STONHAM FARM FIRE. PIGS SAVED —BULLOCKS PERISH IN FLAMES. Extensive Damage. Three bullocks, an extensive range of outbuildings, more than ten tons of meals, 100 combs of corn, a ton of beet pulp, a waggon, carpenter’s tools, farm tools and hay stacks were destroyed as a result of a devastating fire which occurred at Bays Farm, Earl Stonham during the early hours of Sunday morning. The conflagration was the worst that has ever been witnessed in the district, the flames being visible for many miles.

Apparently, everything was in order just before darkness fell on Saturday evening, but soon after midnight Mr. Ernest Matthews of College Farm. Earl Stonham. was pedal cycling towards his home along the High Road from the direction of Stowmarket when he noticed glow in the vicinity of Bays Farm, which is owned by Mr. F. S. Cobbold. Upon arriving at the Bell Corner, a turning on the right-hand side leads to Bays Farm, Mr. Matthews saw a sudden flare at the rear of Mr. Cobbold’s dwelling-house and he at once hastened to the farm to rouse the occupier. Mr. Cobbold had just retired to bed and upon hearing the shouts of Mr. Matthews he looked out of a back bedroom window and much to his consternation found that hay-stack was alight short distance away. Within a very short space of time Cobbold dashed to Chestnut Farm for the purpose of asking Mr. Chappell to telephone for Stowmarket Fire Brigade and he then hurriedly returned to Bays Farm and with the assistance of helpers, who were called by an employee, nine bullocks and a large number of pigs were driven from premises into a meadow. Three bullocks, however were overlooked and these subsequently perished in the flames.

Rescue work was carried out with difficulty and by the time all had been removed, buildings in which they were previously housed were also alight and hail practically collapsed. Implements were also removed from cart shed owing to the highly inflammable nature of the buildings which were situate quite near the haystack.

With amazing rapidity the Stowmarket Fire Brigade arrived, under Chief Officer F. D. Plummer. Efforts were aimed at preventing sparks reaching the dwelling house. For several hours the Brigade played water on to the building exhausting their tank and utilising supply from a pond . After a tiring nights work and with risk averted the engine returned to Stowmarket late Sunday night.