FIVE RACEHORSES BURNT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1634, 28 December 1912, Page 4

FIVE RACEHORSES BURNT.

FIRE IN A EEEFTON STABLE. (By Telegraph.—Prese Association.) Reeftori,' December 27.. A fire occurred early this morning in iSl'Maiion's stables". Five" horses' which wertf to have competed in tho races to-day were destroyed. They -were Mr. Tapp 8 Amherstone, Mr; Rose's Dauntoii (finger • of the Point Handicap. yesterday),. .Mr. Shield's Comedian, Mr. Colvitf s Merchantman, and Mr. Middle Parks Armstrong; . . " . Thq "Inangahiia Times'; reports that at . about 20 minutes to 4 a "boarder at the Hotel, opposite the baok of the stable, was attracted by .the scream of a horse, ana looked out -arid saw-dense masws of .flame rising from Sir. M'Mahons stables. Ho rang the firebell, and Mr. M'Mahon and • members of the "Times" staff, who we™ working, were first on the scene, one bringing in a reel 1 from a side, fire station* Dense masses of smoke were mounting up, . i but tlie stables were.locked, and as the key waa in the pocket of Mr. Tapp, at a hotel in Broadway, no entrenpe cmild bs effected. • -The horses-were jkicking .in tno stables, and were evidently being suffocated, as no further screams were heard. Wheii the; key was obtained, the emoto penetrated everywhere.. - b A mismber of the "Times'' staff ..tried to extricate Amberstone, but the horse' was stupefied. 'The smoke and flames were mounting high" when the-wafer. was put On, and the fire quickly extinguished, but too. late. , ~• • iii The fiT-6 had evidently started m a. stall t (Occupied by Comedian,- 0.9 it was-; burnt; dean, arid the" horses were burnt to the bone. Great sympathy is expressed with the owners. The st&bles wercr detached from other buildings, arid were practically new, having been built on the latest lines« The buildings are 1 gutted. It ,is expected that the untoward loss will eerionslv aifect the present facing season on the coast, au inquiry is being held this evening.