A fire, which could have assumed serious proportions, was discovered and effectively dealt with, at half past six o'clock this morning, at Gieske's refreshment rooms in Lynch Street, Young.
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The fire was discovered by Miss Alice McCabe, an office cleaner, who informed Mr. Miller and Mr. Les Black of the Post Office staff.
.Mr. Les Black, a Postal employee, phoned Mr. Gieseke's private residence and informed him. Shortly afterwards the fire alarm was sounded and a large crowd had collected around the building. Some willing workers had smashed their way in through the door at the rear, to find the interior full of dense smoke.
They threw buckets of water into the tea room but were unable to find the seat of the outbreak. The fire brigade under Captain Forde arrived, and with Mr. Gieseke's aid ,located the fire in the cellar.
Mr Gieseke had on arrival opened the front door, and thus allowed the fire brigade to run a hose from the well in the Royal Hotel yard.
The firemen cut away part of the flooring to gain access to the fire, and with a good force of water available the fire was soon under control. Most of the large stock was damaged, the handsome showcases were saved.
The origin of the outbreak was in the cellar, and must have smouldered for some time ,the lack of oxygen preventing it from breaking out.
How it began is a mystery. Some fear was expressed of an explosion of the gas contained in the soda fountain, but this fortunately did not occur.
Mr Gieseke is a heavy loser as he was only partly covered by insurance in the London and Lancashire Company. A conservative estimate of the damage is 400 Pounds.
The building is owned by Mr. B. Cunich, and is situated in the middle of an important business and professional block.
Had the fire secured a hold and spread to the adjoining offices and buildings heavy losses would have resulted. The drapery store of Chellew-Tromp carries large and valuable stock, as does the grocery business of Stump and Graham, while the professional offices of Whiteman, Hogan.
Gordon, Garling and Giugni contained valuable legal documents and the offices of the auctioneers Broderick and Macadam & Co were endangered causing a great deal of anxiety.
(Abridged from the Daily Witness Wednesday 30 April, 1924 and Young Chronicle 2 May, 1924.)
Footnote: Gieseke's shop was situated in Lynch Street opposite the Royal Hotel (now the Mill Tavern building) and has been incorporated into Hamblin's Amcal Chemist Building. Stump & Graham's grocery store in Boorowa Street has also been incorporated into the Amcal Chemist building.
Brian James
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