FIRE IN WANGANUI HOTEL

Chronicle (Levin), 31 December 1946, Page 5

FIRE IN WANGANUI HOTEL

WAXGAXUI, Dcc. 30. Rhortly after 10 p.m. the Rutland Hotel iii Victoria Avenuc, Wanganui, caught Jire and guests had to eseupe in night attire as the old wooden building, one of the iiistoric iandmarks of the citv, blazed up. The Wanganui fire brigade with five leads of hose, got to work promptly and also used a pressure pump to boost water to the blaze from the river two blocks away. By 10.30 p.m. the staircase leading from 4he bedrooms on the first fioor was t'ully alhaze and impass^ble and what guests were. then in the building had to make use of balconies and ladders put there ;by t j^e Ihe hi;i^adeA j ' - Tlie have a liold in the (back. poa'tioo^of' .ijieffirst floor and came ereeping toi^ard' the Avenue. It was at its height as picture theatres disgorged their night audiences. Tlie'picture trams were held up. The licensee, Mr. W. II. Edmonds, was serving in the lounge bar tyhen his daughter advised liim of the fire. He went in search of his wife but could not fiud her. She was subsequently rescued from a lire cscape. Mrs. M. B. Anderson, of Wellington, sufl'ered superficial burns and was treated in hospital. The cause of the outbreak is at present unknown.