FATAL FIRE.
Two lives Lost.
Result of a Drunken Orgy.
Nelson, August 2
A shocking fatality occurred at ten o’clock last night, when a small two-storeyed building in Milton Street was burned down, and two men, John Stewart, bootmaker, owner and occupier, and John Brown, engineer and fitter, were .burned to death beyond recognition. The two were victims of drunkenness, and had indulged in an orgy at Stewart’s. A third man, Archibald Ogilvie, coach trimmer, was with the others in the afternoon, but left some time in the evening; hence hs is still alive. The fire bell sounded promptly, and many were on the scene, but were unable to gain admission. A strong southerly soon helped the flames to demolish the building, but the efforts of the brigade and a good supply of water saved other places to leeward. Mr Norris, next door but one, suffered damage by hasty removal of furniture. Efforts were then directed to extricate the bodies from the gutted house, and while the firemen were engaged a brick chimney toppled over, and Firemen J. Whiting, Joseph Nesbit, and Edward Woodward sustained some injuries. Subsequently the bodies of Stewart and Brown were found so charred as to be unrecognisable. Evidence that they were in the building at the time will be given at the inquest this afternoon. THE INQUEST.
At an.inquest held on the victims of the fatal fire, the medical evidence showed that death in both cases was caused by suffocation and burning.
One witness, Ogilvie, deposed that he last'saw John Stewart and John Brown alive about 4.30 on Thursday afternoon. He had bought and taken to them two bottles of beer, which they had drank at Stewart’s house. They were all sober.
Another witness deposed to seeing Stewart in his house just before 7 o’clock, when he was staggering about with a candle in his hand. The occupant of the house two doors from Stewart’s discovered the fire, but was unable to enter the back portion of the house. He shouted, but received no answer.
The licensee of the Bush Tavern deposed that Stewart visited his house just before noon on Thursday. He had half a pint of beer, and took away two square bottles of beer. Ogilvie in the afternoon purchased three bottles of beer. The jury returned a verdict that both men met their deaths by su tfocation and burning, adding that there was no evidence to show how the fire occurred.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 3 August 1907, Page 3
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409FATAL FIRE. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 3 August 1907, Page 3
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