FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 272, 26 November 1901, Page 2

FIRES.

3I£N INJCREE IN WELLINGTON By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. Just after 2 a.m. a tire broke out iu the Oriental Hotel, Walli-' street, which was entirely destroyed, v do the shops of Grady, jeweller, an-' .irGtensen, tobaceonist, on each side re -.iso ruined. The hotel was a t' str ey building.

of wood and iron, : . so rapid was the j spread of the fiatiK" mat many of the lodgers had narrow escapes from death. Several had to jump from the upper doors, and of these three were taken to the hospital injured, viz. : Charles Bell, son of James Bell, of the Ada Delroy Company ; William Crawford, dealer in stains : and Jack Darcy, laborer. The Oriental Hotel was crowded at the time of the lire with racing people and members of theatrical companies, and there were many exceedingly narrow escapes. Bell is still unconscious and iu a ; serious condition from internal injuries, j Crawford is badly burned, and also in a serious state. Darcy is suffering chiefly from the shock. A fourth person named | Murphy was taken to the Hospital suffer--1 iug.froin injuries to his arms and knees. I The insurances on tho Oriental Hotel I building are : South British, New Zen--1 laud, and Commercial, £833 6s 8d each ; the contents in the South British lor £IOOO ; Townsend and Paul’s buildings (occupied bv Christenson and others), in the Royal for £2OOO ; J. and R. Morle.y, Royal Exchange, £BOO ; Grady’s building in the New Zealand, .£6OO ; stock, Phoenix £3OO, South British £3OO, Norwich Union and Victoria £2OO each ; Robinson, jeweller (damaged), Standard, £4OO ; Wellington Cycling Club, contents, Phoenix, £350 ; Miss Murray, florist, who was on the ground floor of the hotel, contents, South British, £3OO ; Davies and Harris, music-sellers, stock. Northern, £ISOO, fittings £IOO Northern ; Christensen, furniture and stock, lvoyal Exchange, £IOOO ; Canada Cycle Company, Royal, £4OO on the stock and fixtures.

Nelson, hist night. Robinson Bros.’ timber factory was destroyed by tire early this morning. The cause is supposed to have boon a spark from the engine whilst the fireman was at breakfast. The damage is between -£2OOO and .£3OOO. The insurances are : Royal £SOO, Norwich and Imperial .£350 each. About £SO damage was done to the adjoining workshop of Peart, an engineer, who was uninsured. Auckland, last night. A five-roomed houso in Nelson street, owned by Mrs Keenan, and occupied by Mr Wooley, was destroyed by fire last evening. Little of the furniture was saved. The insurance on the house is £2OO in the Manchester, and on the furniture £2OO in the Sun.

FURTHER DETAILS. A MAN DIES FROM SHOCK RECEIVED.

CASES OF DESTITUTION

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. William Crawford, ono of those who escaped from tho Oriental Hotel during the tire this morning, died in the hospital to-night from the shock sustained, lie was discovered wandering about tho streets half a mile away from the lire about an hour after it broko out, apparently bereft of his senses. He was conducted to the central police station, and after the burns had been dressed by a surgeon tho patient was conveyed to the hospital. The following offices hold risks in the buildings affected by the fire, as reinsurances : Imperial, Victoria, Australian, Alliance, Liverpool, London and Globe, Phoenix, Norwich Union, Royal, Exchange, Manchester, and Northern. The known insurances are £12,500. All members of theatrical companies who were staying at the place lost their entire wardrobes, and there arc many pitiable eases of distress amongst them. A benefit performance on their behalf will be given at the Opera Houso on Saturday afternoon.