Fire in Grahamstown.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3581, 18 June 1880, Page 2

Fire in Grahamstown.

At about 10 o'clock last evening before the citizens of Grahams town had returned to their peaceful slumbers, they, were startled by the loud clanging of the Williamson street firebell, and the sudden appearance of a large volume of flame from the Vicinity of the custom-house. The Grahamstown fire brigade turned out with alacrity, and with a large crowd of citizens hurried to the beach where it was found the whole of the upper storey of Stephencon's Marine Hotel was on fire, the roaring flames bursting from every window with unparalleled fierceness. It was evident that the fire had got a firm hold on the buUd:ng before noticed. Those first en the scene found the doors } closed and the house apparently empty. : After rapping vigorously with no response the front and side doors were burst croen, and the lower portion of the building showed no sign of human occupancy. Downs of willing hands were speedily a; woi'k, and in Terr sh rt s Pace of time the furniture on the ground floor was removed to a place of safety. In clearing the bar it was notioed that there was very little stock, the shelves being chiefly fill'-d with empty bottles. The Grahamstotsa Brigade speedily had a somewhat feeble jet of water directed to the side of the building nearest the Albert street wharf, but in a few minutes, the batteries being •topped, a splendid pressure was obtained, and tour jets were playing on the building, which was now a burning mass. The Shortland Brigade arrived about seven minutes after the sounding of the alarm, and rendered valuable assistance at the rear of the building. Those inside worked till the intense heat droro them out, and which

was so great that the branchmen hrd to bd protected with wet blankets, and their hoses covered with timber, etc. The cotLu,ge occupied by Mr Mcßae on the beach was at one time in great danger, and the fcrnileve was speedily cleared out. Same apprehension was felt for the safety of Mr S. Alexander, who, though the flames were playing aH around him, pluckily mounted a ladder and rescued the hotel lamp. The scene was now a Si-a^d a id-terrible one. The galvanised iron roofing burned with a brillirnt blue fire, and the volume of flame was so great that numbers of Maoris residing at Kerikeri rode in post haste fully expecting to see the whole town in ashes. While the fire was at its fiercest the chimney fell, but fortunately did no damage, and after the crash which an* nounced its collapse, it waset 'dent that, the gallant firemen bad got the upper band, and the fire blazed with rapidly decreasing intensity until -all that .re* i mained was the charred and blackened wa'!si. of the lower storey. , The building was insured in the Norwich Union Office for £200, the furniture for £200, and the stock for £100 in the Impend. The stock had been allowed to run low, it being the proprietor's intention to remove ".(•> an liote. at Omahu. Not the slightest clue can be obtained to the oiigin of the conflagration. Mr Stephenson was away at Ohinemnri, and shortly before closing time Mrs Stephenson closed the hoajjif .• fd went to meet her daughter, who was at a Pinafore rehearse! at Dr Kilgour's. No one was in the house, and the fire must have burst out shortly aftsr the landhdy left. The wainscotti ig of some of the room* had just bean ruobed with kerosene to destroy the vermin, and it is probably owing to tWs fact that the flr acs burned so fiercely. We hear that a coroner's enquiry wilt shortly be held, when we trust that some / light will be thrown on the cause of the fire.