The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-11-25
REMARKAeLE IKE ~ ENoLANp
connagrstion in Blackp pool Tower
Mnkrn a Slrange Sichf.

conaagration in Blaekpool Tower
Makes Strange sight.
Absolutely the most remarkahle FIRE
England has ever known WIS NJ the top
OF the Blackpooi tower. There can he I
little doubt that il arose fra:u some /
fault in the electric light cables which /
run to the top OF the tower. 600 feet 1
high. and provide the brilliant illum-
nation which has hitherto been one OF /
the spectacular features OF the town by
night. Only few weeks ago there was
a slight outbreak OF fire about IL
o'clock at night. but then the flames
were got under control without diff
F hculty. The last fire was of a diff
ferent order altogether. II had got
good hold before II was discovered.
and the bright red light from the ar
rival platform. 400 feet above the
ground. which was observed few min
utes past IL, showed only too plainly
that something was wrong. Several
OF the employees at once assembled TO
the platform by means Of the iron
staircase. and for some time they were
seen to be endeavoring TO beat down
the flames. BY quarter past IL. how
ever. 1t was obvious that nothing could
save the arrival platform from being
burnt out. Commencing on the west
side the flames rapidly travelled east
ward, the wooden casing and the dozen
or more bazaar stalls, laden with light
: articles, proving Irresistible food for
] the fire. BY IL 80 the flames were
, shooting out from every part OF the
! structure and the fairly strong wester-
ly breeze which was blowing showered
: sparks In tremendous yolume hun
dred yards or more away. Large pieces
! OF blazing wood dropped away from
5 the burning mass and flew through the
) air like so many rockets.
+ As the flames got better hold of the
woodwork the heat naturally in
r creased considerably, and long before
: midnight 1t was seen that the whole
Q of the ironwork on the east side OF the
: platform was red hot, what has be-
I come of the men up thereT' was now
Q the anxious query heard on all hands
: for escape from the platform was i'm
!. possible and the heat even on the west
: side, with the wind blowing the flames
!. and smoke the other way, must have
been intense. Great relief was there
fore felt when It was discovered they
had descended the long iron ladder
Just In the nick of time The most ter
= rifying incidents in the course OF tn,
; fire were the falling OF the two lm
mense balance weights which stead,
the two cars In connection with the by
a draullc apparatus. About twenty min
IT utes past eleven there was the soun'
d Of the two cars moving, but when
IS was seen that the cables supporting
them We're white hot, the workmel
n. quickly abandoned them, and seriou
n catastrophe was averted. for a fey
~ minutes afterward there was Whit
"a zlng sound, a terrible whirr throug
the air, and then mighty crash, as tn
weight dashed through the tower bullt
= ing itself. This tremendous noise ma
i' be said to have practically awakene
the whole town. Crowds had bee
=, rapidly collecting In the streets su
II rounding the tower buildings and o
the promenade prior to this, but afte
a that terrific crash residents and visitor
~ came pouring out In hundreds and thol
" sands, and the streets in the neighbo
he hood were almost rs congested
II though 1t were midday. The secou
In balance-welght dropped about qua
ter of an hour before midnight, and Il
at blood-curdling whirr as 1t hurrit
ce through the air was accompanied
ut the shrleking of terrified females al
or involuntary EXPLANATIONS OF the me
Dt, Later there was further cause for sci
cd GUS alarms, for portions of lronwor
or may be the concrete flooring. ga
nv way and dropped on to the building /
no low, colliding as they came down wi
ifo Intervening girders and increasing {
100 terrific din. At this there was Il &c
r. eral clearance from the neighborho
% of the Tower buildings.
-, About midnight the blaze was at
height, and fearsome spectacle
must have presented when seen from
III distance. The news of the fire in
Tue tower excited the utmost inter'
es' throughout Lancashire and Yorkshi
ne London Telegraph.
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