FIRE IN GEORGE STREET.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2934, 21 August 1882, Page 2

FIRE IN GEORGE STREET.

The old block o£ buildings belonging to Messrs Quinn Bros, in George street was almost entirely destroyed by fire yesterday morning. Constable Casy about 3.30 found Mr Coxhead’s shop on fire. Making all baste, be sounded the town ball cracked fire-bell, and then proceeded to the police station and rang oat am alarm there. In the meantime Mr Amos was aroused, and some members of the Fire Brigade were speedily on the spot. By the time they arrived, however, the captain had dragged the hose reel down to the fire single-handed. Their utmost efforts were unavailing to arrest the progress of the flames. Mr Turnbull’s grocery store was not destroyed, but materially injured. Some bystanders got out the stock and removed it to the N.ZX. and M.A. Co.’s offices. Messrs Wood and Smith’s store, and all their considerable stock pf clothing were destroyed. Mr Coxhead’s photographic shop, and Mr Wadlow’s late confectionery store were also burned to the ground. The wind being in the opposite direction, the buildings below this block, separated from it by a passage, did not take fire. The heat of the flames, however, cracked a great many panes of glass in the Club Hotel opposite. It is almost beyond a doubt that this conflagration was the work of an incendiary. A couple of kerosene tins were found in the rear of Mr Goxhead’s premises, after the fire, having boles pierced in them. This circumstance alone has a most suspicious appearance, and when it is remembered that three previous attempts have been made to set the place on fire, there can scarcely be two opiaioas on t be subject.

Mr Amos, Captain of the Fire Brigade, and Mr H. B. Courtis, Gas Engineer, were both the recipients of stunning blows from the jets daring the operations of the Brigade. Mr Amos was struck violently on the head, and remained insensible for a considerable time awakening to intense pain, which was only relieved by a discharge from the ear. Mr, Courtis was merely knocked down, and escaped wilhont any particular injury. The want of a good fire-bell was, on this occasion,' shown to be very urgent—for comparatively few persons heard the alarm. Only five members of the Brigade were aroused. Happily Messrs Cowburn and Ellis were on the spot, and rendered valuable assistance at the hose. The insurance on the entire block fromcorner to corner, is said to be £IBOO in the Liverpool, London and Globe office, £750 being the amount for which the portion burned was insured. Mr Turnbull’s stock was insured in tbs Standard office for £SOO. Messrs Wood < and Smith had their drapery stock insured in the National for £800; Mr Coxhead’s stock was insured for £l5O in the Standard. Mr Wadlow bad just cancelled his policy of insurance, before parting with bis stock, having just sold the lease of his premises. Happily for him, however, he had disposed of his stock before the fire.