The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1882. FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 26 May 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1882. FIRE.

We bad thought that Masterton after being for some years on the black books ol Insurance Companies, was beginning to c.row in favor with them again, but the extensive fire last night will prove a loss to the undertakers of fire risks,

THE PREMISES destroyed are known as Mr D. F, McCarthy's Stores, and were situated on the opposite corner to the Club Hotel, from which they were separated by one of those wretched half-chain streetß that municipal enterprise iu Masterton still leave as a menace to holders of. large buildings. Mr McCarthy's stores consisted of a doublo shop with a frontage of nearly fifty feet to Queen-street and from sixty to seventy feet to Bannißter-streot, It was a low single storey building with iron sides and roof, and was built some two years ago on a site which was swept by a disastrous fire in 1878.

THE ALAItII was first given a few minutes after 2 a, in, by the vigilant nightwatchman of the Club Hotel crying out " Fire!" Unfortuuatoiy he did not at once proceed to rouse the town by pulling the fivebell, but Mr Elkius of the Club Hotel at once sent a man to ring the alarm. In the meantime several persons, roused by tho cry of fire, ran down to the spot. Amongst the earliest arrivals on the scene were Sengeant Price, tho officer' in charge of the Masterton police station, and Messrs Price and Hooper, who found' that the fire had arisen in the front part of tho shop, within a few feet of Queenstreet, and far away from any chimney. It, ifi fact, was through the roof of the front part of the building before it touched the back. An attempt wasmado to save a few tKialefiSelieat' rendered 'iViS effort unavailing.

OUR IIEPOIITER, "WLo lived in the vicinity of the fire, woke about 2.15 a.m. by a sound like that of an anvil being struck. After a minute he was able to distinguish it as the' fireball, the ringer apparently haying the rope twisted round the bell or woodwork. A minute later ho was at the conflagration, and found the premises one mass of flame. Ho proceeded to the engine house, where the members of the Brigade, assisted by a few volunteers, were engaged in. bringing the engine out. Five minutes later both engines were placed—the larger one by Mr Gray's blacksmith shop, and the smaller one in Bannister-street, Wo jtirae was lost in getting them not only into position, but into the right positions. By this time, hundreds ofpeople began _to collect on the scene irom all directions.

THE FIRE BKIOADE under Captain Muir did it3;work coolly and systematically. Numerically it is weak, and many of its members are recruits who have replaced older hands, but even with these drawbacks its services were invaluable. About2.22a.m. the hose was filled, and brauchman Smith at once pointed it at the side of thedub Hotel as it was impossible to save tho burningstore, and the only practicable effort ffaS to prevent the fire spreading.

THE WEATHER was fortunately perfect, there was not a breath of wind, the flames and spark showers went up and down perpendicularly. The chief danger was the intense heat which blistered the Hotel, and which, but for the strenuous efforts which were made in its defence, would have succumbed to the enemy,. /■

THE CLUB HOTEL has withstood two previous fire seiges, At the former of them, in 1878, when Messrs Sellar and Hales' premises were burnt, it was thrice alight, and in the following year, when the block from the Courthouse to the corner of Perry-street was destroyed, it had a narrow escape. A fire does not find the inmates of these premises unprepared. Amongst the guests in the hopse of course there is general alarm, and last night most of them cleared put bag and baggage till the house was out of dancer, but the regular staff of the establishment go to work with almost military precision, Within a lew minutes after the alarm the roof and balcony exposed to the fire was covered with blankets (many of which are blowing about now in the form of johar•coal). The hotel hose' was-pouring a stream .of water over the roof, and a bucket and ladder company passed endless pails of water to the top of the building. The garrison worked well, but Without the eteady aid of the firemen below, who continued to ply : the hoao on the side of the builditag, they:would have been vanquished. Below the hotel the smaller engine was doing good work,

Brahchman'Jago; put his hose through a -baolc, .window, and, injrspite of the great .'heat', played .water right into the interior of tKe'iburmng gtruccureftlf wo do not partiprilariße th? r names of the brigade and of many oitizens who worked nobly on this' ooossion, it'is simply because there were so many heroes in the fray, One : . tLVCKY ACTIOS deserves a specialrecord. Mr D. F. McCarthy after being roused bed, rushed up to the Btore to find it a fierce furnace. Knowing that there was powder in the'back portion of it, he made a bold rash to reraovo it, and actually carried off one case of amunition while it was alight. There were many good men at work, but perhaps no better one than SERGEANT PRICE. : Thiß officer was here, there, and everywhere directing the efforts of the spectators, and seeing that citizens did their duty. Through his exertions the pumps me reputedly manned, and sometimes it was no easy matter to get a sufficiency of recruits. " Its nothing but right" said the Sergeant in .a bright cheery tone " but that I should see the faoes of those men who won't volunteer to save the town," and ho walked amongst the idle bystanders coolly inspecting them till many of them took the hint and marched to the pumps. The Sergeant was of the greatest assistance to the Brigade, and he was ably supported by Constables Fleming and Leahy. The police arrangements throughout were perfect. There was very little SALVAGE. '

A few things were removed from the shed at the rear of McCarthy's building, but practically the whole stock was consumed with the building. About halfpast two there were a succession of explosions. At that time tho fire had evidently reaohed the powder, and above the lire green and blue lights showed up at intervals. Ten minutes later the burning building fell in, and all danger was at an end. The Fire Brigade pushing down the burning uprights and turning both hoses on to the flames, the surrounding properties no longer needed protection. On tho right of McCarthy's stores, and separated from it by a yard forty-fivo feet broad, is the large blook of buildings occupied by

MESSES RAPP & HARE. This fortunately was protected by its iron sides and roof. The wooden fence connecting it with the burning building was promptly removed at an early period, bo that though the Emporium was in a decidedly warm position, it practically escaped all damage, There was a decided feeling or alarm among the surrounding property holders. Goods were packed up in all directions, and iu many instances removed to places of safety. It is an old rule of the Masterton Rifle Corps that members on occasions of this kind should appear in uniform to act as a Salvage Corps. The only member of the Mastorton Corps who complied with this regulation was Corporal Dalrymple, whom we saw in charge of a big cashbox which in the excitement oftho moment had been left lyinij about. Though after halfpast three all danger was at an end, the pumping was continued till 8 a.m. The iron and woodwork being mixed together in the oh'arred ruins made it almost impossible .to-put tho fire entirely out.- Three months ago wo called attention tp the inefficient state of the fire plug in Bannister-st. The 6econd engine was delayed several; minutes in obtaining water by .'the n'eirlect of the Council to make this dam in a proper and efficient state. There is no hole dug in which to insert the suction hose, the depth of the creek being supposed to be sufficient, hut this was- shown to be a fallacy with such dams as the Borough has provided. Holes at lenst S feet deep should be dug under each fire plu;. INSDBANOBB, .We understand that Mr McCarthy valued his stock at £5600 and that the insurances amounted to £3600, viz,, Southßritish, £500; North British, £600; Hanseatic, £500; Northern, £400; National, £300; Union, £300; Sun, £500; and Association,'£s6o, The stores were the property of Mr Lowes of Masterton, and Mr Harris of Rangitikei. The former has an insurance of £256 on the one portion of the building in tho Victoria Compaiiy.

This morning Mr Gapper, the Fire Inspector for the Borough, put on some men to clear away the debris with a view to extinguishing the burning timber, but the work hajjfo far prnce_eded_very and wgpJWiidfto spring up a greattfeaT /A tire would be scattered about. We are glad to hear that Mr McCarthy has saved his ledger and cash-book. It was his practice to take these books home every evening to his residence, and they were therefore away from the burning premises. One of the incidents connected with the reluctance displayed by some men in going to the pumps is worthy of record. A daughter of Mrs Ewington, a maiden in her teens, feeling ashamed of tho inactivity of the lords of creation, went herself to an engine and worked at the pumpine with right good will, The origin of the fire is inexplicable. Mr and Mrs McCarthy who have always been very careful in putting out lights, were the laßt to leave the Bhop at a late hour last evening. Considerable sympathy is felt with both husband and wife who have labored hard during the past two years to establish a business and who have sustained a loss which demands the consideration and support of all their friends.