FIRE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1929, Page 3

FIRE TRAGEDY

BOARDER’S ACTION CRITICISED

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, November 4

Comment on the action of a- hoarder was made by tbe Coroner, Mr W. H. Woodward, when evidence was taken this morning in connection with the death in the Carriers Arms Hotel fire, at Riverton, of Mrs William Trembatli and her daughter. Senior-Ser.it. box explained that the man had left Riverton, but bad finally been located.

Moses Reid, a hawker, residing at 89 Carroll Street, Dunedin, said that he was a boarder occupying a room- in the hotel by himself on the niglit or the fire. Witness went to bed at 11 p.m. and he was soon asleep. The next'thing be remembered was seeing flames outside bis bedroom window. He immediately leapt out of bed. Then was no noise of any kind, except that made by tbe flames. Witness called out “ Fire! ” He pulled on his trousers. and coat-, and grabbed bis suitcas containing soft goods for hawking. 1 was the first .tiling.lie thought of. H called out “Fire! ” about five or si times. While be was dressing be heard Mrs Rrnds’naw, the cook, calling out “ Air Trembatli! ” There was onp

one room separating witness’s roon from lier’s. Mr Trembath’s room wa at tbe front of the building. Witnes: considered that it took him a minut or two to dress, and he then opened tbe door to-go out. The smoke wavery thick in the passage, and he pul bis overcoat over his face, and mad a dive through tbe smoke into tin bathroom. By groping, lie found window. It was opened. He let hi overcoat and suitcase down, and thei be got out himself. Witness left certain belongings, which he estimate' were valued at £3 or £4. Havin' reached the ground, lie met Mr Trem bath. There was no one else about a the time. Witness asked Mr Tremhath: “Where are the mjssus anci children, Bill?” Trembatli replied “ I think they are upstairs.” Tlier. were no children with him. Mr rl’reinhath just had a shirt on. Witnesssaid: “ What can we do, Bill?' See i' you can climb up on my shoulders, am see the missus through the window!’ He: tried to do so, but the wall was s hot that lie had to come hack. Mi Trenibath’s hands \Yere burned; ' Wit ' ness said: “Take my overcoat, am' see if you can go in by tbe fire escap oil the far side of the house.” B •

ran round the building till they read ed the front. Witness said: “I’ll tab my suitcase to the nursing home, am I’ll conic baclt to. assist you.” Witness weiit tf) the' .Nursing Home, across, the street, leaving Mr Trembatli attempting to force, in the bar door wit. his shoulder. He finally .succeeded ; When witness returned, Trerobath was still there. Witness neither saw nor i heard. Mrs TVembath. He did nol /know whether she had been in tli > same room as Mr Trembatli. Witness was there to assist, hut could do nothing. . There were a. number of people about at the time. The- value of his ' suitcase and contents would he abo-ul £Io. Witness was fully satisfied that lie had done all he could to assist in the matter. He had a narrow escape himself. The Coroner: Perhaps it is not fair to criticise the actions of a man' ir tlie stress of terror of fire, but it seems to me that iif you had devoted those two minutes to alarming the household, instead of trying to save your miserable suitcase, you might have been able to save the lives of the woman and child who perished in the fire. The inquest was adjourned.