TRAPPED BY FIRE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 130, 1 March 1928, Page 8

TRAPPED BY FIRE

BOARDINGHOUSE BURNT DOWN SPECTACULAR BLAZE AT AUCKLAND OCCUPANTS’ SENSATIONAL LEAP Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 29. There was a scene of intense excitement in Eden Crescent at an early hour this morning, when Edenville, a two-storied wooden building of twenty rooms, was gutted from end to end by tire, llie - flames travelled through the building with such incredible swiftness that eight boarders, including a young lady, in the upper portion of the premises were trapped, and, to save their lives, had to leap to the ground below. Two were injured. The injured are : John Trbulic.vitch, aged 44, a gum dealer by occupation—a broken tibia. W. P. McPherson, an employee of Grey and Menzies, Ltd.—severe burns to arms and neck. Admitted to Public Hospital. One of the eight to make the sensational escape from the balcony was a young laiiv, who essayed the feat with safetv. Mrs. Stone, the proprietress of the establishment, four members of her family, and two boarders, who occupied the downstairs portion of the building, escaped as soon as the alarm was given. •Just In Time. But for Ellingham, a railway porter, who was sleeping in a room at the rear of the upstairs part of the premises, giving the alarm shortly before 2 o’clock, the fire would probably have ended in tragedy. Awakened by acrid smoke, which percolated into his room from downstairs where the blaze originated, he was startled to see vivid reflections dancing on the window of his room. He at once roused the other boarders, most of whom made good their escape in their night attire. Others had barely time to gather up a few effects, throw them over the balcony and make the dangerous leap. Practical!v nothing of value was saved bv- any of the occupants. By this time the old wooden building was ablaze from end to end, the flames leaping high into the air in spectacular fashion and dense volumes of smoke pouring from every window and roof. When the citv fire brigade arrived, at about 2.16 a.m.' the place was a raging inferno, and it was quickly seen that it was impossible for them to effect a save. Boarder’s Graphic Story. Graphic pictures of the danger through which they had come were given this morning by several of the occupants of the boardinghouse. “Fortunately, there was not sufficient wind to blow a match out,” said one man “otherwise I doubt if any of us would have escaped with our lives. When the alarm was given by Air. Filingham I sw itched on the light, and the place was full of smoke. I opened the door into the passage and the flames .poured into the room. I barely had time to grab up a few clothes and jump from the balcony.” According to accounts, Mr. McPherson came the nearest to being overcome by fire, and smoke. Having been laid aside for three or four weeks, he was ;n no condition to make a hurried getaway, and it was thought that he was suffocated until he appealed on the balcony behind all the rest and made his leap just in time.

Boarders Heavy Losers. The marooned boarders, who are heavv losers all round, were given shelter until this morning by a neighbour. So intense was the heat that the trees at the side of the building were scorched, and telegraph cables and wires in front of the building were damaged. Wiremen were busy this morning enectmg repairs. . , , . , The boardinghouse, which has stood m Eden Crescent for many years, has passed through many hands tn its day, and three fears ago was purchased by Messrs. Grey and Menzies, Limited. It was insured by the latter with the South British Company for £l9OO. Mrs. Stone, who had occupied the premises previously, had renewed her lease only about three months ago. It is considered she will be a heavy loser, although the contents were insured with the Home Insurance Office for £5OO. EAKLY MORNING OUTBREAK. BY IELEGUAPH I’UESS ASSOCIA I'ION Whangarei, February 29. Fire at an early hour to-day completely destroyed a residence in Donald "Street, owned and occupied bj- Mr. Thomas Holly. The house was insured for £6OO in the State office. There was no insurance on the furniture. HOUSE DESTROYED. Taumarunui, February 29. A four-roomed house at Knkahi, owned and occupied by Mr. 11. Clark, was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon, the cause is not known, and the insurances are not available. While a neighbour mimed Hnigli was assisting to quell the outbreak, fire broke out in the latter’s honey shed, which was totalled destroyed, together with over three tons ot honey, the honey extractor, and oil engine. Mr. Haigii had no insurance, and is a heavy loser. The need for protection against fire loss is obvious Consult the Mercantile and General Insurance Company Ltd., Panama Street, Wellington.— Advt.