Ta the early hours of Inst ing a disastrous Gre hi day morn-ko out on the about 12.25 am, the news being brought by © constable to the Wear Hongkew Police Station about the same time that the blaze was noticed by the Central Bell-tower man, The Victorias, the first Company to reach the scene, found the Sino-Belgian Baok's Godown burning fariously, and though the rest of the brigade turned out promptly, and little time was lost in gotting the Fire King and two other steamers to work, pomping from the Soochow Creek, the flames bad established too strong a hold to be easily mastered.
The fire was first noticed in the South-Eastern corner of the first storey. It spread rapidly backwards until the whole of the front portion of the godown was alight. The iron shutters of the windows soon became red-hot, and the floors and roof collapsed in succession, until only the outer walls of the building and a few charred timbers remained. As the flames spread backwards they were checked by " fireproof wall, separating the godown into two parts, From the roof of an adjoining native tes godown, access to which was gained by meat the Victoria's taintable escape, from the surrounding alleyways, torrents of water were poured on to the flames, and though the main portion of the godown was gutted the brigade succeeded in saving the rear portion, and in preventing the fire from spreading in any other direction, As the scene of the fire was beyond Settlement two hydrants wore available proximity of the Soochow Creek gave the firemen sri unlimited supply of vater. Daring the fire it was indi to see the Paoshan fire brigade, toy apparatus, pumping s diminutive stream in the direction of the flames..
The Fire Brigade was in charge of the Senior Foreman, Mr. Macphail, of the Delage Company, the Chief Engineer being detained at his residence by hie motorcar taking fire, The Mib-ho-Toongs the Deluge worked from the roof of the tea godown on the West sides, while the Victorias were stationed along the creek front, and the Hongkews with another detachment of the Mib-ho-loong operated on the Weetern side of the godown. It was
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