DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 78, 1 April 1874, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

The most disastrous fire that has been known in Nelson for several years, occurred .this morning in Bridge-street. The following are the particulars of its outbreak, so far as we have been able to ascertain them : — Mr Phillips, who in addition to his store had a soap-boiling establishment at the back, was at work boiling fat until two a.m., at which hour he went to bed, having first extinguished the fire. After he had been asleep for some lime ho was awakened by a sense of suffocation, and on getting up and going to the head of the stairs, he was met by a large body of smoke and flame, which drove him back and forced him to make his escape out of the front window by way of the verandah. He then saw Constable Beattie, who had seen the glare from Trafalgarstreet, and run down to give the alarm. Mr. Phillips went to bis back premises, and took out hia horse anl cart, and then played with a small hose on the flames, which were rapidly increasing, and, by the time the brigade arrived, had obtained complete mastery of the building. The hoses were quickly hrought to bear, but not before the shop of Mr. Thornton, saddler, on the cast side of that in which the fire occurred, had caught alight. One branch was told off for the piotcction of that building, which, however, was old and very dry, and quickly disappeared before the huge masses of flame that greedily licked it up, and then proceeded to attack Mr Augarde's store. How the latter escaped is a perfect marvel, the walls and roof being very frequently pierced by tongueß of fire, but these wherever they made their appearance were checked from inside by buckets of water, and the drenching of a small hose playing from inside, while the large one was pouring its contents on the building from theoutßide. Fortunately the efforts of the brigade and of private individuals, notably among these last being the tenant in possession, were successful, and the store was saved from complete destruction. Meantime, however, matters had assumed a far more serious aspect on the west end south Bides of Mr Phillips' store. For some time it waß hoped that the drapery establishment of Messrs Wymond and Co. might he saved, hut as the flames increased in intensity they gradually worked their way into the shop aod descending through the roof obtained a firm hold upon it, and it wbb scon eeen that not even the largo body of water that was pouring upon it would besufficient to cave it from destruction. It was also being attacked from the rear as well as on the flank, the flames having crept round and laid bold of the stables belonging to the Trafalgar Hotel, bo that besides the fire which had made an entry and was gradually consuming the interior, it was fairly enveloped in flames from without. A gallant effort was made to save the billiard room at the back of Mr Wymond's, as it was feared that should this burst out in flames, the Trafalgar Hotel, which is separated from it only by a narrow passage, must go too, and the fire would thus be carried into Trafalgar-street, but the room could not long resist the attack of the huge body of flames that were leaping and roaring all round it, and at laac it too took fire, but by the unceasing efforts of the brigade and other volunteers who not only kept up a constant stream of water on the burning buildings, but kept the others in the vicinity thoroughly well wetted, the progress of the fire was at last checked, and it was so far got under command that all fears of its spreading farther were at an end. In the course of a couple of hours or so the splendid flow of water which was available had done its work, and the red flames had given place to smoke which at the time we write is still rising in small clouds from the scene of ruin and disaster. It is unnecessary to say that the members of the Brigade worked splendidly, for that they always do, and had they received more timely notice of the outbreak of the fire, there can be no doubt that its ravages would have been confined with much smaller limits, but it had obtained so complete a hold before they arrived, and the heat was so intense, that it was utterly impossible to save the adjoining buildings. Many bystanders who volunteered their assistance also rendered valuable service, and the battle between the flames and the human endeavours to check them in the narrow passage referred to above was interesting and exciting to a degree. Those who have been burnt out will, we fear, be heavy losers as the insurance will be far from coveriDg the amount of actual loss. Mr Thornton, we regret to learn, was not insured at all. The following are the amounts of the risks held by the various offices : — Victoria, Mr Fisher agent, £1800, divided as follows: — Messrs. Wymond & Go's stock £1000, Mr Disher'a sample and billiard rooms £300, Mr Phillips' stock £500. London and Liverpool, Messrs N. Edwards & Co agents, £1500 as follows, Messrs Wymond and Co.'s stock £600, Mr Harley's buildings occupied by Messrs Wymond and Co., £900. South British, Messrs Morrison and Sclanders agents, £1400, £1000 being on Messrs. Wymond and Co.'s stock, £200 on Mr Phillips' stock, and £200 on his house. National, Messrs Stavert and Co agents, £1000 on Messrs Wymond and Co's j stock. New Zealand, Messrs Curtis Brothers agents, £1000 on the same.

Norwich Union, Mr Stanton agent, £500 od the buildiugs occupied by Messrs Wymond and Co. Total amount covered by insurance £7,200, but this, as we have said before, far b.'low the value of the property that has been lost. [Since the above was written we have gleaned some additional particulars. Mr Wyraond values his entire stock, the winter shipments having just been received, at £11,000. About £2000 worth he calculates has been saved, and he was insured to the extent of £4600. In addition to this heavy loss, he has lost a valuable piano, and a quantity of household furniture. Mr Thornton succeeded, in saving a considerable portion of his stock, but was totally uninsured. He has not yet been able to ascertain the amount of his loss. His shop was the property of Mr Oakey, and was, we believe, insured for £250. Mr Augarde's shop which was partially destroyed, also belongs to Mr Onkey.]