Three Outbreaks Including One in the Central District The rule of three seems in force Shanghai so far as fires are concerned for "after an absence of serious outbreaks through the summer, the Fire Brigade was called out on October 20 on three oceasior in which the total loss may be ove 'Tls. 250,000, In each instance the Brigade' men were confronted with conflagration, which occupied them fensively before they had the flames under control, Shortly after midnight a godown full of cotton was reported ablaze At noon'more than an hour was required to keep the flames from spreading to adjoining premises near Nanking and Honan Roads. Before 6 p.m. another fire which broke out on a building near the inter section of Mohawk Road Avenue Edward VIL kept Sinza Station very busy.
The most tenacious, per hay small job that joined "the Brigade."
The firemen were on the job within a minute of the time the alarm was turned in, but found that the tenants had tried to stem the progress of the flames before notifying the Department. The loss is estimated at over Th 100,000.
Three shops were involved," a silver shop, a fan shop and a fur store. Tho'flames broke out in the silver shop, adjacent to the Dah Guen silk store on Nanking ant Honan Roads corner, but the place was well alight, and the fan shop next door as well, before the alarm was received, On arriving at the scene, the firemen found the first oer of these shops burni ly and the flames were eating their through the flimsy partition rating these from the fur shop. Ancorrectly informed as to the Seat of the fire the firemen attempted work through an alleyway Jeading off Nanking Road, whereas the real difficulty lay off Honan on Within a few minutes a reserve ¢all was sent through and a full complement of men from the south side of the creek were in attend-aid from Nan: men attacked the They were nite some time before they were notified. Jets were thrown on. from the alleyway but the major operations were directed by Capt. G, Dyson, Chief Officer, from Honan Road.
spite of the intense heat, which could be felt on the street, the men xan up their ladders and had Break front windows on the first floor to get in, but the seat of the fire was well to the rear. Hal hour after the call was, receiv the situation was such that considerable danger attended those working. Molten silver dropped on them as they entered below and tiles from slanting roofs slid off, while they laid their lines on, Several Chinese firemen might have been atrtick by these tiles, had not a foreign officer called them back as he noticed the projecting eaves give way.
The Brigade could not get at the flames effectively, until the arrival of the extension ladder, which was ron to the roof of the "Dah Luen shop. Within a few minutes firemen Inid on a large jet from the ladder and shortly had the flames under control. Further spread of the flames' to adjoining shops' was stopped at once, but damping operations continued until after 5
P'Radded to the general turmoil, the burglar alain fu the larger. shop, connected swith Central' station Sounded." The "police dashed "out, armed and "equipped steel Waistcoats. Their motorest_ could not approach because of the lines hose across the road, but ofoers
Shop, only to find the firemen ual Simped gat'and ade forthe ser Work," Te wns later learned. that sot the alarm had. fused sed A short clreult, Tinging arm.
"Trafic on Nanking Road was in turmoil for an hour, At 110. pre ofeers_at Central sation informed Youza' station to divert' traffic to ither side and westbound tref was Shunted' to". Peking. Road' and Avenue Edward Vie as well, White urging the "firemen rush their lines, Ausistant Station Officer Morton stepped-on_a rusty nail. which projected from timb-Fs, fallen from: the roof, The nail penetrated his rubber boot and required the full strength of two men to remove it, Several hours The police Central had! also closed Honan Road to. trait and it was not until Zour ours had the thoroughfare Cleared later that Inspr, Watson, in charge, the P: W.D. coolies and normal conditions' prevailed.
'The siver shop is said to be fully covered as far as fixtures and furniture are' concerned by insur. ance, while the fan shop Is partially covered og well. In the fur shop, Phere ea anid hat ye aks estimated to be no less "thaw Tis, fury were stored, the damage 100,000, a portion "of which is covered' by" insurance.
Panic at AP Fire badly hurt im n fire othe Sun Sing Six women were killed and Cation mil, No-2 at 2 am, on Octee ber 38 ty they award tard the nly Semi-open exit on the. Morey where no fire existed. Fine, then and ethers carried them dawn the' outside staircase, while the flames: burned' the baiaboo. super, structure and bamboo awnings below, The Fire' Brigade. employed Cour Ambulances to'transport thers t3'3e Elizabeth' Hospital where sis were mraqaoncel dead en carnation Scene was pitiful, the screams and cries of the Trighiened women trapped on the upper oer, adding tothe tarmoll on the rose bolag tind the ground for, the latter place being' the only portion of the Wald. ing itelt alight lis the inmates rushed from to exit to find majority blocked, they stumbled and™ tripped. over" cash other, crying and" shouting. "We Actual fatality occurred 'Within Minin body of the room" but. the Wetins were crowded and. trampled fat tu et the pressure from the Sthers found' relief overs brie evidently of great proportion which comnéeted the new'
Ing. wth the tdi fire suddenly burst into sight eas oticed & few" minutes it watch" towers anda" telephone rel almost cua Sea tornado Well following in short order, Sir rst-on the scene, Bubbli W. Charters, Fourth 'Onicer, was in charge, bat sent word to Central ation, bringing' "Cayt." Gordon Dyson immediately, With the fames rising high at the 1 of the premises in the seseliing the Brigade drove: tele Iiaehines to the tear fate. of the compound, finding the gates Spcked,
With wire' clippers scampered. over thdderto the Neb val and men dnd eat the locks, In the mean we, had been "laid and"s00n alumes of water were being. pour:
into. the room, Others ald burning bombo structure, which Was the cause for the panic' above, 'The ames swept through the windows and the toper rooms filed moke, driving' the employees From thei paces.
"Atditjonal lines were run and with tha superstructure: finally out, the fcotching room was. flooded, But fas not' uml "clock that Capt Dyaon considered that they had ames ander control:
Police and. firemen tackled the nasty "jam atthe top of the fexterio® staircase, where "bodies {aid piled. four "and ive deep, ith "others trying to" scramble ver the mass. As the top man moved the' injured." workers) parsed along the line, in some cases to quired" two "then fo cays body: Willing hands were ready, er all assistance mecensars. "The maajovity of the dead were atthe Bottom of he" heap, "which was being' jostled' by and pushed "by those behind, Shouting in Chinese to. the women withto—it fs estimated" that about"200 were on this floor, when the "flames surged along the indows—they finally. quitenod them had the structure was total darkness practically valueless' in the dense smoke, and with their reassuring [voices managed to bring a certain amount of confidence to the tur-bu lent crowd.
Added difficulties were _encountered as some of. the. female employees were confronted by an} almost closed main gate. Ahead of his men who had rounded the large compound with their lines, Capt. Dyson kicked in the gates and released them.
'The damage of the scotching room, which was gutted, one machine piled against the' other, estimated to be about. Tls. 20,000."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.