Page 351 - Reading Mercury

SUPPOSED INCENDIARY FIRE
On Thursday evening, about 8.30, as Mr. Wheeler, baker, was passing up Star-lane
he discovered that a hayrick standing close to the road, in a meadow late the allotment
fields, the property of Mr. W. Medcalf, of Sandford Mills, Woodley, was on fire. He
hurried to the Volunteer fire station in the Market-lace and gave an alarm. The
Brigade was promptly on the spot, Corp. Caiger being the first to put in an
appearance, and that within two minutes of the call. The Brigade, under the Captain
(Mr. Ifould) proceeded to the spot, and although they possess upwards of 1,300 feet of
hose nothing could be done to extinguish the flames, as the nearest water available
was 800 yards distant. By this time a valuable rick of 1887 hay, standing beside the
other, and worth about £7 per ton, had caught, and both ricks burned fiercely, the
flames being discernible for miles around, attracting to the spot a large number of
people.
The ricks together comprised upwards of 40 tons, and they were insured in the
Royal Farmers’ Insurance Office, through Mr. Goatley’s agency. The position from
which the fire started undoubtedly marks it as the work of an incendiary. A reward of
£10 has been offered by Mr. Medcalf for the discovery of the offender, or offenders.
The total value of the two ricks exceeded £200. Yesterday, at mid-day, they were still
burning.

th
Sat 17 Nov
WOKINGHAM INSTITUTE
A successful concert was given in the Town Hall on Wednesday, under the
management of a sub committee of the Institute. An excellent programme of the
instrumental and vocal music was provided. Miss Nellie Heron and Miss Ada Roberts
were encored for their songs, as were also the Apollo (Reading) Quartet. Mr.
Ferdinand Ripon played a violin solo with mush skill, and joined with Miss
Churchman in a duet (piano and violin). The latter also played a piano duet with Miss
Cave. Among others who took part in the programme were Miss Daisy Churchman
(who accompanied throughout), and Messrs. Bilson, J.C. Allen, A.W. Knill, and H.
Minchin.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
On Tuesday night, Mrs. Baker’s Brewery at Wokingham was completely destroyed
by fire. The outbreak was discovered by Miss Davis, a barmaid to Mrs. Baker, as she
was closing the back door at 111 pm. After shutting up the bar. She saw flames
issuing from the brewery, a tall building some distance up the yard, and immediately
called the Manager, who had gone to bed. He came down at once and gave an alarm,
and the Fire Brigade were soon in attendance. After some little difficulty they got to
work, and eventually succeeded in confining the fire to the brewery portion of the
premises, but they were unable to entirely subdue the flames till the contents, and the
upper wooden walls of the four rooms, one above the other, constituted the brewery,
were completely destroyed.
The fire is supposed to have been caused by a spark from a boiler, or from the over-
heating of a flue. Mr. O’Connor, Inland Revenue officer was on the premises at 6.30
pm. The workmen had then gone home and all appeared safe, and nobody is known to
have afterwards visited the premises. The buildings are insured in the County Fire
Office.

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