A BIG SOAP FIRE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 64, 22 March 1913, Page 5

A BIG SOAP FIRE

AT WANGANUI.

“THE FATS IX THE FIRE.”

(Per Press Association.) Wanganui, March 20

Gilberd and Sons’ soap works, with one of the most up-to-date plants in New Zealand, and employing 19 hands, was destroyed by fire last night. From a spectator’s point of view, the sight was a magnificent one.

When the fire was at its height, there was a tremendous explosion, of ■which is supposed to have been drums of perfume. To those at a long distance, the whole heavens seemed to be lit up, while tins of fat, soap and debris were scattered in all directions among the spectators close around the fire. Id is miraculous that no one was killed. Three firemen were thrown about twenty feet, but w'ere uninjured. One tin of tallow, weighing a couple of hundredweight narrowly missed hitting the fire engine and a group of firemen. The public, becoming panic-stricken, rushed madly away to escape the flying missiles, numbers .of people falling into ditches and a creek near by. The brigade was summoned from town, and the fire engine was sent down, but only a small pressure could be obtained from the adjacent creek. The blaze, fed by thirty casks of oil in the upjaer storey and vats of fat and tallow was tremendous, and the brigade did remarkably well to save Scott’s and some of the stores adjoining. The fire is still burning, and will do so for a couple of days yet. The outbreak is thought to have started in the top storey, behind one of the tallow vats but how is a mystery. Three hours before, when Mr Harry Gilberd went through the works, all was apparently safe. By a strange coincidence it is three years all but two days since the last fire, when the works were destroyed. Although the insurances total £4600, Gilberds say they will bo heavy losers, owing to the amount of stock destroyed, including nearly 70 tons of soap ready for shipment. The insurances on stock and buildings are: New Zealand Office £IOOO, South British £IOOO, Royal Exchange £IOOO, Atlas £SOO, Royal £SOO, United £3OO and Sun £3OO.