A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2792, 19 May 1911, Page 2

A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

CAUSED BY EXPLOSION.

RESIDENTS CUT OFF.

THRIVING ESCAPES.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

London, May 18,

A fire occurred in Cecil Court, St,

Martin's Lane, owing to an explosion in the basement, where millions of feet of cinematograph films were stored.

A man was blown out of the shop

above

In a few seconds the court was a seething mass of flames. A bookshop

opposite was consumed,

There were fears cf two, block flats surrounding the court being involved, and many residents were cut off. The crowd below hurriedly strapped short ladders together pending the arrival of firemen. There were many thrilling escapes. Some women crawled from the rooms along narrow parapets, and others flung themselves into the arms of the crowd below. Five were taken to the hospital.