The fire had been controlled only in the nick of time and a later inspection of the interior of the building clearly showed that, had it not been for the prompt intervention of the firemen, the entire building might have been gutted. Narrow passages on the first and second floors had been further narrowed by odds and ends that had been stored there for lack of space in the densely populated rooms and the corrugated iron roof made things considerably more difficult for the firemen who had to work hard to break through so as to be able to attack the flames from the top as well as from the sides.
Heavy smoke and extreme heat considerably hampered the firemen in their work. Hose was extended, spaghetti-like, "in thick profusion through narrow lanes skirting the burning building.
Only a portion of the tenants were able to save their modest belongings, which were piled on the pavements. Touching scenes were witnessed as families clustered about a few boxes and bundles, thankful to have escaped with their lives. For a long time confusion prevailed as members of families frantically searched for their relatives in the crowd. None were missing, however.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.