FIRE AT CHOKEBORE LODGE STABLES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14886, 28 January 1914, Page 10

FIRE AT CHOKEBORE LODGE STABLES.

MAIN BUILDINGS TOTALLY DESTROYED. ALL THE RACEHORSES SAVED During the past twelve months the number of racing stables that have been destroyed by fire has been something out of tho ordinary, and in no fewer than four cases have the outrbreaka resulted in tho death of more or less valuable bloodstock. The sensational fire at McMahon's stables, Reef ton, some twelve months ago, was the first of a series of outbreaks, and in this case fivo horses wero burnt, whilo tho fire at the Harp of Erin stables, Auckland, at New Year time, also resulted in the destruction of a couple of good animals. This was followed by a disastrous outbreak at Mr G. Nasmith's establishment at Gisborne, and odcc again valuable stock perished in the flames. Perhaps the biggest fire that has yet taken place in a training establishment occurred last evening at Mr E. Cutts's well-known / Chbkeboro Lodge, at which all of Sir George Clifford's valuable racehorses were quartered. Although in this caso the veteran trainer suffered a severe loss in the destruction of his stables, he was fortunate in getting all the horses out of their boxes without injury. The fire is said to have started in the- loft above the stables, but it is not known how it originated. It is surmised that wax matches dropped about the place wore the cause or the outibreaK, but it is a strict rule in tho Chokebore Lodge stables that attendants must not carry wax matches, under penalty of instant dismissal. Mi- E. Cutts was the first to notice the outbreak. When feeding a young horso ho bcxrame aware of smoke rising, but at first was of the opinion that this was coming from a fire on the racecourse. AViien ho realised the ,true position of affairs, ho quickly gave the alarm, and at once all hands were busy m getting the horses out of their boxes and to a place of safety. The fare broke out just before 8 o'clock— a time at which all the lads were preparing to attend to their charges be,p, leav,n £ them for tho night. Ihe names, tanned by the nor'-west wind, quickly spread along tho line of-boxes, and the reflection could be plainly seen at a distance of five miles At once it was realised that there was little hope of saving the building, and attention was directed to the oDening of the boxes and taking the Tiorses out, a task usually only accomplished with the utmost difficulty When horses become aware of the fact that a fire is raging. This applies to even the most docile animals, but when highstrung thoroughbreds are concerned, the position becomes doubly alarming. However, expert hands were at work, and the horses, appearing to realise this, were on their best behaviour. It speaks volumes for those concerned when tno fact is mentioned that not one horse was burnt or even slightly singed. ~ .Led by Messrs Harry and Albert Cutts, ttie boys did their work eplendidly, and in a very short space of time every' horse had been brought from its box and turned out in tne neighbouring paddocks. The tiro started just above the box tenanted by Antagonist, and tho dense clouds of smoke somew/iat unsettled the Soult colt, -with the result that it took some little time to induce him to leave his box". All the horses safe, the attention of those .present was devoted to the saving of a great amount of gear stored in tne harnessroom,, and although a certain quantity was saved, it was impossible to get all of it out, and many pounds' worth of bridles, saddles, etc., was destroyed. Tho stable had been built a 1 good number of years, and with such a lot jof inflammable material about, there i was little hope of saving the building, and attention was directed to the protection of the house, which was only slightly scorched. The. building destroyed covered three sides of a square, the north side being left :open. The fire broke out in the north-western corner of *he hay-loft, and with the nor'-west wind prevailing, the flames quickly spread and continued until riot a post was left standing The attendants , sleeping quarters, which are situated quite close to the stables, were unharmed, and a row of loose-boxes, about a hundred yards away, also escaped destruction. A large number of Riccarton trainers and : horsemen congregated, and lent willing assistance in the task pf caring for tho horses, which were afterwards quartered at the Racecourse Hotel stables. . . . " The Chokebore ~Lodge stable is, perhaps, the best-known of all the racing etables in tho Dominion. For very many years Mr E. Cutts nas been in charge, and the large number of winners turned out is known throughout Australasia. The horses quartered there numbered, roughly, about twenty-five, and their value is. estimated at many thousands of pounds, so Sir George Clifford must bo considered very lucky that he still has a full complement of horses with which to continue his racing campaign. Amongst thj horses quartered there were such well-known performers _as I Austuuinus, GJenfinnan, Antagonist, I Wiinninp; Way, Masterpiece, NightI watch, Hcatherbrae, Veritas, Quarantine, Stevedore. Briarpatch; Snapdragon ; also many two-year-olds and older horses, some of which are engaged at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer Meeting, and the Dunedin Autumn Meeting, to be held next month. When the stables had been burnt to the ground, the chemical engine from the Christchurch Fire .Brigade Station pnt in an appearance, presumably with the idea of preventing the fire from spreading. Mr Cutts, when sympathised with by a "Press ronorter, who was on the spot, said that the fire had not resulted nearly as badly as it might have done., and it was a miracle that all the horses had been saved.