A devastating fire occurred during the small hours of Tuesday morning at Na Nee Clu, Pootung, destroying at least 150 Chinese shops and dwellings. According to a Chinese estimate of the damage done the number was even larger, over 200 houses being completely gutted.
It is believed that the fire broke out in a rice shop in the vicinity of the Hoong Shing Wharf, Mr. Hyatt, Customs Examiner, telephoned for the Fire Brigade's services at about 2.30 a.m.
Over 100 shops had already been burnt down and the conflagration threatened to spread to buildings in the Pootung Road, endangering a number of godowns. Both the Hoong Shing godowns and those of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire on the Watung Wharf were in imminent danger.
At first it seemed impossible to save the godowns, the fire having made such alarming headway, but the Central Division just managed to stay the conflagration.
The men worked in two sections under the Chief Officer, and tackled the southern portion of the fire first. The float, from which lines of hose were laid along the wharfside, rendered invaluable service. Houses in the numerous alleyways were crumbling down, and the heat and smoke were overpowering. Another section of the men arrived later, under the supervision of Fireman Gilhooly, while the Pootung Brigade were at work with a small motor pump.
In the buildings were quantities of bean oil, and two kerosene stores. A stubborn fight ensued, and the fire still continued to have its way in one or two of the tor-races of dwellings. Covering jets were got to work to counteract the progress of the flames, and at about 5 o'clock it was seen that the firemen had obtained complete mastery. The good work was continued, however, until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the debris still burning pretty strongly in places There were one or two humorous incidents during the fire. Two fowls were discovered tied to the back door of a building, which was in flames. They were rescued by some of the firemen, and handed to a man who seemed only too willing to receive them, and said they belonged to him. Apparently it was temporary proprietorship, as he went off smiling with the birds in his arms. Another incident showed the sang fraid of the Chinese. Here an old man still went on stoking, making the hot-water, and was the first to offer tea to the helpers. At another place which was on fire, an old woman would not allow the villagers to take any water from some vats in the place, as she said the water
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.