safety, they being on the second set of metals alongside the station, and not a moment too soon, as one of the carriages was j ust beginning to smoulder, and the windows to crack. It was exceedingly fortunate the Wind was from the north-west, because had it been from the east the engine-shed and other buildings must have gone, as it was water had to be continually thrown over the engine-shed and tank-stand to stop it catching fire. The sparks arising from the burning building went in the direction of Mrs Whyte’s, and further on alighted on business premises in the Main-street. In fact, had it not been for the number of willing helpers about, we are quite sure the fire would have had a more disastrous effect, as Mrs Whyte’s residence became alight on one occasion from the sparks. ' The Stationmaster, with the clerk, had been working at the accounts to 10.30 p.m. and left everything apparently safe. The fire is most unfortunate for the officials for sopie of the returns at which they had been working of an evening since Saturday, had been just completed, but were burnt.

The origin of the fire is not known and there was no insurances.

Mr Woods, the Station Inspector, came to town last night. An office is provided in one of the goods’ sheds for the present.