BIG BLAZE IN SHANNON.

Shannon News, 28 April 1922, Page 3

BIG BLAZE IN SHANNON.

FOUR SHOPS BURNED DOWN. FIERCE FIGHT WITH FLAMES. The dread alarm of fire was heard in Shannon in the early hours of Thursday morning, and before the outbreak had run its course the conflagration had proved the most serious that has been experienced in the town for many years, whilst the result was the complete destruction of four business premises in Ballance Street. THE ALARM.

It was about 1.30 a.m. that the first evidence of the fire was noticed by Mrs E. G, Coakley, who had risen from her bed and was attending to one of her children. It was noticed that Mr A. Burr’s barber’s shop and billiard room next door was ablaze in the front portion of, the 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 pre : raises of Mr Ti C. Thwaites, chemist,, which adjoined Mr Burr’s premises. So rapid had been the advance of the flames that nothing was rescued from Mr Burr’s shop, and very few articles were got out of Mr Thwaites’ premises in face of the advancing flames. FIGHTING THE FLAMES. By this time the alarm had 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. ‘ It was noticed that Mr Coakley’s T,estauran4 on the upper sifle of Mr Burr’s' shop could not escape destructien, and volunteers were soon at wvork removing the furniture to safe quarters. A considerable quantity of tfhe effects were thus saved, but soon ffhe buildnig was alight and was beiing hastily devoured by the , flames.

AttentioiKwas next directed to Mr T. ■Watterston’s tearooms and residence •still further along the street. Here a band of workers were soon at work removing the interior effects. A piano was among the first articles to be rescued, and so speedily, did the salvage operatibns go on that a practical clearance was made before the flames reached the premises. Happily, a vacant section intervened between Mr Watterston’s and the next building along the street, which helped to stay a further spread of the flames in that direction, although Mr Osborne’s ■office was steaming under the' fierce :heat from the burning buildings. A FIERGE\ FIGHT. ■

Meanwhile, on the lower side of Mr

'Thwaites’ shop a fierce fight was in ■progress to save Mr J. Bovis’s but--cher 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 build■j ing. the fire fighters dashed in again and again and drenched the threatened walls with water. At this time the framework of the burning buildings commenced to collapse, and although a little wind sprang up and fanned the flames, the worst of the ■•danger was over. It only required the rattention of the bucket brigade to continue their efforts to hold the outbreak, although the heat was so intense that the workers were only able to rush in, throw the water on the threatened walls and get out as quick as possible. Fortunately there were only a few puffs of wind during the whole of the time, otherwise it is possible that, the damage would have been much more serious. THE BUCKET BRIGADE. Mention should be made of the ■splendid work of the bucket brigade. These workers were hastily organised, but rendered very fine service. Water was quickly passed from the adjoining premises and from tesian well at the 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 at the fire said the 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 "the 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 further damage was likely to occur. x The buildings destroyed were own-

ed by Messrs: S. W. Carter, J. Gill, T. Watterston and J. Roach. INSURANCES. The insurances are as under: Mr Thwaites’ shop—stock £2OO (Liverpool, London and Globe office); i'urnitq/ije £SO (Guardian),' building £oso (Commercial Union. Billiard roomstock £250 (State); tables and fittings £550 (State); building £450 (State) and £4OO (Alliance); plate-glass £l5O (Alliance). Refreshment rooms (Mr Coakley’s)—Building £350, bakehouse and outbuildings £2OO. There was no insurance on the furniture. Refreshment rooms (Mr Watterston’s)—Building £3OO, furniture £l5O (State).