DRAPERY STORE SWEPT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 290, 28 February 1928, Page 1

DRAPERY STORE SWEPT

Brigade Saves Building

DESTRUCTION OF STOCK

A DISASTROUS outbreak of fire, causing- damage estimated at £35,000, was discovered shortly before 10 o’clock last evening- in the Queen Street premises of Hart Bros, Ltd.

Outwardly the building- appeared to have suffered little damage, but an examination after the fire had been subdued revealed a scene of havoc.

IRL servants in the Albert Hotel adjoining first noticed the outbreak. They informed a porter, Mr. R. Elston, who gave the alarm to the Central Fire Brigade. When two engines arrived under the command of Superintendent 'Wilson there was little indication of fire from the outside. A glowing haze of smoke was blown from the roof across

Queen Street, but no flames ivere vis- ’ ible to the large crowd. Immediately the firemen opened the ; street doors flames and smoke burst out, showing the interior to be a mass of flame. “When we reached the building the glow of flame could be seen behind volumes of smoke,” said Superintendent Wilson. “But it was not until the doors were opened that the magnitude of the outbreak was apparent. “The draught of air drawn in had acted as though gas had been pumped on the flames,” the Superintendent remarked. The articles comprising the stock, celluloids, paper clothes and filmy dresses were swept by flame as though made of gun-cotton. Racing from one end of the store to the other the fire left practically nothing untouched. What little stock on the ground floor escaped the flames was ruined by heat, smoke or water. After a strenuous battle lasting halt’ an hour the firemen controlled the outbreak and succeeded in confiningstructural damage to the ground floor and ceiling. At no stage was the fire spectacular from the public point of view. It is not known how the blaze originated, but it lias been established that it did not begin in the basement which suffered more from smoke and water than from flame. This morning there was nearly a foot of water in the basement, in which floated a sodden array of goods from toys to heads of wax dolls. The stock alone was Insured for £83,650 in the Eagle, Star and British Dominions Office. The owners say that the greater part of this was lost. Considerable structural damage was also done. Details of insurances on the building are not yet available. SMOKE IN THEATRE During the early stages of the fire smoke from the burning shop began to find its way into the Strand Theatre a few minutes before 10 o’clock. The film broke off suddenly, and as the lights came on the people filed out in an orderly manner. Even when it was seen that the passage-way from Queen Street was full of smoke, there was no suggestion of panic. The top floor of the building which Hart Brothers occupy is part of the Albert Hotel. Smoke and heat soon began to make an entry into the bedrooms on this floor and drove out the sleepers. Girls with armfuls of bed- ! ding and personal belongings filled the liall of the hotel. Fortunately the flames failed to set alight to the bedrooms, smoke only doing damage.