23
3.
Separated from the rear of the tenements by a scavenging lane, some
six feet wide, was the principal godown of the Wing On Company, the main
entrance to which was on the seafront, This godown was also found to
be alight at an carly stage of the fire, and, in spite of efforts to
control it, the fire managed to get a firm grip on every floor. By the middle of the day the whole building was blazing fiercely. On the other hand, efforts to damp down the fire in godown No. 5 met with a
greater measure of success and some of the rooms at the eastern end were
by no means burnt out.
4.
About 10 o'clock, the wind increased considerably in strength, blow- ing the flames to the west in the direction of the Interoccan Lines of- fices and godown, and adding to the difficulties of the Fire Brigade.
It reinod intermittently during the day. The road on the seafront had
boon under repair and the surface in front of the principal godown had
been dug up, leaving a depression some two feet deep in which water
collected, making conditions very unpleasant for the fire-fighters.
5.
It was therefore perhaps not surprising that during the afternoon
some of the firemen began to show signs of exhaustion. An offer of as-
sistance by the Police Force was gratefully accepted by the Chief Of-
ficer, and thereafter police in relays continued to help the Fire Bri-
gade until the fire was officially regarded as under control. In the afternoon parts of the upper stories of the principal godown collapsed,
and cracks appeared in the walls, rendering it unsafe for the firemen
to continue their activities on the ground floor inside the building.
6.
The fire in the min godown raged violently through the night of
22nd September, grimly fought by the fire-fighters, who succeeded in
preventing its spread to adjoining buildings. At about 4 o'clock on
the following day, the Chief Officer regarded it as under control, but
it was not until almost a week later that the last embers were extin-
guished.
Appointment of the Commission;
7.
This was the event known to the public, and to the members of the