THE LATE FIRE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1231, 9 July 1872, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

The inquiry into the late fire at the premises of Mr A. Constantine, Hospital street, was resumed at Gilmer's Hotel, yesterday afternoon, before W. H. Revell, Esq., District Coroner, and a jury of which E. Wickes, Esq., was foreman. Alexander Constantine, said : lam a boatman residing in Hospital street. On the night of the Ist inst. I was at the Albion Hotel, and got home about one o'clock on the morning of the 2nd. I went to the backyard for four or five minutes, and noticed that the stable-door was open. I went back to the kitchen, got a glass and had a drink of water. I was then four yards from the stable -door. The horses were quiet, and 1 then went to bed. I was awake when the clock struck three, and was smoking in bed. There was no noise then. In about half an hour I heard the horses making an unusual noise, as if they were all kicking and dancing together. I remarked to my wife that the horse Nugget was getting too flash, and was kicking again. I went as far as the kitchen-door in my shirt intending to speak to the horses, when I saw fire inside the stable at the side next [the right-of-way. It appeared to be a strong blue flame, coming up between the wall at the right-of-way and the pile of flour that stood in one of the stalls. I r<m to the stable-door, taking a knife with me. I gave a look round, and saw that the mare was the nearest to the lire ; and that the other two would be right enough for the time. I pulled the halter off her head, took her by the mane, and led her out into the yard. I then went to the horse Nugget, cut his rope, and was leading him out, when the mare came back into the door. I tried to drive her out, striking her three times on the face, when she plunged forward and knocked me back amongst the flames. I got up and again caught the mare by the mane, to get her away from the door. She would not turn round for me, and I let her go. She went with the other two horses into one stall. I then got outside, and found the witness Gordon there. He I helped me to pull down the wall at the side where the three horses were standing, and made room for the horses to come out, if one of the slabs were cut. I got an axe from my wife, and at the first or second blow it broke. I was unable to cut the stud, and got none of the horses out, I saw a lot of people standing looking on who would give me no help, although I was calling to them all the time. I did not go into the stable until I went to save the horses. I was not smoking when I first went to the stable dpor. None of the premises or goods were insured. I estimate the loss at over LSOO. I believe the fire was not accidental. My reason is that there was no candle ever taken near the place where the fire was first seen, and the fire was a large blue flame licking up the wall. The boards were not burning when I saw it. If the driver had left a light in the stable I could not help seeing it when I went to the stable door after (going home. By Juror 3: I had no unpleasantness with any of my men before the fire. I am positive the floor was not burning when I first saw the flame. There was no smoke in the stable when I first went in. The floor of the stable was a foot above the ground. There was a hollow under the place, owing to the yard and right-of-way having been made up. A fight took place the same day between my crew and another, but that had nothing to do with the fire. No threats were made to me to injure my property. If any one had been there at the first to pass the buckets I could easily have put the fire out, as I had two tanks of water seven yards from the stable door. The door in the right-of-way was closed, but not locked. I have no suspicion of any one setting fire to the place. : The jury returned an open verdict to the effect that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated.