ESCAPE IN NIGHT ATTIRE

Chronicle (Levin), 29 September 1947, Page 8

ESCAPE IN NIGHT ATTIRE

HEAVY LOSS IN BIG FIRE * \ NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 28.

Tke biggest outbreak of fire at JSJew Plymouth for some years gutted a Brougham Street oifice of 16 rooitis and two upstairs fesideiltial flats early this morning. Tke brig&de fougkt tke fl.aflies for several kours following tlie feeeipt of tke alarm at 1.13 a.rn., aiid for 3 Considerable patt of tkat tiine.- it .WaS touek and go wketker tke fire wbuifl tross tke street to o'tker offide buildings. A watekonse adjoining tke Woodeii Offiee buiJdings, was saved, only karrowly eseaping. Tke six occupauts of tke two fiats above tke office premisfes lost all tkeir belongings, even tke smallest pprsonal possessi'ons. ' ' ' ' ' • Miss Erlin Cresswell fell tojike pavemenf " wkile being lowered from tkeburning b'uilding oii a blanket by kbr parents, Mr. and Alrs. L. Ti GfessWeli, and is Pow in tke New Plymoutk HoSpital suft'ering from scalp' wouiids and skoclc. Her condition is reported to be satisfactory. Her aunt, Miss S. B. Cresswell, escapfed by Walking downstairs but tke flames barred tke way to tke stairs for Mr. aiid Mfs. Cresswell. Tkey climhed tkfougk windows on to a ledge overlooking tke street from wkick tkey were rescued by iiremen with a ladder. The two women occupants of the otlier flat escaped down stairs in nigkt attire. Messrs Duff and Duff, public accountants, and tke Antomobile Association (Taranaki) office lost a Jarge number of papers and reeords tkpugh. steel cabinets* protected the kles to some extent. Tke electrical supply firm of Porter. lleesby and Company Limited snffered heavily, tke stock destroyed totalling £3000 and office equipment £450 against an insurance cover of £1250.. Otlier occupants, most of whom had bad losses, were Messrs P. S. Car ro 11, public acc-ountant, C. E. Einnerty, land agent, North Britisk Traders' Insurance Company and United Insurance Company. By a fortunate coincidence the books of the Automobile Association were in being audited and were not in the building. Tke current year's reeords suffered little damage but past reeords wkich contained much valualile data were nearlj^ ali destroyed.