The Palmerston Fire.

Manawatu Herald, 30 January 1904, Page 3

The Palmerston Fire.

The idiotic enthusiast who save* glassware from being burnt by tawing it from the upper storv ing building to the was in evidence, a being gently dropped from the Clarendon Hotel to the street with the inevitable result. . ?'oUr men and a boy who carried cfae piano from the upper storey of the Clarendon to the ground floor, say “ they were chased down stairs by the flames,” There was, apparently, some tilth in their state ment, for one naan’s coat was singed in the process. The police rendered valuable assistance in keeping the public back from the scene of fire, although the Fire Brigade should be supplied with light lines so that they could rope the scene of the fire off and effectually stop the public from interfering with them during their work.

One hair-brained individual must have been looking for work for the glaziers at the fire. He armed himself with a long pole started smashing plate glass windows in premises where there jvas absolutely no danger. Fortunately he was stopped before he had done much damage. The firemen at the fire were supplied with refreshments by Messrs Copeland Bros., Mr Montgomery, Mrs Youngson and Miss Crawford. The thoughtfulness of the above named ladies and gentlemen was highly appreciated by the firemen. The Clarendon was opened in 1874, the front portion being first erected. It was the second-oldest hpstelry in Palmerston, the Royal being erected first.

An employee at Messrs Hannah and Co. lost £4B in notes, which he had stored in the premises in a tin. The total estimate of the damage is roughly £15,000. Mr James Carroll was the owner of the whole block destroyed. HOW THE BOARDERS GOT OUT. There were a number 0! boarders at the Clarendon Hotel, and all suffered more or less, mostly more, by the fire. Many of them escaped with their clothes in their hands, so rapid was the advance of the flames. Others came out carrying their belongings in boxes, bags and sheets. Two ladies made their exit from the year in their nightdresses. Miss Ada Gunter, with two other ladies, occupied a room on the side of the Clarendon immediately overlooking the billiard room. They were awakened by shouts from the street of “Fire,” and “Ring the bell,” and after getting together a few articles of personal property, proceeded to rouse as many of the inmates of the hotel as possible. These ladies lost some valuable jewellery in the hurry of getting out.