At about 2.45 on Tuesday morning, the Hongkew Bell Tower reported a fire in the direction of Broadway and Dent Road and by the height of the flames it was feared that a tobacco factory was on fire.
The Fire Brigade immediately responded to the call and found that this was not the case but that the fire was much further down towards Wayside. A house in a large block between Baikal and Wayside Roads was in flames, and it was found that cotton was stored on the premises. Lines of hose were immediately laid on and the fire was tackled from all sides. The flames in the meantime were quickly spreading, and the roof now fell in. In view of the fact that cotton was. stored and that the floors appeared to be badly overloaded, Chief Officer Pett deemed it advisable to use water sparingly, and the firemen were kept out of the building.
Coutarse oF 4 Watu.
Suddenly, without any warning, the gable wall fell and at the same time the whole of the cotton collapsed, foreing out the front tion of the building, the men who were working there being buried. To make matters worse electric wires running along the wall also fell, and there were flashes and the danger of shocks. The Central and the Hongkew Divisions at once concentrated on extricating their comrades from under the burning debris, and after about 20 minutes of hard work the firemen who were pinned down or buried, to number of three, were rescued. The others had escaped, fortunately, with slight injuries.
'At the time of the collapse, Staff-Sergeant-Major W. Rose, of the S. V. C., and Inspector O'Toole, Sergt. MacIntosh, dP. C. The good, of the Wa tion,' were standing by and had very narrow escapes. They immediately assisted in the rescue, and did much splendid work in helping to get out the buried men.
Great care had to be taken during the rescue work to prevent a further collapse, and water was kept off the burning cotton except where there were men underneath. This portion was damped with spray nozzles, and the fire kept from reaching the men below.
Three houses were damaged, one which was used as the cotton godown, being totally destroyed.
Tue Casvatry List.
In view of the collapse referred to it was a wonder that there was no loss of life. Fireman Jackson was sent to the General Hospital with a fractured femur. - Chinese firemen Nos. 41 and 152 to St. Luke's Hospital with a compound fracture of the leg and a fractured femur respectively, while six other Chinese firemen," suffering from cuts, wounds and bruises, were also taken to St. Luke's for treatment. These six, however, were afterwards able to return to their Stations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.