A FATAL FALL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1929, Page 2

A FATAL FALL

further particulars. AUCKLAND, June 14. Further particulars in connection with the tragedy following the fire at the Hotel Cargen, were given by the night porter, J. Gascoigne, who stated that ad soon as he discovered the flames, which spurted through the ceiling, he .rang the Fire .Brigade, who arrived-within a few minutes. His next step was to wake the manager of the’ hotel,' Mr G. : Lund. Even at this stage it was not thought by either the manager or the night porter that the fire • was serious, for the flames they could see in the, ceiling were only tmy ones., . ,

Mr Gascoigne rushed up on to the landing’, from where the flames were coming and opened the - door of the room from' where it was .thought the fire had a hold. As the door was opened, there was a roar of raging fire inside, then a terrifying explosion, and in a few seconds the corridor and landing were a mas of flame and smoke. 1 The two rooms next to the blazing bed chamber were occupied by members of the staff, whom Mr Gascoigne, roused. A man and a woman escaped without much difficulty. “I raced up the stairs to the next landing and awakened the rest of the staff, ’’. said Mr Gascoigne. “Then 1 switched on the automatic fire-alarms and the clanging woke many of the people in the hotel. By then the Fire Brigade had arrived and .within a few minutes the blaze was under control, and in a’short time one would not have thought that there had been a fire at all.. It all happened and was all over so quickly. I also went up on to the top floor to give the alarm, but three girls who sleep up there had gone.” When Mr Gascoigne got downstairs again everybody was safe, but Miss Lynch, could not be found. Two girls who work in the office, and whose rooms were next to Miss Lynch s, had escaped down the fire ladder. It was thought that Misß Lynch may have also escaped in this way. Some of the staff then began to search for her and she was found lying semi-conscious on the concrete basement which faces Short street. They managed to get her to her feet, and gave her a glass of water. Everything possible was dqpe by members of the staff to make her comfortable, but shortly after Dr. Wilkin arrived she died. In the course of her fall she.’, had hit her head on a water cistern and was badly injured. She was unconscious before the doctor attended her. “It was a ghastly thing,” said Mr Gascoigne, because there was no need for such a tragedy. I pulled Miss Lynch out of her room into the corridor and directed her to the balcony

facing Eden Crescent. It.seems that she went boick to her room to do some packing, and frightened by the smoke which was sweeping through the corridor, she decided to get out of her window and on to the fire escape. I i don’t think for a moment that she jumped. She must have been somewhat,dazed. It is more likely that she over-balanced^and fell.” There was a sheet found hanging from Miss Lynch’s window and it is thought that she may have intended to lower herself by this means, although the sheet was not tied on to anything. There were four fire escapes by which she could have got to safety. “It is a most regrettable tragedy.” said. Mr Lund, “And it is all the more tragic because there was absolutely no need for any great harm. Besides, there was really plenty of times to get to safety.”