A BIG BLAZE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1920, Page 3

A BIG BLAZE.

METROPOLITAN HOTEL BURNT. MANY NARROW ESCAPES. (Per Press Association.) ' AUCKLAND, his Day. A disastrous fire occurred in tho city about two o’clock this morning at the Metropolitan Hotel, at the corner of Queen Street and Durham Street west. Fortunately there ga* po loss of life, hut. nior.i iha'n oiie' occupant was more or less seriously burned in escaping. Tho hotel was a I moot bodily 1 gulfed in the upper storey, and tliera was great (kiinago below bv smoke, and water. The lire broke put iu the third storey, and spread wißi great rapidity, The occupants including, fweut.v boarders, were; suddenly nrouspd I'ropi their sleep, and bad go time, to dress. They Intel to make an immediate dacsli fop safety down flip lire escapes stairs, John Osborne, the third cook, was among the last lo learn of the fire*, He made a dash for one of the front windows lacing Queen Street. The flames were all round him and apparently lie was overcome by the beat from bis c lothes burning. Osborne collapsed on the. tire escape and lay with his feet caught in tile ironwork, calling for help. His spilclings in list have 'been intense, A sigh ot relief weiii. up from (lie small crowd that iuui gathered, when it was soon that’ Osborne was able to dutch Hie, framework of tlip fire escape, pull bi l , l1 .' self up and then drop to \hp verandah below, a distance of about ten feet. ’1 lie unfortunate man was immediately assisted into the street and taken to the hospital by a motor car. He was suffering severely from burps about the head aitd itpnW, but was able tp walk into the ward after receiving attention. Mrs Shaml, who occupied a ropm on tho top Hour, stated slip was moused by a man, win. iuhl her to dress, immediately and leave the building, The. (lames spread so rapidly that they had barely time to put on a coat and make a das’ii for the side entranc e down stairs Bv tills time the passage way "as lull of smoke. Mrs Slmiul stated they were among tho last out.