FIRE TRAGEDY NARROWLY AVERTED

Chronicle (Levin), 28 July 1947, Page 2

FIRE TRAGEDY NARROWLY AVERTED

— * — - Press Association

By Telegraph

MAbll'jlvlOX, July 1 '.i. Wliat miglit havo beeu oue of the worst iire tragedies iu the history oi Masterton was narrowly avertcd at 5.33 a.m. today when ten adults, who wero sieepiiig in a seven-roomcd liouse at 35 Cole Street after gatheriug i'or {i wedding anniversary, niade narrow cseapes from the house which was practieally gutted. The iire started in the breakfast room and it was coniined there for some time and burst out with .startling spced. All the occupants received injuries from the smokc and scorclnng hcat and were treated by hr. W. Cook. They had narrow escapes from being overcome by the smoke and made hurried exits out of windows. Mrs. L. G. Fenwick, wife of a tcnant of part of the house, was admitted to the Masterton Hospital with a severc cut to au arai. She recOived the iujury in breaking the heavy plate glass in the front door to try to let out Mr. Alec Niven, the iast out of the house, who was groping around iuside the passage. The door, which had no outside hkndle, could' not be opehdd. Mr. Niven 's attention was attracted to another room by the banging on a window and Mr. P. J. O'Donald broke the glass and pulled Mr. Niven out th rough the window by the neck just after lie had eollapsed. Mr. Niven was treated for smoke injuries to the lungs. One of the other occupants was eoughing from the smoke in his sleep until he was awakeued. The Masterton Fire Brigade made a remarkable save considering the firm hold the fire had. The house was owned by ISIr. M. J. O'Donald and was insured for £3900. The contents were not insured. The part tenaut Fenwick had his cifects insured.