DESTRUCTIVE FIRE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING.

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 317, 26 May 1874, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING.

About 1 o'clock on .Sunday morning, the general store of Mr C. Bell, Churchill, was totally destroyed by fire. The circumstances so fur as known areas lollows : John McOandless, a ropetnaker, employed nt the mill, first discovered the lire j he lived in a cottage about 100 yards distant from the store; a heavy chip of thunder, and a particularly yivid flash of lightning awoke him about 1 o'clock. About a quarter of an hour afterwards he heard a noise which ho took for a steamer coming up the river; he got up to look out, and law that the roof of the store was on fire. Flames were then rushing through tlio shingles. McCandless immediately aro'ised Mr Bell and the mill hands, who burst in the door ; the heavy smoke drove them back. The interior of the store at this time, was one mass of flame — it was impossible to save a single article, By great exertions the back store was saved; water was carried for tho purpose in buckets from the river. This store contained meat, buttor, aud potatoes. Fortunately all the buildings attaohed to the mill aro one hundred feet distant from each other, consequently only the one store was destroyed. Ai it was, the fire was io fierce that it was necessary to keep a constant flow of water on qhe neighbouring cottages, towards which tho wind wafted the flames- The back store was on fire se\cral times, fortunately it has an iron roof, and to this circumstance must be attributed its safety. The men woiked well, and great credit is due to them. The loss is estimated at £1200, of which £800 i* covered by insurance.