DISASTROUS FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1916, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE.

'■• ' • THEATRE BLOCK PESTROYEtiff NEIGHBORING BLOCKS IN JEOPARDY. FIRE CROSSES THE STREET. SEVERAL SHOPS SUFFER/ When the fire alarm rang out shortljj after 2 o'clock this morning the town was already lit up with the great sheet* of flame that were leaping from the front and roof of the Theatre Royal and block adjoining. No such scene has been .witnessed before in the town, the Jurjdj glare showing up the district for 7"flqj around. At 2 o'clock there was no ehrt of the outbreak, which hurst forth with dramatic suddenness. The fire brigade n> sponded quickly to the call but it TO* at once evident that the outbreak had obtained the mastery and that there was not the slightest hope of Baving tag Theatre Royal. The energies of the flre« men were directed to saving, if possible, the buildings on the opposite side of! Devon street, four of which were speech ily enveloped in flames. The heat was gtf intense that the firemen worked linden the greatest difficulty and with consid* erable danger, but they manfully stuck •to their task and eventually got the control on that side of the street, though! the four shops suffered severely, and t&4 adjoining shop of Molliwi'a was onljj saved by supreme effort. The whole of the theatre block! WW • destroyed up to and including Yeale'a. store, where a brick wall helped l to staj] its progress, and probably will gave the 1 White Hart Hotel. <> The Coffee Palace will, at Hie time of writing (3 a.m.) be saved, and it is hoped that the worst of danger is over. t The Fitzroy Brigade rendered yal*» able assistance. ,