FIRE IN THE. TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 720, 20 July 1929, Page 27

FIRE IN THE. TOWER

BATTLE WITH FLAMES i BEEFEATERS AND BAYONETS KEEP CROWDS BACK l ' 1 A fire at the Tower of London last ‘ month was fought by Beefeaters in' their centuries-01d scarlet uniform! and by troops stripped to the waist. . It was the most spectacular fire‘ seen in London for many years. and ‘ was watched by crowds of people lining the parapet of Tower Bridge. Flames and clouds of smoke were seen pouring from the roof and windows of a. building nearly 300 years old. It stands between the Broad Arrow and Salt Tower, and is now used as a mobilisation store. It was stocked principally with Iclothing—a lot of which was removed lby troops. [ The building adjoins the married {men’s quarters and the oificers' iquarters. It is stated to have been built at the time of Queen Anne, and at one time was known as the Spanish Armoury. l Guards Parade Twenty fire-fighting appliances—motor pumps, turntable ladders, and an emergency tender—entered the Tower by different gates. When the alarm was given about 5.30, Grenadier Guards were drawn up on parade. The Tower’s own firefighting facililties were brought into action and the ibrigade was sent for. The fire engines had to cross a bridge over the moat to reach the interior of the Tower. While the fire was in progress relief firemen were brought up in motor—lorries._other firemen wearing respiratory apparatus had to be employed to reach the seat of the outbreak, which was under control in less than two hours. Guards with fixed bayonets were placed at all entrances with ,Beef-

eaters, who saw that no unauthorised person was allowed to approach. Complete secrecy was observed concerning details of the fire.