NORTHERN IRELAND: Firemen for Abercorn

For twelve long years Northern Ireland has had the same Governor, vastly rich and mightily aristocratic Sir James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn and Knight of the Garter. When he moved into frowning Hillsborough Castle, bought at a cost of $230,000 to serve as the Governor’s residence, the magnificence of his personal chattels outshone its splendor. The plate and oil paintings alone were supposed to be worth more than the castle. One day last week the Duke and Duchess were on vacation in England and so was the Private Secretary, Commander Henderson. Belatedly Sergeant Irvine, head of the Castle guard, went up on the roof to half-staff the flag of Northern Ireland for Germany’s late, great President von Hindenburg. As he fiddled with the ropes Sergeant Irvine smelt smoke. It curled in tiny wisps from the apartments of the private secretary. As he raised the alarm crackling flames burst through. Before fire engines could travel the twelve miles from Belfast, Hillsborough Castle was leaping skyward in a vast, black swirl.

Flames roared through the Great Ballroom and the bedchambers in which slept Edward of Wales on his last visit (TIME, Nov. 28. 1932). “Come on, boys!” roared the Fire Chief. “Carry out what you can before the roof goes!” As firemen, villagers and servants darted through the smoke, lugging Abercorn’s collection piece by piece to safety, Belfast police ringed the Castle to guard the Governor’s treasures. Out came a $50,000 Van Dyck. Attempting to rescue a huge tapestry two strapping yokels got tangled in their prize and rolled spluttering out the front door. A dauntless parlor maid rescued the baton carried by the Duke of Abercorn’s late father at the coronation of King Edward.

When 30 rooms had been gutted by flames the roof crashed in, effectively ruining two-thirds of Hillsborough Castle. “The cause of the fire is quite unknown,” announced a spokesman for the Belfast Government, spiking rumors that Free Staters might have crossed to Northern Ireland to burn down the Castle. “Apparently the cause of the conflagration was accidental.”