DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 88, 3 May 1901, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ELTHAM.

Wb learn from tbo Eltham Argus that on Thursday mom ! ng, about S o'clock, a fire broke out io the back part of Messrs. Murray and Sangster's (bakers) shop, in High surest. man earned F. Barson, slreping in a room . near the bakehouse, was aroused by a noise which tventua'ly proved to be a fire tbat was ragiig in (he fehop. He quickly ro'i'od his companion, and bursting opt n a d ji r fiund the kitchen well alight and tbe house full of smoke. Fortunately he at once directed hit efl'orts to raving the inmates, an l ) sue* ceedd in ies:u : r,g t l e two children and tbaii mot 1 er, bjt, so great a hold bad the firs then attained that the in* mites bad to be passed through a window, tho room they were in being in a few minute* fil'rd with flames. An, alaim had by tlr's time l>eeo fcivea by Ihrcoti's corn pa »i n, 8 ingster, who made an energetic bu.fruiiWa attempt to save tl:i con'rn's'f the ro r re»hment roo'u. Ihe ad joiuing building was eccupied by the Excelsior Drapery Compauy and Mr ('a to , tbe mtnager, atar being roused prompt ly> started to got out as much stokk as possible, but ueirlyall his furniture was destroyed, Efl'oi-.'g wero next directed to raving the btore occupied by Mr. Blenaerba«sett and as the salvors were reinforced by many willing hauis the connecting ( fence was quickly t->rn down Attention was thon drawn 11 Mr. Hodgson's (•hop which was in danger but tbe fira ! spread so rapidly, owing to the buildin.'s > o r.ji oi l, tl:a' lit 1* of the stock pou il b mvi <l. The lieat was by this tiw intends, and h lit>ht bro zi sponging lip m dj matters worse nnl tflortl had to be directed to sive the other side of the s^rie 1 . A. buckft brigade * was formed and worked hard and continuously wita the satisfactory risuh of keeping down the chance of fire on that side of the street. t S i great was tbe heat tbat the , men ou tbe opposite sidd of the s'reet had to be protect-d. But the con* fligntion continued to fpteid toward* thd Riwhitiroa Uoxd, enveloping ia ita course the premises of Mr. Bihar, „ cbemi-t, inc'uding Mr. Gray's dental rooms, wherein were two gas cylinden, which exp)ed«d with loud reports, causing muih cons eination. By im me .ho eflor's tLedrapiry premises of » Methrs. Robb and Davidson and tbe tiasmith's shop adjo'ning were stved and tho crisis was pitsed, and the onlooker cimmenc-d to prcced home- - wards. The danger, however, was not o ve», as about 5 o dock Scot .'a premises were fount well a'ight and defied all cflorts to avert total dts'ruction. The veran'ah wai cut down bjdily and dragged acioss tho stteet to form a scig. n f>r tha di apery store which again appeared to be in danger for a short while. Too milch praise cannot be b trotted on Mr. Barton for his prompt action on discovering the outbreak, as but for that loss tf life might have cccurrad.

i The fo'lo«i'<g is stated to be a list of insurances as far as could be ascertained : - Mr. t-'cott, £IOO ob furniture in Loodoa nnd Lnncuhire; Mr. B&ber, £.;00 on stock in Zealand; Mr, Hodgson, £250 ®a atrck in South British; Mr. Murray, £looon strck *nd furn'ture in i'.oyal Exchange; Excel, ior Draprry Co. £SOO on a ock in National, £IOO on building and. £SO in National; Mr. Carter, £IOO on furj • iture in National^ The buildings occupied by ilaaiW ! Soot)-, Baber, Hi> g«oi<, and Miiiniji wore own; d y Mr Mi Quire, and m*i/ it i< undi-istoji), ii suved in <h« Lor.do* and Lancashire f< r ato .t £7OO. .