PERILOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1932, Page 2

PERILOUS

JfOTHER AND CHILREN' || MASTER TON, October. 4. » A'jfootber and her two children, residii§| above a shop ini Queen Street, had® narrow escape when fire broke otlt if the premises; at. 2.20 a.m. today.©lxit by moans of the staircase was fat off, and they scrambled along the to safety. The rear, portion of tl|>! premses, known as the Empire Suptfi Rooms, was gutted and the •prenEs of, Mr J, Bradbury, jeweller, in tfa same building, received dam* age Mm water and'smoke. MiltiNeilson, who with her two childin, aged four and eight years re* epecti&ly, were 'asleep m. the 'hymg quarters on the first story of the folding awoke to hear the crackle of flames and to find smoke pouring into W bedroom. She roused the children Vjifl - w ith them hurriedly climbed out

of the bedroom window facing the street on to a sloping iron roof. Mrs Nielsen crawled up the roof with the children to a parapet and then dropped about six fee£' on to the shop veranda. &"} then walked along the glass verand < -•»* the adjoining building on the northern side and gained safety for her self and children by climbing through the jvindow of a room occupied by Miss V. Lane. Mrs Nielsen and her children were fortunate in making their way successfully aong the verandah, as it is a glass one As it was several panes were broken, and only the wire covering prevented the trio from falling through to the pavement.

Mr A. Dewar, an employee of the Empire Hotel opposite, heard the sound of glass breaking and looking out from tho front of the hotel saw the flames and Mrs Nielsen and the two children on the vernnGnh. Ho immediately summoned the fire brigade. Although the flames were bursting from the roof, the brigade bad

the outbreak under control in twenty minutes.

u The building, which is an old one, is i.pwnefl,,by the Holloway* Estate, which 'holds, ( an insurant cof £IOOO on it. Mrs Nielsen,’s furniture and' effects, which were destroyed were covered to ths ( extent of £IOO, while the contents of the supper-room, which suffered from smoke and water, were insured for £3OO. The adjoining premises <if Mr J. ]? rad bury wore flooded with water and damage estimated at £SOO was done to his stock. Mr Bradbury's stock and fittings were insured! for £2700.

FIRE AT FEATHERSTON. IJO ME DESTROYED* FEATHER,ETON, October 3. Fire completely destroyed the home of Mr H. Worsley in Watt Street, ..Fohthorston, rt 4. p.m. yesterday. Tho flames bad a strong hold when