FIRE AT LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2480, 18 March 1882, Page 3

FIRE AT LYTTELTON.

Between half-past eleven last night and midnight a fire broke out in a residence in London street, Lyttelton, owned and occupied by Mr George Baker and family, and the structure of six rooms, with everything it contained, excepting the human beings, waa quickly razed to the ground. The family had retired before eleven o’clock, their sleeping apartments being in the up-stairs of the dwelling. Mr Baker says he was aroused by the coughing and crying of one of his children in the adjoining room, and his first impulse upon realising the situation was to save the six children. With three, one under each arm and one on his back, he tried bis way down the stairs, but found the smoke too thick, and the flames fast approaching. He retreated to the front window, Mrs Baker being there energetically getting the other children up, and after forcing out the casement he threw down the bedding in sufficient quantity to break the fall of the children, and commenced dropping them down. He had disposed of three this way, when somebody passing the house at the time came to his assistance. Himself, wife and family in thio manner narrowly escaped in their nightgowns. The whole value of the property saved is estimated not to exceed £5. Mr Baker was insured in the Victoria Insurance Company, bis house for £2OO, furniture £l5O, and he considers his loss will be fully £2OO over his insurance.

The Lyttelton Fire Brigade did all they could to save the place, but to no purpose, and the police, under Sergeant Morice, were on band to render such assistance as might be needed. The origin of the fire is not known. Mr Baker thinks it started in the kitchen, but it is the merest conjecture as to where it originated. Spectators first on the ground say that they saw smoke issuing in thick volumes from the chimney before the flames burst out of the dwelling. There was no wind blowing at the time, and as the dwelling was folly fifty feet from any other the risk of the fire spreading was small. After the fire wsa extinguished the police and Sergeant Morice, searching among the debris, found a portion of Mr Baker’s trousers. Upon examining the piece, it turned out to be part of one of the pockets, and containing a purse, which, upon being disgorged, resulted in the neat sum of £7, viz., a £5 note, a sovereign, and some silver. The same has been duly identified by Mr Baker, and the receipt thereof acknowledged with thanks.