FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 25 March 1904, Page 2

FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

.KEMPTJIOUNE, PROSSER, AND (JO'S. DRUG STORE. CIIEMIOAL EXI'I.OSTONS. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £50,000. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Marcli 21. 'A serious tire broke out to-night at Kempt home, I'rosser and (.Jo's large drug si ore. j The flames now (10 p.m.) have | complel e possession of ihe building, the tire brigade being absolutely poWCl'leS.S. Explosions are occurring everv lew minutes anil many thousands of people arc walching. The insurances on the stock total £28,101), distributed as follows Imperial 'Jiuod, Law i;,iii, n and Crown ilOOl), New Zealand L.'i.oUO, Lnited .Hldl), lineal Exi'liange IH.oO, Lherpool and Loudon ami Globe .C:j00(>, National ,t:;(ril), Sun .C.">(>U, Norwich I'nion .C.'lOOd, Al'iniHu; £2(i(.)(i, Australian Alliance | £.".00. tiiiardiun £2500, Commercial '.Union £;i0(H), Norlh Qiiecnsbuul .C.2000, at Lloyds (London) £;u;00. Oil till! building- there is £7oo') anwniKst tile following oflicns Ntc.v '/ea.'und £IOOO, l'niled £:150, Royal Exchange £2OOO, Xorth liritish ami Mercantile £IOOO, Liverpool and London and (ilobe £IOOO, and National £1(m0, part of which is ivinsured.

E tr.UTilEii I'A HTJ (' I:j ,A ItS, EIRE ISRTUAnE I'OWEKLESS AGAINST THE FLAMES. A SCENE OK EI Eli V SPLENDOUR WELLINGTON, Uiter. The fire was first discovered by a passer-by, who .saw smoke slowly issuing from the windows of the second floor. 'Tho building is of modern ami one of the finest in Hie ci'jy. It' is a four-storied stricture iVith treble street frontage. Wiien the brigade arri rod siuoke issued fiercely through trevices in the .windows,, and even experienced fii'enid.'i were confident H.hnt a couple of powerful jets would be sufficient Jo gain the inu.Sitery ; but the flames juggled rutb'/essly with these cWpectfitions. The brigade soon luul three jet,"s of water playing on the btiruijig mass inside the building, but a (|mirter of an hour passed witli little change. The spectators, of whom thousands had assembled, failed to see any evidence of progress on the part of the firemen. Inside the building trouble was increasing, and as the huge columns of smoke continued to belch forth through the broken windows it wsia plain the, outbreak had a very strong hold. Eor a few momenta the dark inlerior of the second aloor of the huge '-building was lighted by a bright, sheet oi llamn, only to be imniedialely swallowed up in the dense Dill [muring of smoke. Then the conflagration was marked by a rapid and determined expansion. Uuickly the flumes crept along the eastern portion of the building, and tho magnitude of the brigade's task increased every 'juimite.

The fire police joined in the fight, and somewhat diminished Ihe strain on the brigade. 'Walcr was poured into tin; building, but still with no result. It. simply thundered against the Hides of tlm building, ami died away as it mingled with the flames.

In the inner portion of (ho packing room, where it is thought the /ire commenced, the persistent crackling of burning timbers and repeated explosions of chemicals showed unmistakably the onward march of the fiery fiend.

The (lames soon burnt through tins third storey. Five thousand people had now assembled, and it was seen that, the building wan doomed* highly inflammable nature of .the contents drew the flames like a magnet.. Time after time great volumes of fire leaped through the shattered windows, and laughed at the efforts of the brigade. A telescopic ladder was placed in pusiti on to give the firemen an opportunity of directing the nozzles with greater precision. The crowd cheered heartily as A helmet-headed fireman ascended the ladder until obscured from sight by the smoke, flame and steam. But despite all efforts the fire continued to gain the mastery, and at midnight the building was gutted. A large quantity of acids are stored in a strong room, which it is hoped will withstand the onslaught. of the flullles ; but if not a very serious explosion will occur. The damage is already estimated ut .LHO.UOO to £50,000. SERIOUS I'M UK AT IIAMI-A. PAHLATI'A, March 21. A fire aI. Ilamim at «"> a.m. destroyed Hod (ii ill's s 1 ore, Allen's wheel right's shop, Cranl, blneksiiii I lis, and Woo]laniKin's fourroouied house. Insurances : Commercial ["uion. .L. 1■)2.~>. The loss above the insurance is iUIoO. Tiie "uuse of lite lire in unknown.