THE FATAL FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1917, Page 3

THE FATAL FIRE.

A. FIFTH VICTIM

[per press association.— copyright.]

CHRISTCHURCH Nov. 20.

Henry Herbert Beere died in the hospital to-night, making a fifth victim in connection with the Silver Grid fire.

SIXTH PERSON DEAD

CHRISTCHURCH This Day. Hod Gledhill, aged 23, died this after noon from effects of burns and shock ieceived at the Silver Grid fire.

THE WORK OF THE BRIGADE

REMOVING DEAD AND LIVING

Superintendent Warner and the members of the Christchurch Eire Brigade had some terrible experiences at the Silver Grid fire, which they 6ay they hope they will never go through again. They entered the. building and brought out five persons, two living and three dead. When the Brigade reached the building flames were bursting out of the front twenty feet across the street. Two reels were hastily’ put on, one from Tunm Street and tlio other from Manchester street. There was an ample supply of water, and the firemen, with the help of many civilians, worked hard and enthusiastically. They saved the adjoining buildings, the contents of which, however, suffered from the watei poured on to them. At first the main efforts of the brigade wore devoted to saving life. Some of those who had succumbed already were severely burned. Mrs Stack was so had that it was evident nothing could save her. The bodies of the dead and living were carried out on to the balcony and were lowered down on to the pavement. By the time the brigade arrived many of the occupants had jumped from tbe buildings or had used the fire escape, and so were out of danger. The firemen helped to place the injured in the St." John Ambulance Association’s motor; A van _ from the morgue was sent for the bodies of those who had died.

Superintendent Warner stated that be could not supply a theory as to how the fire originated. All he knew' was that the building was simply a mass of flame when the alarm was given. The fire spread so rapidly, evidently, that some of the inmates when awakened, had not time to reach the staircase or the fire escapes and so perished. The superintendent added that the experience was the most terrible he had ever gone through. He found it almost impossible to get the sight- ot the poor burnt bodies out of his mind. FINDING THE BODIES.

The firemen had the most gruesome task of all in the recovery of the bodies. That of Mr. Hatch was found in a small room upstairs. There was only one door, leading on to a passage, and no window. Apart from the door, the only possible means of escape would have been by a skylight, ten feet high. The old man had evidenlv not gone to he'd, for the body was fully dressed, even to boots and hat. He was lying huddled up In the corner near tho door, with a pillow under his head. The bed had not been slept in. The other man s body was found literally roasted, lying across the framework of a skylight giving light to the dining-room. This skylight was at tho bottom of a well, where the fire had burned most, fiercely. Tim “well” was on the northern side of the building .alongside a dividing brick wall: There were two small rooms with windows opening into this “well” and from anotlior side of the “well” there was a passage leading to one of the rear fire escapes. Thomas Smith, escaping from a window has evidently groped his way towards tins passage, but was overcome on the skylight for the body was found huddled up near the wall, where he might have been forced back by flames or smoke. PROPRIETOR'S STORY. Mr .T. P. Smith, lessee of the building was sleeping in a double room in the front upstairs. He was awakened by the crash of glass, which he considered was the main windows downstairs. Rousing himself hastily he opened the door and was confronted by a considerable volume of smoke, which had already entered the bedroom. He went at once to tiie room next door, in which were sleeping his sister-in-law, Miss S. Joyce, and Mrs, Elsie Stack. Tie roused them, and then rushed into his room, thinking to escape by the window, which opened on a narrow balcony with a brick balustrade . He leaped over on the narrow board ! that ran along the inner edge of the j balcony but the flames leaped up around him and he was forced to retreat. He then rushed back to the room, ft*d in doing so he saw his wife jump out on to ; the verandah and roll off on to the ground. Mrs. Stack, meanwhile, had been out on the balcony,, but the flames drove her back, and she re-en-tered the room. Evidently she trie to get through the passage and was^ suffocated on the landing. She was later taken from the building, hut practically died just as the Eire Superintendent reached her. Meanwhile, Mr. Smith had to the second window of ..is bedroom where he found the flames and smoke not so dangerous. Ho had hold of Miss Joyce ns they clambered over the ba wnv, one assisting the other they both fell through the iron framework, and hung suspended in a very precarious position. Fortunately they were able to scramble up. Mr Smith getting his wrist and thumb badly cut, and staggered along the verandah northwards to an adjoining window above the ompty shop at one time occupied by Moore and Co. The window was unlatched and they were able to escape. (