THE BIG FIRE IN SHANNON

Otaki Mail, 1 May 1922, Page 4

THE BIG FIRE IN SHANNON

FOUR SHOPS BURNED DOWN

FIERCE FIGHT WITH FLAMES

(From the Shannon News.)

The dread alarm of fire was heard in Shannon m the. ta.iy hours oi Thursday morning, and beiore the outbreak had run its course the conflagration liad proved the most serious that has been experienced in the town for many years, whilst the result was the complete destruction oi lour business premises in Bailaiice Street.

THE ALARM

li was about 1.3 d a.rn. that the first evidence ui the fire was noticed by Mrs E. G Cuakley, who hud risen front iter bed and was attending to one of iter children. It was noticed that Mr A. Burr’s barber's shop amt billiard room next door was ablaze in the trout portion of tire building, and the noise of crackling timbers 'and the roar of the flames became louder each moment. Mrs Coakley lost no time ’in giving the alarm, and her cries quickly brought those near at hand to the scene. Among the earliest to arrive were Constables McGregor and Shannon. By this time the fire was burning fiercely and had mastered the front portion of Mr Burr’s shop, and was enveloping the billiard room in the rear. The fiery tentacles then extended to the premises of Mr T. C. Tlnvnites, chemist, which adjoined Mr Burr’s premises. So rapid had been the advance of the flames thai limbing was rescued from Mr Burr’s shop, and very few articles were go! oni of Mr Thwaites’ premises in face of the advancing flames. v

FIGHTING THE FLAMES

By this lime the alarm bud reached all parts of the town, and the residents were flocking to the scene from all quarters. In this dire extremity there was no lack of Willing workers. If was noticed that Mr Coakiev’s restaurant on the upper side of Mr Burr’s shop could not escape destruction, and volunteers were soon at work removing the furniture to safe quarters. A considerable quantity ol the effects were thus saved, but. soon the buildnig was alight and was being hastily devoured by the flames. Attention was next directed to Mr T. Watlerston’s tearooms and residence siill further along the street. Here a band of workers were soon at work removing the interior effects. A piano inns among the first articles to be rescued. and so speedily did the salvage operations go on that a practical clearance was made before the fia.jnes reached the premises. Happily, a vacant section intervened between Mr YValterston’s' and the next, building along Hie street, which helped to stay a further spread of the flames in that direction, although Mr Osborne's office was steaming under Ihe fierce heat from the burning buildings.

A FIERCE FIGHT.

Meanwhile, on the lower side of Mr Thwaites’ shop a fierce fight was in progress to save Mr J. Bovis’s butcher shop. Between Mr Thwaites’ and Mr Bovis’s there was a 10ft right-of-way, which gave the bucket brigade a chance to stay the path of the flames. The paint blistered and the timbers of the shop twisted, and two or three times little outbreaks of flames were noticed, but despite the fierce opposition of the flaming building, the fire fighters dashed in again and again and drenched the threatened walls with water. At this time ttie framework of the burning buildings commenced to collapse, and eithough a little wind sprang up and fanned the flames, the worst of ihe danger was over. It only required the attention of the bucket brigade to continue their efforts to bold the outbreak, although the beat was so intense that me workers were only able to rush in. throw me water on the threatened walls and get out as quick as possible. Fortunately there were onlv. a-ffew puffs of wind during the whole ..of ihe time, otherwise it is possible that the damage would have been much more serious.

THE BUCKET BRIGADE.

Mention should be made of the •piendid work o' the bucket brigade. These workers weTe hastily organised, but rendered very fine service. Water was' quickly passed from the adjoining premises and from tbe artesian well at tbe Club Hotel, and it is to the heroic efforts of those workers that Shannon has not. suffered a much more serious loss.

.Speaking to a -News representative yesterday, a spectator ax lire fire said tbe fire fighters worked splendidly, both on the ground and on precarious positions on the roofs of buildings nearby. In fact, they toiled like tigers. Ballance Street during the course of tbe fire presented a curious sight by the number and variety of articles that were rescued from the burning buildings, being scattered promiscuously about. By 4.30 the worst of the danger was over, and the police remained in charge to see that no fur- j ther -damage was likely to occur. The buildings destroyed were owned by Messrs. S. W. Carter, J. Gillf V VTatferston and I. Roach.

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