GREAT FIRES IN EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2467, 21 February 1893, Page 4

GREAT FIRES IN EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW.

The most disastrous tire that has occurred in .Edinburgh for half a century took place on the night of November 2G, resulting in the totid destruction of the large drapery establishment of Messrs Charles Jennor & Co., Princes street, almost opposite the Scott Monument. Messrs Jenner & Co. were the only firm in Scotland who adopted the English system of housing a number of their employees on the premises, about 120 of them being domiciled there. A watchman in the domestic department discovered the fire about 10 p.ra. and an alarm was at once given, but the locality of the fire could not be discovered for some time. The flames ware spreading meanwhile, and on their reaching the lift they blazed up in .magnificent fashion. The fire brigades of b.Oth Edinburgh and Leith did their utmost, but were only able to keep the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings. The young women who slept on the premises were got out safely, but in <4 sorry plight, and took refuge in a hotel on the other side of St. David street. The flames were so fierce, however, that they were scorched out, and had to flee to another hotel a little way oil’. The Loyal s Hotel, which adjoined the burning buifdj ing, was happily ou the windward side of > and escaped without much injury. At the v\V’ cri °y OH the other side of St. David ti3e * ;;d vi f itor ; fought the flumes pet blankets laid ou the roof, .' nc3 f severe struggle their efforts proven cessful, and the building was saved. The fire burned fiercely for four and a-ludf hours, the tongues of flame shooting up higher than the top of the Scott monument. The crowd was enormous, but ■was kept under good control by the police. Unhappily two of the firemen received serious injuries, and a third man was injured two days later by the fall of part of the runins during a high wind. The stock was exceptionally large at the timein view of the requirements of the winter season. The books are believed to be iutact in fireproof safes, which are buried in the debris. The value of the buildings alone is stated to be £120,00U, and that of the stock is estimated at £IOO,OOO more. The entire damage is covered by insurance, which is spread over 23 companies. Over 400 persons arc thrown out of employment, and much sympathy is felt for them, as well as for the firm. In regard to 1 lie latter, the Jonners are not now actively engaged in the business, ilia present partners being Messrs dames and Donald Ken nod v and Mr W. Tress. They an; talking oiiorg- tic measures to rebuild the premises, and to carry on ;lie business elsewhere i.i the meantime. The burned-out employees are housed in the Hydropathic at Oraiglockhart, a little way out of Edinburgh. The cause of the lire continues to be a mystery. A controversy is going ou as to the alleged inadequacy of tire water supply, or at any rate of the water pipes, in case of another great conflagration tailing place, the firemaster hiving made complaints oil the point. Had the wind been blowing the other way the result would in all likelihood have been immensely more disa.fi r.ms, as the fire would a! most certainly have consumed the groat building of the Koval Motel, and everything beyond it us far as Hanover street. j Ou Sunday, Nove.Lor 27th, the Scotia j leather work, in Motion street, lUidgcton, 1

Glasgow, owned by Messrs Caldwell, Hamilton and Sons, were consumed by lire. The damage is estimated at E‘25,000 and is covered by insurance. By the falling of a gable damage was done in (bo adjoining bridge building works of Sir W. Arrol and Co. During the previous three days the Glasgow firemen had been called out nearly 30 times to as many different outbreaks of fire.—Otago Daily Times.