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1888 Great Fire of Broken Hill
The 1888 Great Fire of Broken Hill, New South Wales on the 5th November, 1888 at 5.45pm destroyed over 30 buildings that housed 65 business with and estimated £75,000 worth of damages. The fire took hold quickly and by approximetly 8pm that night the Western Side of Argent street was reduced to little more than ashes.

In the previous years there had been concerns about the building materials that had been used in building the structure as many we're flammable with construction consisting chiefly of timber and iron, lined with dry matchboard and paper hessian.

Business Affected

 * J.H. Pellew - Draper
 * John Torpy - Bootmaker
 * John Elliot's - Denver City Hotel
 * John Edwards - Solicitors
 * Howells - Fruiterer
 * Way Lee and Company's Barrier - Tea and Coffee Saloon
 * Charles Chapple - Agent
 * Lorraine and Fradd - Sharebrokers
 * Rakow and Fischer's - Tobacco Box
 * E. Pearce - Butcher
 * Laureence Finn's Royal Hotel
 * Topham and Company - Sharebrokers
 * H. Powell - Blilliard Saloon
 * I. Morris - Hairdresser
 * Union Bank
 * Royal Hotel

Shop owners of the burning buildings with great ergency tried to salvage some the goods, which they then piled into the street. Fearing that stealing would occur off the streets, Sergeant Saunders then swore in local citizens as constables to protect the goods and properity.

Inquest
The inquest into the fire was held on the 7th November by Coroner Wyman Brown, with the jury consisting of: and an unnamed juryman
 * R.B Hale
 * E.Manton
 * C.Isaacs
 * W.C Greenslade
 * E.Ormsby
 * H.E Jones
 * J.W Thiselton
 * A.W Buck
 * T.B Wright
 * A.Fordham
 * W.S Shierlaw

The inquest continued over several days with the following verdict being recorded:

"We find that the late fire which occured on the afternoon of the 5th instant on section 36, Broken Hill, originated in the offices adjoining Royal Chambers but how the fire originated, whether accidentially or otherwise, the evidence adduced does not enable us to say; and the jury in arriving at the above verdict would call attention to the very dangerous practice of lighting fires outside".