MARSEILLES FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1938, Page 5

MARSEILLES FIRE

ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS IN HISTORY HEART OF CITY BECOMES INFERNO. ANTICIPATIONS OF HEAVY DEATH-ROLL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MARSEILLES, October 29. It is feared that there will be a death-roll of 100 as a result of the fire, one of the greatest in the history of modern Europe, which devoured the heart of Marseilles, the shopping and hotel area. The damage is estimated at £500.000. Five acres of buildings in two blocks surrounding the city’s main street, the world-famous Canebiere, were destroyed. The fire began in the famous store of Nouvelles Galeries, in which the 300 employees became panic-stricken and jammed the doors, several being injured. It is not known how many were trapped in the upper floors. Four girls jumped from the third story windows, one being killed. The building became an inferno within half an hour and the fire brigades were unable to approach closer than 200 feet because of the heat. The flames reached 40 yards across the street and set fire to three hotels, including the Hotel Denouailles, at which the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, and Ministers attending the Radical Socialist Congress, were staying. <• TROOPS ESTABLISH CORDON. After nightfall, flames 300 feet high were visible miles out to sea. Ten thousand Senegalese troops were rushed up and cordoned off the centre of the city. A terrific explosion in the Nouvelles Galeries swept flames and burning fabrics hundreds of feet into the air, setting fire to more buildings. The store itself collapsed with a roar like thunder. Two cinemas, a bank, the Air France offices and numerous shops and offices were destroyed. M. Daladier adjourned the Radical Socialist Congress as a sign of mourning and personally directed the rescue. Police rushed in to the Hotel Denouailles to recover vital State documents locked in the Ministers’ rooms. 1 It is feared that some were lost. Traffic was brought to a standstill and the city is under a blanket of smoke.

A temporary panic was caused, during which armed troops put down looting and men of the Foreign Legion held back frantic people who were trying to rush into the danger zone to seek relatives.

All the brigades were called out and were reinforced by troops arriving in special trains from Lyons and Toulon.

An official list names 46 missing people. All were employees of Nouvelles Galeries. At least 30 were having tea or were off duty. As yet they have not been located.

NO DANGER OF FRESH OUTBREAK There is no longer any danger of a fresh outbreak, but it is impossible to begin a search of the ruins before the afternoon. A ghostly bluish smoke isrising in clouds as the firemen continue to deluge the embers. The first hint of the cause of the fire is a suggestion that workmen’s oxygen blowpipes on the first floor of Nouvelles Galeries were responsible. The survivors of the staff of Nouvelles Galeries weepingly assempled to hear a roll-call of employees. It is believed that many were trapped in a lift.

Thieves, taking advantage of the confusion, ransacked rooms in the Hotel Denouailles. Troops blew down the walls in order to prevent a fall in a dangerous direction. A man clinging to a rope over a beam in the hope of launching himself to safety was suddenly hoisted to the second story by a heavier man clinging to the other end. Both, after seesawing, dropped into the flames. One was rescued. ITALIAN ARRESTED. IN POSSESSION OF OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) MARSEILLES, October 30. An Italian employed at the Hotel De Noailles, found in possession of correspondence addressed to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Bonnet, kas been arrested.