NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE OF MESSRS. NATHAN AND CO'S PREMISES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4992, 23 March 1877, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE OF MESSRS. NATHAN AND CO'S PREMISES.

Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co.'s premises had a very narrow escape from total destruction by fire last evening. It seems that the place was locked up between half-past six and seven o'clock, but that four of the employes returned" to work at ten minutes to 8 o'clock, and on opening a door leading from the yardl ixitftt the store they Hvere half suffocated by ,& huge volume of smoke rushing out. Mr. Marin, who was ""the "first to" enter," called" upon those with him to shut the door immediately* - but the--current of air which had' been admitted; was sufficient", to fan a smouldering fire "into a flame. A bucket of water was quiekly thrown on the source of the flame, and; in" a few minutes the hose, always laid throughout the premises, was brought into requisition, and the fire effectually put out It was discovered that the fire had originated in a heap of rubbish near the patent lift, and had partially charred some large cases, next to which Btood a cask of whisky. The narrowness of the escape can easily be appreciated from the foregoing.' It is very dear had it not been in the first place for the accident of. the employes returning to .work; the fire would not have been discovered till ,'it; had assumed proportions which might have rendered its extinction a matter of very great difficulty ; and, in the next place, it must be admitted that had it not been for the presence of mind of Mr. Mans in excluding air as much as possible, the fire might still hare obtained a strong hold. To have left the door open for a minute while outside assistance was Bought, a verj natural course to be followed, would have furnished all that was required-for the propagation of the fire. Mr. Rosburgh was sent for, and decided to place storemen in the building all night to watch. It is supposed that some carters, who had' been on the premises till nearly 7 o'clock, must have thrown a lighted match-ioa. the rubbish heap, or that a spark escaped from the pipe of one of them ; and that the fire " smouldered till between 7 and 8 o'clock. We believe Messrs. Nathan and Co. will probably recognise substantially the; service rendered! them by Mr. Mann, and no doubt the insurance offices interested will be as liberal as the firm. We look upon it that Wellington has been once more spared a very disastrous fir*.