FATAL CITY FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2151, 18 May 1914, Page 5

FATAL CITY FIRE.

A disastrous fire, in which two persons lost their lives and several wefoinjured, destroyed the Manchester (late K«gk'«) Private Hotel, a thrce-stotoyed brisk structure, situated in Qouxtenay t'ia*:©, at 3.30 a.m. on Sunday, '' Tho remains of tho two persons kilted—a man and a" wa!n.ait-.wer.o convoyed to, the morgue, and tho injured wero .attended by Drs, ToNmrafc and Elliott, Four of the injufqd were convoyed to the Hospital, two of them being "badly injured atid hurhed.

■ Ilio budding is a narwiiv olio, -and the eentro ofeaoli of tho two upper'stories, where the bedroora.e ai'o situated, is divided by-' a narrow passage riiiffiing. north and ia to' say, from tho front to ; the'b&cfc of the Imiiding. Tho bedrooms -open on. to this passage. On the 'eastern side of the building is & vacant section, overlooked by a' balcony, and oft Kho western side a ftafrowpassagoway divides it from the adjoining hu.ildi.ii.g6. Tho wind being from tho. south, and tho ftfo starting lit the southern end of tho building, tho smoke and .flames were carried right ishroyg'h tho bouse and along the passages by which tljo boajdiirs had to Dtnko their way to tho firo escape at the front of the building. THE FATAL (TIES. Sarah Ackcrmau., married, aged CO years. TJMdestiflfid man, aged about Afj years. The finger-prints of the unidentified' man were taken by tho police yesterday, but .identity has not been .established yflt. Appeafranee stiggestji that the ;dfe ceased was Either a seaman or a wharf labourer. \ THE INJURES, Mary Higgmsou, cook, single, aged 32 years; several ribs fractured. Tory soriou3 condition.

Jaek I'. Smith, ttharf labsu.j'or J single, aged 33 years; very seriously burned aboat legs and body, amj face. Aiidr<»-«' iiogan, taMar, single, .aged: 3f; years, injuries to kis hick; not severely burned. Mr. Regan is a eripn pie, 3iaving fet one of hfe legs. ■ Cissy O'Keil'i; tailofoss, singlo, aged 23 yeat-s; sKglvtly burned; not serious. THE BOARDERS' NAMES. ■_ Tho occiu.iJa-i.rts_ in .the Imildinfi nfc tho tMnjtj of the fire, wore MiJler, Syttafij. Mrk;'.(poi-tcr and .kitelitu hand)', Silas Prater («jght . Win. Itod'gers, artliiir Davks ■.(.boi;lerniti : lcer), Hiomits.JSVaasj'Elli, Doiiiti, Fred-. Dew, Jack Kcciian, 'J'tioimas Power, Clifford Gorjiclras, Edward fioivatd, Karold -Pin* nosls (propn'oto.i's, Blai:y P.mnock and her eliitd MttviSj as well -aa the ipcrs'ojis alfomlv iaentioncd. abore. Orlslii at the Fire a Mystßrj. ! : No one. Iniows. exactly liov,- tbo fire sterted, but thefo was' talk vest«<dnv ; of iai -eso3j)& of gas boiiig tho it ■ is Unit -tho flf« lire.;, j. at t.bo foot -of vhfc'li , •/ r ms tiro Jdtscheii [at the -jeat of v'<? ;. -iA>' iivg) to tho top. floor., tin; *.; i-..j is; very isaiTOw and winding, ma nyi it' (5F wood- 'I'iiis praofcie-iliy aelud r.n ji funnel, and aided, tiio tiro's (testmotive. gmjss eonsiderably. iide.ii. h\ a drauglit created by tte ,s.'.ro»fr .s&ttlieriy giilo which was blowing at the time, the flanves CTqpt sftift'lj-- np tho wooden akirs. 'fto. neat reoiegsed, wild Ae. windows in t-lie scar *all of! tho briek. stMfttiUi'.e ferd'ite., v,"*.)j ibe result- tliat t'iie stoiroaso hecatiie a livo fnriiace, I'he: lioiso of fa-l'ling iwnb?r awajjened tiie aeeiipants, who fowid themselves in a' predwanieiit wbi.ch rqqwifcftii a s'trijHg norvfe to grapplo wiith'. j'ho fito .had .a pod iiolrf.,, nnd- it wap impssiijio f«r. tho boarders to reach ti;s cswvpo .at t'ho: rtsirjr.of tha'ltoW., so JBoiiy (ttecbrdi ; nii.;J6. their own story) rM-shod 16 the tho building, a,nd opftned Hjo glilss. floors to g'ain aqesss, to ano.tlj.cr ivrif -'<$tifti>&.; Tiio openiiip of -these defers -created a ■ .fie.rca and the hrt fWibpt. sl*)M' tho narr'pW :p.a ; s ; sag'ea *i.r. tbo.S.econd and,' third ftoots frith gf'Cijt ra.piciitj*. . Tliose boatdors. whose -rooiitfe were on the left- side or -otis'torn ' sW<y of t.1i.0 - passages, got.: out of tho windows on to irc-n-j.aft'd ]'a.ndjhp;.?|. bat tli.ero- Was no laddor. tl-iero t© take, thomi to tiici groWid. Jijti'ii'y .sceni-ed.; Wauko'ts fwtji tlie'ir beds, ancl knotted' them tage-tihe-r, by whreh weans soveral Wore utile to get to the ground*

. Wfiat the Pire fighters Saw. Kire Superintendent Tftit r*ceiveil the- ■ alarm, whioli was given by Police- foil-: stable Hwdy, at 3.38 a.m.j awl two. moter-engines- were (illicitly -on tho; seene, the sight which jtiot tho firefiion was one that will Mat he easily fw» patten, park masse;? of smoke iUmn*. inn.tocl by tongues of flamo ivliieii leapt oat (if tho roof of five building, were bftmß swept -across P««nrtoiiagr Ftao by ■ tlio tierce southerly blizzard,' Shouts: from the oeeupauts eouffl ho hefli'd (it \ times, Boarders with "hardly any, olflt-hes to their backs tter.e seen clam-: boring flown an iron exteiiKibh; Srwis. eape m front of tiro b'uildingj which had failed to work pi'operly and so ueccssi* tafed a drop to the ground. Saving tlia OScupants. Whilst water ms being poured into tlio bttritinß JniflrJlng, a section o,f -the firemen direoted thojr. sttciitiori to sar-} in* the occupants.. Tho eastwii w)o « : f thi' hotel fateWs n vacant section '6$ \w&, and ft- was here that several of tIV hoanlflfs Wore eudfiavonrui.g to reach safety from the landings, Slimy Mftnkels were- brought into u'so as saibslitntes for rope (there beilig w> ladder attached, to this wall), and several hoarders Were able io reach the f-romttl,, A one-teggoti Mart's J"l.igM. j Andrew Keg-an, a man \Vtv.!l only otto 1 leg, w'.uuretl ft sheet from, bis- bed. a-iul} fastened one end of it to the. Wiling«:u the landing of tlio second floor, with U.» Mjteiuisii of slkteg to the firoffad,; Aftor getting over t.lio rail, and piac* ; inp; his full Weight on the. sheet, it *-tp j; t)«d, and the unfortunate- man fejt he.av,iiv to the ground) a distanco of about : 10ft. or 17ft, lie was J)icWl up in-: iuso-d, and was fornoved to tiro Hospital. . Tim liroiium then placed ladders against the Willi, and'rrtilfiti Out- to those, on tW lauding to wait a nimuto or two, One Woman, Jlary MigginM. got over tho rail, but sJipjwrl, audi fell to the ground. Sho also rewind injuries wljielj necessitated her removal to the Hospital. A Gruesome piral, By this .time very nearly all the, o.e;e.u« pa&fcs hb& jg-a-da their way o&i of fihe jj

' TERRIBLE CALAMITY, .', two persons urn ip : us.. SEVERAL BABLT HURT. TROUBLE .WOT., ESCAPES,'

building., ami Ltid all :oxperie.iice:d mora o.r less miraculous escape?, It .was then found that two men Alfred Phillips and J, and ■« wofinm, ■tlissy O'Neill, hnd'beeri s.ove'fely biirnti'd, and tboy-'.Wo' removed to the llos.intal, §<xm the' cry ttcftt rOMid that a isroft and w'ajn'ati were sMl.l jii tho ini'iVing hotel ■in'i'cis.t'igation'W.nsnWdc when ffm firo permitted find, tho remains of it. man and vromaif' wcjo found tying in a' ;.bod nir ft' small ropin oiv tho' second floar. "Tte :ghi^&in6 , - : fiDd'A*»s wad'o by Suflcrifltomloiit, %$ aijd a, fireman ivhb had miterod tltfi. bujidiug ns feooii .as W'toy knew that hitman "beings w.ofo ii> danger.

MM. ESCAPE WtJTJE^'^OJ^ORK,

■Mr. Harold Ptariocfc proprietor of tlib M0t.61. stated to a .DfjjiifaoK' rcpprfcr that ho s-iis tho Inst to go to beet' ,Mq Had .a; look round tho ouildim? rod »* i- ofllpcKr, When ilie reii.rod r tlicro. was no SJgii of fire.. Mp, ■is oil. the second ■floor and Overlooks toijrteiiay pinfcs, Ho Ivad 'been to:stccp Jor sqmo time jvlioii he was awakpiio.d „ } !/; J W Q ;* )f failfiiE. Getting out of bed to .vnv-cistig.ate lib 'opened tiro door of lfas ' room and to Ms ' horror mml ilio .passage- filll of snioiVo . a jrd li ' i * a ?, Hftar l.TWlffcoa*ed 'by tho ■/ «J'l*ffi>t Ifet. The passago,™ ' fjo eniloi} tfl Ins wifo to .get up. S*k--IMB In* little «DHd) oged WSvpati: to. Mit through, tho window'te witch m W« <*capc, vrtjibJ* is a dahiife'iron wider o.no IStftifln of which,whoii'fewould«rt ,-otk, s ? & P'lmiock had to drop ,nth Ins ohJM .;„■ jfe a too of about .3 feci Ho wffi! mJZ? im l} m *mU-, bat was 5 . 00 , iqh

More About Wo Ftra .Escape. mieuM-j, Mr* Pinnoet stated that *li« « 6 ordinary coiftso of events,-',t)i„ "slidMO! .SortiAu of the iron ladaV«l nwl diortsn the distance tt't 0 ; a j 0 v M i> pitched. '&> t ii> mg or -tljft sort teppijfiqd Wlieit "jfe! Mn. | «ffl* used tho escape. The reason for Wis wassoon ascßrtajiiftSi whon the taddories uisJi?acted.yostcrf3as- moviinii*. It ws f«U««i- sliding ;p Q i?tioif M 8 «?etiN>ly tod to the'ikerfsootiom vrvtlt '■opo, mml- .„, order to allow tlm Md«r ■to drop it would lfavft been. JioecssarV to ;«ut tiio .rope. This fi,W w-ns'tiu. «-i.il;y olio jfliic;]i could .boused, a* tito .*ao At flic r«a:r of ilie ftu.ildi.iig eonld ■ not ■1)6 .got flt -p«% to.tho losaliiv of tliotiro. •''lVhat with tho general Yfinlijsioh aijfl ofvb- Q!ifl:jfira oscapo, Wo S-.efo *-3fccodia% lucky in Sotting ou as <wfl ».s wo dittj" .said oiib'ntaft.

A BPARHER'S ACCOUNT, CMIpS DOWtf : A iVATSR-PiPE, "I-Wasatvakoiiod by a Jtoud, wunbl-hiit MOisq smiifor.to.tliat c&ised b.-v an : eai* qliake," said 3\f«: .Arthur Da-v-ieS, a l)p!j.orma.kor-i sVlio Was sleeping in l?o.om M..,170n %„t<lp :(third| floor. Ur pavies stated .tliafe lio likd oiilv co'iitd to Ua liotel on, Sat'ofdav ovenm'g -.jnd: vni sVa , s ■^ 1 ' * °»' &0 top'floor, \LJio building titmhled, and I iiimginod. ■m room to bo sinking-,'' eontiiWed Mr. iwieu,.,- f?t..,eot-ont-.of» bed -as miickiv as possililo., ■foiMid. tli.o .pliieo in flame?. 'Ssraio ,o;no rt|sli.wl into my room Jiiidssiiontod to mo toget xm. I'siiatciied. 'up iuy siiiglct «rii.d trousers.,, aiid aftor : I .Rotting ij|.i'e;in on I ■n'ia'do to the ■1.m.e1? /'•■o-- ojicn : ppj. whieb W.is Mi' -my room, ■ _rIUS iranii?s*ei:o fcapiiig «ll arotntd. aiid :■}£ Was .unpossiute for iuo to rcatiii tiio . escape ,1 itheii liia.do my way te ,a-wiin ;<lo^,..facing t)io jbaq'k. yardi.Mnd :ciiriel;is decided; tliiit this, Wa;s,;iiiiy -nitly Winy o'f ■Cffeie. l&tli's'ijiii-.e.as'es ■Wore, buftinw, laiid lists Tiro ivifs .gettVUK ii good lnftl .alphg tbs "passaee-way, I got out of tiio . window,, and oajfgl.it hold .(if :so.m.p -drail).ig(* ijipps jiirlii.oli-.i.ijcaclii?':!.. "from the roof to_ih'» yrtrd ' btildfe JlvWii's, -?i good liotiilvt f.i;oiit tli.p giaiind, but jvt the time - I did not ■itliink. o!;.ti'in.t. -1, secured .a •fir-in.-'Mil of 41ie .p'i|ics. and eliiniieit to tfiOi .prsuiid;. It JAi^ns^'a in&jcj life,''

In ■o<jftfcii!.s.ion > 3ff. Jirtvids considered liims'nlf to l)'o ; " litr.lv.y fjrwllavo: .csKnji- 1 <s'l with his life. ■■ ' : '■'■•-

~. A.B.Q"Ut ¥11E , BUliblMEi, .'£ fSporier weij-t -over/'%'e bm'iil'ii.rp .yesterday, itod lip iivas.-abie to gaifier ; fi-6.ui bo -saw ;flfa;t- all offftnv parts had. a very close call. The buildiiifo .which r ,is si, jjritk., .stmciuro,. mr~ luhis 1-g- rooins., . aiVi-. ,'\Vas foi> ! n.).e.f)y known as .vlio Eagliss Privnto Ifo-t-oJ. Oil tfei-rigfitor tW/t'CW.uno* (io.nr h : a. JiiUTpsv. pfi'isiiiiEio .tead-viifi to the baek ; ya:rd ; Alfljvij'sido., this (lissaw? tft tlvo left is a Jstaircase teittKiirj to ilip sceoiia :ft.!l.d third' ftoars, aiKt .iilso iMJOtJioT nar- : row- passaso w.hiftli. Ijja-cls ,to two tKniu.g--rooiiis.jou 'tSe lejt :al)s! a Ititelieji at ttie end, T.iie living rooms, on tho soromd. ■ft-oQi\ wlu'eji ate vwy sUia'H, -.aro riivid'ed by a -passagßj AvMcl'i is j'us.t a ffiife over three :f;het ■irid'o, A'''isir«.i!ar , fa yides tlift living rooms or tlio thirOoor, K ina-r.fow* stair.chSe from U.ie wpetis oft. to fto sceondjhnji'Mth'ii iiflwi's j a.t the 'ten-r of' tho tniitduig;' : tlip'se passagos h,omg so Siarroiv jwastiftiily iax-'tiwl as f'Uhnols ■fftf tl'io firft. anrl isisjfi.k'p. Tho rdoJns on liho .sreonil and' third /loors wef-a gutted by tio> -ftre, wteeli, a* rt.h OenupaMte s'tltto, «Wpt ,i.lo-)i« fivo pttsstyw mi . ftroneJi tju; pljvjfeofcd frailsp.ivol it'rtndcH «lnoi.-,s at a to.vTible *ate. -I'-hb 'back fj.fo esettpo, bcijilg mb off owti.ig to iho flnifins, the ftni.i'.t <j.no was. u'l-ado for 'by nil who feul fiiiw to iealisjs- its tixktoneo. Wihers iu«&> for tl-m lawlings.j wli.teh afo iJtf-teidc -tlio rooms Oil t-h.e scc-ijird anil tWrd floofs. on the ktt sM*> of tlm bwilciii-rg. wfeilst- a iiyti wo.rif able to it'scanfi by tho iiwiln sf.niVc.it.se m tlm fro.jii, 'Tlwisc who. vs : leaijp'd wi'tli Sili.g'htfy si.uijed hair -and burnt liK-ifd.s ant! feet oons-idojofl t-heiii-. .selves -vofy forhjna'tc. Tl.ie -.romi.i wwhich flie tW'.ft bodies Were fo'mul «'-n-.s f.iti-i.a.ted on -the sitfo.iid fl<?or., .i:tei£.<,-ii:}o, tlip iiinin -st-.1-i'rsa.se-i Itisiile the i«mn/'; Avhie-h wa ; s al|«-u.t I&'ft, x '?ft..j. Was ft large, doiilile bed -and ft si.na'll chest of dfftwefs, What wjfUt tlifl bed and tlio oeii.or fitrnitiixe two was vei-y little ramii loft. The unfojtftnhtc- p.etiipaiii.s. Wojv i!)ipa:fently -s'siffocato'd, for i'liny wero not burned to any grii''' extent. ' ResoifCd ftoardafs' .Pil.|h? Frofn what *ci.uld lip g.nithefed yefsior.-,'. day, the imnntos.ef flveliot'ei asleep wheft the fito cOj!jiic;aced. 'Soma

were awakenedj by hearing things falling, and others awoke up imagining that they had experienced an earthquake. The fire had such a hold when the occupants awoke that very few had time to gather clothes. Somo managed to snatch up a pair of trousers, and others coats, but' there were many .who came out in the cold, dark morning with very littla on.

Sergeant Kelly 'bad all the lightly-clad boarders removed to the Manners Strcot/ police station, where Adjutant Green, of the Salvation Army, provided as much clothing as possible. Needless to say, the boarders were not slow in expressing appreciation of tho kindness shown-<to them by these officers. Mr. O'Brien, bootmaker, .of Cuba , Street, also assisted in tho matter of providing clothing for tho sufferers. In many cases tho boarders had lost thoir boots, and Mr. O'Brien eouii supplied those who needed covering for their feet with substantial footwear. It was so cold that thoso in bars fpet were nearly frozen, and tho arrival of Mr. O'Brien with boots was, to use tho words of a boarder, "a blessing."

WAS THE BRIGADE LATE? When the Fire Brigade arrived at the scene of "the fire, someono in the crowd observed that it had taken a long while- ill coming. Superintendent 'Tait gives this a dqnial, and states that as soon as the alarm was given, the firo engines were dispatched. Tho alarm was received at 3.38 a.m. exactly, and vory- little time was lost-in.leaving the station. Tho superintendent considers that tho first motor took about,three , minutes to got to the firo from the station. It has been suggested that tho person .who thought the brigade had taken a long time,.was labouring under the impression that.when he saw tho liio tho alarm had been given. As a matter of fact, the policeman on duty in the vioinity gave tho.alarm, and this is bo'rno out by Mr. Pinnock, who stated yesterday that when he was coming down tho firo" escape he saw a policeman running in the direction of a fire alarm.

MONEY AND JEWELLERY LOST. There was considerable talk yesterday about loss of money, many boarders complaining that they had lost then 1 week's wages. Olio boarder said that he had lost one or two pound notes end several sovereigns. ', He went up and searched his room, aiid was fortuny ate in finding . the-gold amongst tho chaired roraains of his clothing. The notes were gone. A good deal of jewellery was lost, as well. as many other valuables.' Mrs. Pinnoek, who is suffering somewhat from the shock of the tiro, lost all of her jewellery. The contents of tho building were inBured for £350 in'the Commercial.Union Office. The insurance on the building itself was not known/yesterday.. Tho hotel is owned by Messrs:' Kirkcaldie.' and Stains. ' ■ • • '"••''.

HOSPITAL REPORT,. The exact nature of Mr. Regan's mluries are not yet known, but they are relieved to be serious. According to a report from the Hospital, ho was doing as well as could be expected at a lato hour last night. Mr. Smith, who is very badly burned, is considered to be in a serious condition. His condition had improved slightly last night. . . Miss -Higgmson, who broke several ribs, is in a bad way, although sho was as y well as' could be expected- last night. i Miss O'Neill Is not seriously hurt, her -injuries consisting of a few minor burns. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. When approached by the reporter yesterday, Superintendent he was unable to say anything regarding the lire escapes on the hotel, and as to whether thoy comply with the city bylaws.

An inquest will be held on tho victims of tho fire, but no date has as yet been fixed. '

In spite of the heavv showers of rain and the cold southerly"wind, many people visited the scene of tho disaster yesterday. Not tho least conspicuous was a photographer, who .took one or two snaps of the hotel. A policeman was on duty throughout tho day to keep the too inquisitive ones off tho premises, and incidentally to advise passers-by that there was a constant danger of being struck by falling glass. Small thick pieces of glass weie being blown down throughout tho day, and the action of the officer in keeping the curious ones away from the building was well advised.