Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 14 November 1902

Alarming Fire at Mexborough

Serious Outbreak

Considerable Damage

What proved to be a rather serious, and at the same time highly dangerous fire, occurred on the premises of Mr W.H. Lacey, draper and millionaire, who carried on business adjacent to the Times office on Tuesday night.

The outbreak was first located by Mr W.H. Addis, secretary to the “Mexborough and Swinton Times Printing and publishing company was in his office, which adjoins the scene of the outbreak. Hearing something crackling, which appear to be burning and in addition there been a smell of smoke, he quickly gave the alarm. Mr F.C. Pollard, who is on the reporting staff of this paper, happening to be on the premises, at once ran up to the market Hall, where he discovered fortunate that most of the firemen were engaged in making preparation for the Chrysanthemum Society show, which was held on Thursday, and gave the alarm.

Meanwhile, Mr W Turner, the editor of the “Times,” who was engaged at a directors meeting at the Prince of Wales Theatre, was informed of the fire, and he properly gave instructions for the fire bells to be rung. In the meantime the firemen were hurriedly getting the small hose cart ready, and they turned out with remarkable promptitude.

The official fire B grade brigade report states that the alarm was given at 915, and the Fire Brigade turned out immediately, arriving about 9.18 with the hose cart.

During this time the fire had been making rapid progress, and it was thought it would spread to the adjoining buildings; on the one side Messrs Foster’s, clothiers, and on the other, as already stated, the room set apart for the use of the reporters and the secretary in addition to book mining and cutting room of the “Mexborough Times.”

The fire was confined, however, to the work room of the milliners employed by Mr Lacey, and the most damage threatened the cutting room of the “Times” Company. Dense volumes of smoke issued from a small window at the back, which overlooks a passage, and which had been broken open by some person before the brigade arrived, as well as a skylight, and fill the rooms of the adjoining property.

When the fire brigade arrived, under the command of Superintendent Carter, two hand hoses were quickly got to work at the rear of the premises, which was the base of the fire. The firemen played on the flames about 20 minutes, and then the work of cleaning out the partly burnt articles, which consisted mainly of blankets, counterpanes, flannelette and woollen goods was speedily accomplished, and the fire was got under control about 10.20.

The work the Fire Brigade had to do was rather difficult, as a fire and obtain a good hold when they arrived, and owing to the inflammable nature of the goods it was no wonder. The brigade are to be commended on getting the fire under in so short a time, as at one time it looked like that the shop and adjoining premises would be gutted entirely.

A large crowd of people assembled in the High Street, no doubt the fact that the fire had occurred at the interval in the proceedings at the theatre been largely responsible for this, as a number of people did leave the theatre when they heard the fire bell ringing. They were kept in excellent order by the police, who were under Sergeant Goldsborough.

The fire brigade present were as follows: Superintendent Carter, Sergeant Whitehead and Minskip, Fireman Nolan, Beal, Walker, Thomson, Epworth, Davey, Smith and Shipstone.

There is no doubt that if the fire and occurred near midnight, and had not been discovered for some time, there would have been the greatest conflagration Mexborough and ever known, as there are two cottages on the rear the premises, in addition to the printing department of the “Mexborough Times,” where there is, of course, the whole of the machinery, and also several grocer store rooms.

The damages returned at £800, and is covered by insurance, in the Commercial Union Assurance Company. The origin of the fire as not, up to the present, been ascertained, but it is thought probable that the personal lighter gas jet, which is fixed in the ceiling, was so carelessly thrown the match, or whatever they lighted the gas with, on the floor, and it must have set fire to something else, and consequently spread to much larger proportion.