FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 352, 11 October 1898, Page 2

FIRE IN SYDNEY.

THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS DAMAGES. NARROW ESCAPES. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT). Sydney, October 8. A cheat fire is raging in the vicinity of the railway station, Redfern. The fire commenced in Hudson's large timber yard, crossed Regent-street, and demolished a whole block of business places. Thirteen buildings have already gone. The brigade have the tire in hand, but many other buildings are seriously damaged. Several firemen have been taken to the hospital injured. The whole of the Fire Department is engaged on the fire. There is a tierce westerly wind blowing. October 9. The fire was the fiercest and the quickest in spreading that has ever been seen in Sydney. Within a few minutes the timber yards and buildings were alight, and the gule drove a huge body of flume across thu narrow thoroughfare and licked up a row of tenements opposite. The occupants hail no time to make their exit by the front door, and had to retreat through the backyard, where they were hemmed in by a high brick wall, surmounted by broken bottles They were rescued with great difficulty by means of ladders, which were lowered over the wall, and the panic-strickeu women and children were taken up. Many were out with glass. The firemen worked gallantly. Twenty business places have been wholly or partially destroyed, whi'e burning debris was carried to Pitt street, some distance away, and destroyed a cottage and damaged other premises. The buildings are mostly old and of no great value. Sixty firemen were engaged on the fire, and four were injured, one getting his leg broken. Hudson's premises and stock are valued at £BO,OOO, but the total damage ib estimated at about £30,000.

Owing to the locality being crowded with workmen's residences, an appalling los3 of life must have resulted had the lire occurred at night.