Extensive Fire: Messrs. Fry and Co.’s flour mills, situated in the Commercial Road were destroyed by fire on Friday last, and a loss sustained of about £3,000. The buildings covered a large area, consisting of two wings and contained a basement and two storeys. It was a brick and stone structure but in the interior, there was a considerable quantity of woodwork. It is customary to keep the machinery at work both night and day, and one man is considered quite capable of fulfilling all that is required during the night. On Thursday night a man named Northcot was left in charge, and he states that whilst engaged in the basement, shortly after five o’clock in the morning, he fancied he detected a smell of burning. At once hastening on a tour of inspection he discovered on the top storey a small flame on one portion of the machinery. He ran with all speed in search of something to contain water and in the basement found a small kettle, which he filled and proceeded to the scene of the fire. The flames, however, spread very rapidly and ere his return had got such a hold that his efforts to extinguish them were futile. He then raised an alarm and whilst messengers went for the engines, the neighbours did all in their power to overcome the devouring elements, but without avail. At about half an hour after the fire was discovered, the “Sun” engine arrived, followed in quick succession by the “West of England”, “Norwich Union” and “Barrack” engines, and the whole were very soon playing on the burning building, the flames from which had already shot through the roof. In a very short time it was seen that there was no change of saving any portion of these premises, and the attention of the firemen was directed to Messrs. Woodbridge’s and Mr. Pinsent’s works, the former of which actually did take fire and it was only by the energetic efforts displayed by the “Sun” brigade and the soldiers form the barracks that these premises were saved from the same fate …
[see similar Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 15th December 1871 … Includes … “There was danger also of the premises of Mr. Pinsent, Wheelwright, catching fire, but fortunately the roof was of iron, and that prevented the fire from spreading. The destruction to property in Messrs. Fry’s Mill was very great …”
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
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