WELLINGTON HOTEL FIRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3053, 14 April 1917, Page 11

WELLINGTON HOTEL FIRE

MAGISTRATE'S INQUIRY DEATH OF PATRICK TWOHILL J Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.AL, held an inquest yesterday concerning the death of Patrick TwohiU, who lost his life in the Wellington Hotel fire on' Thursday morning. Senior-Sergeant Emerson appeared for the police. .The evidence of the licensee, Martin Ryan, showed that the deceased, who' was 74 years of age, occupied Room 13 in the hotel. He was a.man of sober habits, and had for the last twenty year's held the position of billiard marker at the hotel. The hotel was equipped with all the usual facilities for escape in- case of fire. Michael Macarthy, the barman who discovered the fire, and aroused the occupants of the hotel, stated that he went once to deceased's : room and shouted "Fire!" Then, after going to other rooms, he returned and tried the door of deceased's room. It was locked. Witness corroborated the statement of the licensee that deceased was a sober man....

Sergeant Wade said that upon arrival at the scene of the fire Tie asked' whether all the. occupants were out of the hotel, and received the reply that they were.' A search of the place later en led to the discovery of deceased's body.. Deceased was at. the top part of; the bed, leaning back with his head .against the wall, and his feet on the floor. From the position of the body it was evident that he had-heard the alarm and had got up. . The fire had rendered the remains quite unrecognisable. Witness . corroborated the licensee's statement as to fire escapes. Deceased in his room had a fire escape praotically •at his hand. By opening the. window .'.and. sliding down 15J- feet he could have saved himself. Superintendent Tait, of the Wellington Fire Brigade,.said that when, he arrived at the door of deceased's room it was slightly open:''' Witness did not know whether it had;been unlocked or forced open. '■■ •• ■ ,

The Coroner said that. it was clear that the deceased" had met his death accidentally. "The evidence as to fire escapes,"' he continued,' "shows that there was a sufficient number pf them to; enable anyone,' after an ordinary warning, to get but of the : building. 'There was one escape immediately at the head of deceased's bed, and there were others of which deceased, who tad teen in the hotel for a considerable time, must have known. The position in which he was found after death shows that he attempted to get out of his room, and the fact'that the door was unlocked also indicated this. Apparently he was overpowered before lie bad time to make his escape. The verdict will be: That the deceased met his death from burns received in a fire at the Wellington Hotel on the morning of April 12."