THE INVERCARGILL FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 5

THE INVERCARGILL FIRE

AN EXCITING DAY. DANGER NOW ENDED. (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, June 10. The fire which broke out in the Imperial Oil Company’s building in Spey Street on Monday afternoon, completely destroying the stock and building, j continued to bum all day. In the early morning a strong wind suddenly sprang up, and the names, which were still leaping to a great height, threatened danger to the Vacuum Oil Company’s! store on the opposite side of the street, in which were stored over 40.000 cises of petrol, approximately 1116 casej of kerosene, and 20,000 gallons of Inbri fating oil. One third of the Vacuum n » premises are of brick • «*•» . r« i _ corrugated ir m Ibe ••-'■g r to j'.• ;•». howeve**, wa- k-.-.-cred by the fa> l that the front purlieu of the store is used tu hou.se the stocks of lubricating oil, which is not nearly of such an inflammable nature as the motor spirits or kerosene. Nevertheless, it was necessary for the brigade to keep strict watch on thes>2 premises, to which drifting sparks formed a constant source of danger, As the day advanced the fire abated in intensity, and the flames gradually subsided. All day long a dense column of smoke drifted over the town. It is probable that the fire will continue to burn for some time yet, but the danger which threatened to nearby buildings is past. On inquiry at the hospital, it was ascertained that F. G. Smith, who was injured while endeavouring to check the fire in its early stages, is making. satisfactory progress.

WELL OF DEATH TRAGEDY IN A GARDEN an ITALIAN INCIDENT. Received June 10. 7.25 p.m. LONDON, June 10. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says: While a party of thirty were dining in the gardens of a country restaurant on the Via Aventino, a boy, while playing, slipped on boards covering a well sunk in connection with drainage. The board collapsed and the boy fell in. Another boy descended by a ladder, but did not return. Four persons tried to descend successively. Each reeled and disappeared. Three others attempted rescue while carabinieri and firemen were being summoned, but the well was half filled with noxious gases, and as each inhaled it he became unconscious. Finally firemen brought out six dead and three who were still breathing. It is expected the latter will recover.