RIVERTON FIRE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1929, Page 6

RIVERTON FIRE TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON VICTIMS

INVERCARGILL, October 30.

Tlio inquest on the victims of the Riverton Hotel lire was opened before the Coroner, Mr Woodward. Daisy Bradshaw, who was employed as a cook, said that she was awakened by a boarder calling “Five l” Flame and smoke were coming from the kitchen. She and a housemaid made their way to the front part, where a fire escape was situated. The smoke was dense. She heard Mrs Trembath call ont twice, and saw Trembath, out of the smoke, come from the direction of his wife’s room with a child in liis arms. She thought that Mrs ’fiembath must have been separated from her husband by the flames. All escaped in their night attire except Moses Reed, a boarder, who gave the alarm. Trcmbath made a desperate effort to reach his wife’s room from a window outside, and sustained burns.

William Mason, who occasionally acted as barman, deposed that he retired after midnight, when everything appeared to be safe. He was awakened by the call of “Fire!” He swung out of a window on to the pole which supported the fire escape, and slid down it. He had no idea how the fire originated or where it started. The inquest was adjourned for the evidence of the licensee, who is still suffering from shock.