FIRE IN DERBY STREET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3721, 6 January 1913, Page 5

FIRE IN DERBY STREET.

A HOUSE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ,

OCCUPANTS LOSE THEIR BELONCINCS.

ADJOINING PREMISES BADLY DAMAGED,

The faint tinkle of the West End firebell • shortly before midnight did not arouse much attention, and Constable Han-old, who. was on duty, found it necessary to ring out an alarm from the town tower in order to awaken the firemen from their slumbers. There was a fire in Derby Street, two structures- down, in a building occupied by the brothers Cade, the elder of whom is in business as a. picture-framer, etc., next door. The building, which was an old one, burned after the manner of a lighted match-box, and a bright reflection, with curls of smoke, proved an irresistible attraction to large numbers, of. people. The house (a four-roomed one) was burning merrily when the crowds arrived, and it was evident that attention would have to be paid to the house next door, occupied by Mr E. J. Millard, photographer, for the flames were leaping over the intervening space and the eaves had begun to burn, while smoke was issuing from under the iron roofing. People began to take the furniture out.

So it was when the brigade arrived, aboard the new motor tender, which had given slight trouble at the start.

By this time someone had uncovered the water plug, and the firemen were in no wise slow about getting a telling force of water on to the burning structure. A second lead was soon in use, and earnest attention was paid to Mr. Millard’s house. The outbreak here was mastered' only after almost half-an-liour’s work, the roofing having to be torn clear, so that the burning rafters could be saturated. This was finally done, but not until the necessarily large amount of water which had to be used damped many articles of furniture. The wall of Mr. Millard’s house was sadly scorched. His furniture was uninsured, but the house, owned by Mrs. Clayton, was insured far an amount unobtainable early this morning. The outbreak in the house in which the fire originated, in which Messrs. Edwin and Fred. Cade lived, was by this time well in hand, but the building was thoroughly gutted, and the young men will be rather heavy losers. On lu's furniture and stock, Mr. Edwin Cade has a policy in the South British office for £IOO, and lie estimates his losses (including a piano) at nearer £2OO. Portion of his stock, kept in addition to that in his shop, was destroyed, and neither man saved anything beyond some personal effects. This place, too, was owned by Mrs. Clayton, and was insured The younger of the brothers, was asleep in bed when the other came home at 11.30 p.m. He lighted the gas in the kitchen,' folded some clothes, and took them to his bedroom, turning the kitchen light out. He liad not been long in bed when the smell of fire awoke both, and, going out, they found the rear portion of the building in flames. The fire worked havoc too quickly to allow them to save much.

About a quarter past three flames were noticed again issuing from the roof of the building in which the fire originated, and the brigade was again called out to extinguish the outbreak.