January 20, 2012

Date Published: {J}

1912

Big city blaze

Last night, a fire of very considerable magnitude broke out in Galway, and was not got under control until the buildings and equipment of one of our local industries had been completely destroyed. At a quarter to 8 the attention of twenty men working in the spade factory of Messrs. Beatty Bros., Mill street, was attracted by the crackling of timber in the storey overhead, where Mr. Oxley, Kerwin’s avenue, carries on a wool-carding business.

The fumes of smoke gathered almost simultaneously, and immediately it was ascertained that a devouring fire was eating its way through all on the floor overhead.

The flames had not leaped through the roof, which soon collapsed, emitting stormy showers of sparks from a rich luminous cloud that could be seen all over the city.

Fire brigade captain Joseph Molloy and his men placed a number of ladders against the walls and with a hardihood, daring, coolness and skill worthy of a fully-trained and oft-practised brigade, mounted to the summit and attacked the fire strenuously with a view to confining it to the premises for which there was now no hope. It was a seething cauldron.

The damage is covered by insurance and is reckoned to be very considerable. At the time of the outbreak, the foundry portion of the premises contained £1,500 of manufacturing stuff, apart from that consideration that the entire building has been turned into a shell.

What exactly was the origin of the fire nobody knows, and what is more, it is likely to remain a mystery. It is stated that during the course of the evening Mr. Oxley himself and a boy assistant had been in the place, but had left, it would appear, a considerable time before the outbreak was noticed.

Mr. De Caen had previously the lease of the building, which he sold to Mr. Beatty some years ago, and it is worthy of note that they were also burned down during Mr De Caen’s tenancy, and rumour has it that they were also burned down on one occasion before that. The fire smouldered on during the night and a number of men were left in charge of the place.

1937

Nurse loses 19 lbs

Advert: “Seven weeks ago,” writes a nurse, “I commenced a course of Kruschen Salts in order to try and reduce my weight, which was then 15 stone 7 lbs. I am delighted to be able to report that my weight is now 14 stone 2 lbs. I feel and look years younger than I did and am full of energy and vigour. Such a change I could never have believed possible.

“I have only purchases three bottles of Kruschen in the seven weeks, so that the treatment is not an expensive one, and I have suffered no discomfort at all. My age is 43 years, and I am full of gratitude for the benefit received,” – (Nurse) M.F.B.

The formula of Kruschen represents the ingredient salts of the mineral waters of those European Spas which have been used by generations of over-stout people to reduce weight. Gently, but surely, Kruschen rids the system of all fat-forming food refuse, of all poisons and harmful acids which give rise to rheumatism, headaches, and many other ills.

You can get Kruschen Salts at all chemists at 1.s. 9d. per bottle.

Maam landslide

Connemara was subjected to a continual downpour of rain during the week and roads were flooded in many places. On Tuesday, the rain-sodden road near Maam collapsed in a minor landslide, carrying a passing lorry with it. The driver escaped uninjured.

‘Flu epidemic

The bitter winds and rains of January have brought the ‘flu scourge to many parts of Ireland. Galway has been fortunate so far as only a mild type of cold seems to be prevalent. However, from reports, Mayo seems to be the most seriously affected county. Few parts of the county seem to have escaped the epidemic.

Several families in Claremorris are laid up. About twenty employers of the local bacon factory are on the sick list, and the factory is working short-handed. Several officials on the employment exchange are also ill. Three Sergeants and a number of Gardaí are on the sick list too.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.