>From The Perth Courier, 30 April 1875 -- Great Fire at Clayton About 4 in the morning last Wed., a fire broke out in the stables at the rear of Ahearn’s Hotel. Owing to a high wind which was blowing at the time, the flames spread rapidly, enwrapping the entire outbuildings and then communicating to the hotel adjoining, speedily enveloped it also, barely allowing the inmates to escape with their lives. From the hotel the flames spread to the lumber yard of D. Drummond, Esq., completely consuming the lumber piles. Herculean attempts were made by the inhabitants to save Mr. Drummond’s shingle and saw mills but all attempts were ineffectual and soon the mills were engulfed in the fiery element. The carding mill of T. Blair, Esq., adjoining the saw mill, then became ignited and was quickly a smouldering mass of ruins. At this stage of the fire, desperate attempts were made by energetic citizens to save Mr. Drummond’s grist mill and confine the fire to the carding mill, which attempts were, fortunately, effectual. Mr. Ahern’s loss is about $2,500, insured in the Farmer’s Mutual for $1,500; Mr. Drummond’s loss is about $6,000, no insurance. Mr. Blair’s loss will be covered by $1,000, no insurance. ------------------------------------------------ Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954 http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home Aherns in Australian Records http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~aherns/ahcrim.htm ------------------------------------------------