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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 18 Nov 1908
Page 5 Column 3
BIG BLAZE IN TAUNTON.
HAULIER'S PREMISES GUTTED.
AN EXCITING SATURDAY EVENING.
THE MILITARY CALLED OUT.
ANOTHER FIRE IN ROWBARTON.
A fire of a most destructive character occurred in Taunton on Saturday evening, the stables, lofts, and stores belonging to Mr. W. C. GOVIER, haulier, of Wood-street, being almost completely gutted. The premises which were destroyed are situated at the rear of the Wood-street Inn and of Mr. GOVIER's house, and consisted of the stables, &c., mentioned, and also a stable and loft attached to the Wood-street Inn, rented by Mr. HARTNELL, landlord of the Wheatsheaf Inn, North Town, for storage purposes. It was here that the fire originated, and from thence it spread to Mr. GOVIER's premises. Earlier in the evening the Brigade had been called out to attend a small outbreak in Rowbarton, and hardly had they returned to the fire station when, at about quarter to eight, the syren at the Electric Light Works again boomed out its warning, and this time it was ascertained that a really serious outbreak was in progress. By some means or another the stable belonging to the Wood-street Inn had become ignited. It was composed chiefly of wood work with a tiled roof, and as there was a quantity of hay and chaff stored therein it burnt rapidly and fiercely. Ere long the stables and loft belonging to Mr. GOVIER became ignited, and within a short time of the out-break being discovered the buildings were like a raging furnace, the flames mounting up high above the houses, and could clearly be seen from Station-road. In Mr. GOVIER's premises were twelve horses, besides several carts, one a new one. The animals were in considerable danger, and it became imperative that they should be removed to a place of safety. This work was undertaken by Mr. GOVIER's son, Mr. Reginald GOVIER, who had just returned from a football match at Wellington. He was assisted by several men, including Messrs. RICHARDS, POOLE, BULL, and ANDREWS, who are employed at Mr. LUCKE's shop close by. The horses were got out and conveyed to the Half-Moon Inn stables, and the carts were also saved. Before the Brigade arrived several men, including Messrs. HANN and DUDDERIDGE, of the Taunton Rugby Football Club, got on the roof of the Inn and did the best with buckets of water. Their efforts were of little avail, and ere long the roof of the lofts and stores fell in, and the flames shot up higher and higher.
As can be imagined crowds of people had by this time assembled in Wood-street and North Town, while numbers obtained a splendid view of the burning buildings from the playground of the North Town School. The lofts were full of grain, chaff, hay, oats, &c., while another part contained a number of chaff-cutting and grinding machines driven by a 6-h.p. Motor, worth £80, and these were completely destroyed, together with 20 sacks of oats, over a ton of hay, and a quantity of straw. A strong breeze was blowing, and this helped the flames, and within half-an-hour of the alarm the premises were to a large extent destroyed. The Brigade obtained a good supply of water from the North Town hydrant, and the operations of the men were directed by Capt. A. G. PALMER and Lieut. H. S. COTTRELL. The hose was taken down what is known as Back-lane, and down Wood-street, and soon several jets were at work on the burning premises. The efforts of the Brigade were directed in preventing the destruction of that part of the premises where tools, harness, &c., were stored, and also a new part of the premises used as a carpenter's shop adjoining Mr. GOVIER's own private residence. This they were successful in doing, although the fire actually reached the carpenter's shop, and for some time the surrounding property was in much danger. With the help of ladders the men climbed on the ruined part and played on the burning portions, while jets were sent high over the roofs as well, and gradually the flames were subdued. Soon after the fire started the men from the Depot were sent for. Besides bringing their hose and appliances, they were employed to assist in keeping the crowd back from hampering the Brigade, and this they did very effectively. In the stables below there was a trolley containing two tons of grain, which fortunately had not been taken upstairs, and this, together with a quantity of beans, was saved. Gradually the strenuous efforts of the Brigade began to tell, and the flames began to die away. It was late at night, however, before the men ventured to leave, and then some were left behind and had to deal with a fresh outbreak during the night, which they quickly extinguished. It would be added that the premises were lighted with electricity, and the cable of this was cut outside.
We are informed that the fire was discovered by a man named H. OAKSFORD, working at Frieze Hill Glove Factory, who, failing to get the telephone in the fire box to work, ran up to the Elecric <sic> Light Works. Mr. GOVIER himself was informed of the fire by Mr. MOUNTSTEPHENS, landlord of the Wood-street Inn. The damage, which is calculated to amount to several hundred pounds, is partially covered by insurance. A sad feature of the occurrence was the fact that Mrs. GOVIER, who is an invalid, was naturally much alarmed by the fire, and had to be removed to a neighbour's house. Councillor W. PEARSE was one of the first on the scene, and together with Councillor C. SAUNDERS rendered considerable help in different directions. In a shed close by Mr. SAUNDERS, fruiterer, had stored a large quantity of grapes, but this, luckily for him, did not catch fire.
On Sunday the ruins were visited by hundreds of interested spectators, and the unanimous opinion was passed that it was the most destructive fire in Taunton since Mr. LOVE's shop in East-street was destroyed in April last.
As mentioned previously another fire, but one only of small dimensions, occurred earlier in the evening at 4, Thomas-street, Rowbarton. It seems that the window of the front bedroom was open, when the wind blew the curtains into a gas jet, and set them on fire, the wood work, the carpet, and the dressing table also igniting. The occupier of the house, Mr. TUCKER, an employee of Mr. H. GRIBBLE-TURNER, was not at home, but the next door neighbour, Mr VICKERY, with considerable presence of mind, ran in and managed to put out the flames. Two little children had just been put to bed in the room, and these the mother quickly rescued, being alarmed by their cries. When the Brigade arrived, the alarm having been given by Mr. JONES, of Grove-terrace, they found their services were not required. They were just returning when the syren sounded a second time.
It should be added that Councillor W. PEARSE got out one of the trucks belonging to his establishment, obtained fire appliances from the nearest public box, and got everything ready for the arrival of the Brigade.