H—47

Block 4 A building with a frontage of 66 ft. to Cashel Street and extending as far south as the south side of Block 1. At approximately half this distance the width of this block was reduced to approximately 38 ft. For a distance of approximately 33 ft. back from Cashel Street the building was three stories in height, and beyond that distance, two stories in height. There was a basement at the rear of this block housing the main switchboard and pneumatic-tube equipment, and used for the storage of dress materials. Openings This block was accessible from Blocks 1, 2, and 3 through the following openings in the brick walls : Basement. —A doorway to the basement of Block 2 fitted with a steel door, which was apparently open at the time of the fire. Ground floor. — (a) An opening to the right-of-way at south of Block 1 (no door). (b) An opening approximately 7 ft. wide to the rear of Block 2 fitted with a sliding door on one side of wall. This door is one of the doors that will be referred to as fireproof doors in evidence. (c) An opening approximately 9 ft. wide at the rear of the art department in Block 4 to the rear of Block 2 (adjacent to the last opening mentioned). Fitted with a pair of sliding doors on one side only. This pair of doors is also referred to as fireproof doors in evidence. (d) An opening approximately 12 ft. wide to Block 3 ; unprotected. First Floor. — (a) Two windows overlooking light area on the ground floor of which the appro office was built, one fitted with metal-clad fire-resisting shutter which was open at the time of the fire; therefore both openings unprotected. (b) Two door openings at rear of Block 1, fire-door on one ; other filled in with wood partition. (c) One doorway 6 ft. 3 in. by 3 ft. to rear of Block 2 ; fitted with fire resisting door. (d) One door opening 7 ft. by 3 ft. between display area in Block 4 and cloak room in Block 3 ; no door. (e) One opening 10 ft. by 14 ft. wide between display area (over art department) and Block 2 ; unprotected. (f) One doorway ; unprotected. Second Floor. —One door communicating with Block 3 and provided with a sliding fire-resisting door one side only, in addition to ordinary wooden door. Fire-resisting door was apparently not closed during fire. Construction (a) Wcdls. —Walls were concrete in basement, brickwork elsewhere. Facade to street, stone. The north and south walls of the three-story portion were carried on rolled-steel beams and cast-iron columns, leaving practically the full width of the block clear on the ground floor. Inside walls were strapped and lined with matchhning covered with Beaver, Pinex, or Gibraltar board. Both outer and inner lounges on the first floor were panelled in polished blackwood to a height of 7 ft. Walls of the second floor were lined with matchlining.

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