AMONG THE ASHES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 30, 6 October 1913, Page 5

AMONG THE ASHES

THE FIRE AT OPUNAKE.

ODDS AND ENDS. From the report of the fire in the Opunake Times, we cull the following:—

The fire came at a very inopportune time, as a number of the owners had just received their first consignment of goods for the Christmas trade. Practically it is a total loss to all the tradesmen burned out, and in some cases a very severe one, as many lost their tools of trade. The stores destroyed saved nothing worth mentioning, and they all carried heavy stocks. The Loan and M.A. Co. saved a number of bags of seed, but these were subsequently ignited and severely damaged, as they were placed within the fire zone, as also was a quantity of saddlery salvaged from Mildenhall's. Some of the inmates of the hotel had to make a hurried exit as they were all abed. A warning note was sounded and a cool head, in all cases., was out of the question. The cook,, who slept over the fire outbreak, sent his belongings through the window and/himself followed immediately afterwards, landing on the footpath, wallop, none the worse for his aerial flight. The fire engine was got out but rl was badly handled and of little use and played a comic part in the din tragedy by perishing in the flames tHe fire between Holmes and Arthur and Heath's cindering it up and th< pump liandle to uselessness. The heat told its own tale by exposing the bar* wireing that is encased in the suction hose, running down to the water's edg< in the well, a distance of nigh 40 feet On the morning after the fire the town presented a sorry spectacle Bared in ashes, smoke giving of whiffs of burnt leather, mattrasses contents of tinned preserves aw liquid elixir; telephone wires down air broken; chimneys with a sepulchra appearance standing sentinel mids; destruction. Here and there th small reserve of coal was burning fiercely. , It was a cursed sight fo Opunake, people to look on. The most calamitous fire in the history o! many calamities from blazes that hav< ( befallen Opunake. The building tenanted by Watson tabooed by fire' insurance companie: for many years, has at last succumbed; but not of its own J accord. ]

•Nothing, was removed from Can riell's stationery shop except; a- fev . fittings and] [trade'books', 'borne im portant papers Jaelonging to the Ceme terfy Boardj weife' destroyed/ ■'>'■/' '^ ■Several afccidlshlk occurred ! ii ! the way of knocks ; and cuts' to indivi' duals. The hewing «owu of veranda posts and wrestling with sheets' o iron was fraught with many narrov escapes. In one instance the ax< slipped and landed on another worker, Mr Looney's face, leaving, a nastA cut J whiclPwaa promptly attended[ ti by Dr. Barron. 1 j , ~ , -It' seemed strange/ now, when i our normal and collective mood,, tha more stock \\;as not salvaged. The las tradespeople in the line of fire VeriK believed the fire would be beaten ol before it reached their premiseSi Henc it is the losses to the tradesmen ar quite as heavy as if the fire had broken out in the individual premises. The Loan and M.A. Coy. have twici been burnt out since comemncing busi ness in Opunake. Each time good see has been scorched and scattered. Thfirm has taken temporary premises h the Foresters' Hall." Holmes and Arthur did not allow an; lapsing of business. The carts were out for orders and special orders were sent to the merchants.

It is reported that the landlords wil rebuild as-soon as the necessary for malities are cleared off. The banging at the front doors o the hotel "took up some time before i thorough' rousing of the inmates t< their perilous position was obtained Several persons shinned up the front verandah posts, and one man returnee with another manly form (who was ful of smoke) over his shoulders and ther slid down the same monkey pole wit! his "package." Just like the hero yoi see in a kinematograph picture. The want of a system in salvagin; goods was sorely needed. People wit 1 axes bashing here and there, other: with timber breaking windows showec recklessness of the crowd system. The removal of -goods, in one instance, was being done orderly by the back door. Good intentioned people burst oper the front doors and broke the win dows letting in volumes of sniok< which quickly dismissed rescuin; operations. The dumping of goods in discriminately, proved disastrous ii many cases as the fire came along am destroyed the good work done by th< rescuers.

Strange it 'was that both bachelors' dwellings were saved from destruction Mr Libeau's "mansion" is only a few feet from the rear of Holmes anc Arthur's shop, but destruction, ease:" off it and the stables. Mr Libeau'f furniture—a black frying pan, a hall tin of preserved milk and a euphoniun ■were removed to a place of safety. In the other instance, Mr Epping'f domicile was warmed up; sheets o i iron were nailed, over the windows and despite the fact that the furniture, the broom and the paint brushes were taken out the fire soon afterwards ceased.

Opunake for some time to come will look sombre at night, The best lighter! and busiest part of the town has been scorched out, and until new buildings are erected the town will be enveloped in the shadow of the recent disaster* • i , ._