FIRE IN THE CITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 6

FIRE IN THE CITY.

CHEMIST'S SHOP DESTROYED.

OCCUPANTS' NARROW ESCAPE.

1 A two-storied shop, No. '297 Cuba! Street, occupied by Mr. J. J. Meehan f chemist, Mr. Perry, oculist, and Nurse J. Smith, was tho scene of a serious 1 outbreak of lire shortly after one o clock vesterday morning. " By'tho time the Fire Brigade were able to roach tho fir© tho flames appeared to have a. firm hold in the shop on tho ground floor. Mr. Terry was awakened by a crackling sound and on getting up and investigating ho found that the building was filled witli smoke. Ho immediately set about rousing Mr. Median and Nurse Smith, wbo also resided on the premises. Tho position , fast became serious, and Messrs. Perry and Mechan had to combine forces to get Nurse '.Smith out .of the second floor of tho burning building. Mr. Median lifted tile lady through, an upstair window and lowered her down.to Sir. Perry, who' was' standing in a' narrow passage below which led to the street. Before Miss Smith was in a place of safety she had been burned about the face ana hands. Mr. Mechaii eventually. had some difficulty in making liis escape, and before lie reached tho street lie had been fairly severely burned about the face. He was also found to be suffering from a bad cut oh the left arm near the elbow. Mr. Perry was more fortunate, as he got clear of the building without injury. None of the_ occupants or tho premises saved anything. The building is a brick structure own- . ed by Mr. Coverdale, Of the Lower Hutt,' and the Fire Brigade prevented tho flames from reaching the shop occupied by Mr.. William Campbell, grocer, or the tinoccupied building on the other side. , The chemist's shop and two unoccupied shops on the south side were insured for £300. in the Sun officc, , and Messrs. Meehan and Perry had their stock and personal property covered by a joint policy for £470 in the Guardian and United offices. There was no insurance on Nurse Smith's effects. Tho cailso of the outbreak it unknown, there being nothing to indicate a possible cause..