DIED FROM ASPHYXIATION

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1948, Page 5

DIED FROM ASPHYXIATION

Press Association)

Verdict On Victims Of Fire At Ballantyne's

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 10. _ A verdict that 40 of the 41 victims of Ballantyne's fire on November 18 last died from asphyxiation from carbon monoxide* gas was returned by the Coronet' (Air. F. F. Reid) at the ' inquest today. If the statements of extraordinary smoke were correct it would seeni most probable, the pathologist (Dr. A. B, Pearson) saj.d in evid^ enee, that most of the victims, particularly those in the credit department and millinery workroom, were overcome by the gas. With heavy concfentrations of carbon monoxide in the afmosphere death would be rapid and painless. All seating accommodation in the Alagistrate 's Court was occupied, many relatives of the victims attending. Evidenee was given by entployees and fornier employees of Ballantyne's as jto the last time the • various victims were seen on the day of tlie fire. Serge'ant A. R. Grant said ail of the 40 persons reported missing in the fire were employees of Ballantyne's except three. Of these one was a girl who had an upstairs office in the building and the otlier two were auditors. Extensive inquiries had been made by the poliee and it had been establislied that all the persons reported missing were in Ballantyne's building about the time of the fire. No other persons had been reported missing in conneetion with the fire. Wergeant J. B. Kearton, official poliee photographer, who was in charge at the mortuary, said none of the bodies was identifiable. "The poliee have told me of statements which they liAve obtained from some of the survivors of the fire," said Dr. Pearson. "According to these 'statements I understand that 27 of the victims were working in the credit department aud seven or eight were in the millinery workroom. Apart from the very rapid spread of the fire which was obvious to all who witnessed it, some of the survivors eonunented on the extraordinary density of the smoke which they eneountered during tlieir eseape. If these statements are correct it would seem most probable that most of the victims, and particularly those in the credit department and millinery workroom, were overcome and died from the inhalation of carbon monoxide gas present in the smoke. With heavy eoneentrations of this gas in the atmosphere death would be rapid and painless." Asked by the Coroner if he had anything to a"dd, Air. T. A. Greeson, who watched the proceedings for J. Ballantyne and Co. Ltd., replied: "No, except to express Ballantyne's sincere sympathy with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the disaster. " "Before coneluding the inquest I wisli to express my indebtedness to the witnesses who have given evidenee this afternoon, particularly with respeet to the evidenee of Mrs. Nash aind Ah's. Crew who had a very painf'ul dutv to perform, " said the Coroner. "Both gave evidenee of great elarity and have been of very eonsiderable assistance." The inquest on A'iolet AJay Codv, married, aged 30, a elerk in Ballantyne's credit offiee, was first taken. Constable Cornelins Hiekey said that about 4.5 p.m. he saw a woman fall through the flames coming from tlie upper windows. Sfie appeared to strike the veranda and fell to the roadway. She was admitted to hospital but died of injui'ies. A verdict that Mrs. Cody died on November 18 from slioek following multiple injnries sustained when she jumped from a window during the fire at Ballantyne's was returned.