A Big Fire.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 373, 5 November 1889, Page 2

A Big Fire.

£20,000 DAMAGES. Sydney, Oct. 21

A disastrous fire, resulting in the total destruction of Messrs Davenport and Sons’ boot factory, Marrick' ille, occurred on Saturday morning shortly before 6 o'clock. Mr Davenport immediately proceeded to the spot and found a fire raging in the clickers’ room. Attempts were made to extinguish the flames without avail, Mr Davenport being nearly suffocated in his endeavors, and a Mr Biley, together with another workman, were then dispatched to the local fire station. The immediate neighborhood was by this time aroused, and a number of persona soon attended, among whom were some of the workmen employed at the factory. A successful attempt was then made to savo a quantity of finished and unfinished goods, and these, together with some machines and tools of trade, were removed to a place of safety. Daring the whole of this time, however, the fire was gaining and spreading rapidly through the upper portion of the building The engine, with MrSnelson and men, shortly afterwards arrived upon the scene, and commenced operations, there being a plentiful supply of water. The flames, however, had got a firm hold of the building and were spreading upwards and downwards, right and lefts, till it was seen that the whole of tha building was doomed." The Volunteer Brigade from Newtown were quickly upon the spot, followed by two steam fire engines from Sydney ; and these, with the assistance of several volunteer companies, were successful in preventing the fire spreading to the sheds of the adjoining tannery. For about an hour the sight was a grand one, and had the fire happened during the dark hours of the night the reflection would have been Been for many mites round- By 8 o’clock the work of destruction was complete and nothing but a few bare walls, with a mass of burning debris, remained of what was the handsomest and most complete factcry of its kind in the neighborhood of Sydney. The roof fell in with a tremendous crash, carrying with it several of the party walls, within half anhour of the discovery of the fire. The size of the fire can be imagined when it is known that the building and offices stand on 6a. of ground. The building destroyed cost over £4OOO when first erected in 1873, since which time offices have beep added. It was built of brick and stone, with galxarJsed iron roof. The structure stood by itself in a large block of vacant land on what is known as Gospelhill. The western end wall is all that remains, the others having collapsed. The stock of manufactured goods included a largo quantity of imported boots and shoes, leather and grindery, and a lot of valuable and modern machinery and tools used in the various branches of the boot manufaouring business, (fhe building and its contents are valued at £20,000, most of the former being destroyed. By the calamity 190 workpeople, including 40 females, will be thrown out of employment. Nothing as yet has been ascertained as to the cause ot the fire. Aaron Masters, a nightwatchman employed by the firm, had been on duty all night and bad gohe tha last of his rounds without seeing the least sign of lire, end 20 minutes previous had been in the very room where the fire was first discovered. The building and contents were insured for £lO,OOO. By an oversight au insurance of £5OOO had been allowed to lapse about a mopth since. Orders had been given to take on .25 extra hands during tho coming week, and it was in contemplation to build another wing to the dsgtwsd building in view of a general revival of trade ya r »an6ed by statements of the firm's couiitty travellers.