FIRE IN WAIMATE.
THE W AIM ATE HOTEL AND FOUR SHOPS, AN OLD LANDMARK GONE. At 5.55 yesterday morning*, when early risers were just rousing from sleep, the dread summons of the fisebelj, -.long-continued, brought all from their beds to witness a fire which has been expected in W annate for many a long year—the Waimate Hotel, with the adjoining shops. Evenatthishour the fire had obtained a strong hold, and was rapidly enveloping the dry wooden building, which it was seen at a glance was doomed* The firemen were promptly on the scene, and, aided by wi.iing hands, got their manual in working order from the tank at the Bank corner. The building flamed like tinder, and no attempt was made to arresc the course of the fire in this quarter, but a stream was kept on the windows and verandah of Messrs Manchester Bros', stone store, just across the road, tvhiie another hose was led down to Messrs Arthur Jones and Co.'s sbbpV which, being of brick, was expected to arrest the coarse of the firei ...""'''■
'Meanwhile, from the hundreds of onlookers .who had gathered, willing helpers cleared out the stocks of Messrs Franklin (stationer), Meyerß and Jones (butchers), J. Wiliams (bootmaker) and A. Inkster (tobacconist), all of which buildings were of wood and attached to each other in the order given from the hotel. Of all, Mr Franklin had the least saved, for his shop being adjacent't6 the burning building, part of which also, was overhead, the i!me for rescue was short, and as the stock was extensive and in small parts, it was difficult to discriminate. However, all that was possiole was done, and the salvage carried across the road into comparative safety. 'Then all thaVcould be done was to wateh the flrejnen.and the course of events. Shackleton and Grant's shop, also of wood, and across on *tbe ndrth. side of the road, com-' menced to smoke, bat a band pomp was put on it, and this averted dagger for the nonce. The fire by thiß time presented amagnificent spectacle, smoke and flame pouring from every window and door, showing up against the, dark' sky the eager workers and the interested onlookers, the latter in all stages of neglige. The heat
vis eo fierce thai; ifc drove the people fcom the background of shops across the road, but the fire* men, working like " Trojans> had choppe 1 down the poats of the shop verandahs, and the iron roof, covering the fronts like a hinge, was grappled, ropes fixed to it, and dragged out by scores of Willing hands. The little old shops, thus laid bare to the fierce light, looked pitifully on, the closing scene of their thirty, years' existence. They had stood through ✓ many changes, seen many vicissitudes, Ibut their time had at last come, and the frail structures were soon licked round by the greedy flames* It had been confidently expected that Messrs A. Jones and Co.'s shop ■would s be unhurt, and the burning timbers of lnkster's shop were being pushed backhand the hose kept playing on the bricks, therefore no stock or futnitute had been removed, but as the fire reached the shop a good deal of the furniture was carried Out, although the stock was not touched. Hqw* ever, the efforts of the Brigade anjl their assistants were successful, and as the grey dawn crept in sll further danger Was over, and, little more than "an hour after the bell had sounded, a pile of blazing timbers, a few upright studs and flame-breathing chimneys marked the .site, from which one of the town's oldest landmarks had been. tJinoved.
ORiGttf OF TFtii] FI&E. M« TWOMEY'd STORY. v Mr Twomey says that he was awakened about a quarter to six by one of the girl?;, who shouted " The house is on fire/' He immediately lit a candle and made his way downstairs with a jug of water, but saw the firehad a great hold so he rushed back again and hastily patting <m his clothes assisted Mrs Twomey to take out their five children (four boys and one girl). When he had placed his wife and family in safety, be rushed in again and secured the. money and papers in the safe, but was unable to do more»
Mr Twomey says he is certain every fire was out, in fact they had died out, when, as is bin custom, he went round them at night.
THE BOARDERS* STOKt. Mr J. Cunningham says he was hoarding in the hoto!, and wais awakened by the shout of " Fire." He slipped into his clothes and tried the stairs, but the smoke drove him baok, and he made for the fire osc3as>e, cutting his wrist severely in getting down, rushed to the firebell und alarmed the town.
Thetu \t<sre sevou baarder3 alfcc*gofcher, Messrs J. Cunningham, P. ballanan, T. Kane, ,W. Surridga. Mc^i^paej-aacl - two, others. -These with the four servant girls—\li3aeß Perry; Cairns, A. Martin and E. Greolish—and Mr and Mra Twomey and family, eighteen persons i i all, escaped without injury, the seven boarders, who were on the second floor, getting down by iaoan3 of the tire escape. W. Surridge says that he was awakened by the rattling of kerosene tins—evidently bursting—and the emeil of burning oil. He thinks the fire originated in the back of the kitchen.
There is an impression that the fire was .caused b) a defective chimney 4 , or else by the carrying off of matches by rats, whish existed adjacent to "the house in large numbers. A fire inquest will be held to-day.
BUSINESS RESUMED. Early yesterday forenoon, Messrs Meyers and Jones, Frankiin and Inkster secured the vacant shop of Messrs Manchester. Bros., in Lower High street, and Mr J. Williams the little shop next door to Mr Cosgrave's smithy, and have again resumed business. Mr Twpmey is opening a temporary bar in a brick storehouse at the back of the hotel site, and will be able to meet his old customers without delay. EARLY HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
The Waimate Hotel, under its present name, v. as built about 1861 by a man named Clarke. It was merely a small oottage-like structure in the midst of a clearing in the bush, which for long, after. gre<? ,o.i\ what is now Queen street. Tbi3 little hotel, ..with its verandahed front, was the, only public, tmthlirig available for public Meetings or court business, and it did dufcyras a courthouse for a number*.-of years. Clarke died in* the house, and his widow married .a man named Andrew Dow. They carried on the license for some time, then sold out to a Waimate syndicate, and went' to Melbourne. Since that time.the hotel has many times changed lessees, it being at different times parried on; by ten persons besides the two named above, until it readied Mr Twoiney, who bought j the "building and became the thirteenth licensee. The building has teen added to as years went but always in wood. Its escapes, from fire have been numerous, but like the pitcher that goes .oftetiaat to'tbe-wellit'lias come to*^ri«i-at last- ' ,'/«/^* . The ehopa have., been built' fttttti time to time;.tod wejgtjmrnt i& their original form. ' * INStffiAHOES.. The insurance on Mr Twomey's building waß £BOO in and Liverpool ani Globe, and £4OO on the furniture in the Royal. .*: 4 MF, Franklin had- £2OO on. ft* ' sto<& in the London and Liverpool
and Globe, and SMO in the Kcya'. Messrs Meyeis and Jones nad '£loo ©a thdc stocky and Mr A. Inkster£7o, The shops belonged.-to Messrs Molloy and Pitman, and' the insurance isnot as yet known."
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 176, 16 July 1901, Page 3
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1,265FIRE IN WAIMATE. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 176, 16 July 1901, Page 3
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